Process of FSSAI Registration through Food Safety Compliance System(FoSCoS)

The Indian food industry and licensing are under constant surveillance and supervision. The need for an online platform system from registration to obtaining a license has resulted in a change in the food industry. This article describes the Process of FSSAI Registration through Food Safety Compliance System(FoSCoS).

The importance of FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) is that it is a body which is registered under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The role of the FSSAI is it registers the Food Business Operators in India. The FSSAI registration through FOSCOS (Food Safety Compliance System) is done in India for the manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution, and sale of food products.

FSSAI Registration through FOSCOS – Meaning and Role

The FOSCOs is an online medium by the government of India; it is provided under FSSAI registration of FOSCOS of FBO (Food Business Operators) in India. It works to provide the compliance services such as registration, licensing, document filing. It is the online medium.

Role of FoSCoS

1. It creates the group and district wise food safety compliance system
2. The platform creates authentic inspection reports. The focus is to ensure original inspection reports.
3. It created the mechanism of having food safety emergencies.
4. Inspection is done free from deviations and biases.
5. A home page for checking the standardization of products and their eligibility.
6. A portal to handle maximum traffic for registration.
7. It helps to file annual returns on their website.
8. The introduction of “Know your business” has been introduced in the operations.
9. The FoSCoS application form takes the business owner’s PAN Number, CIN Number, and GST Number.
10. It gives authentication to the business operator and 360-degree profiling of FBO’s in the future.
11. The small business vendors/ food operators and hawkers can register themselves in FOSCOs.

FSSAI Registration via FOSCOs give services:

The services which are offered to food business operators are as follows:

1. The services like issue, modification and renewal of FSSAI licenses to food owners.
2. Licenses issued to the food entrepreneurs, restraints, hotels, and registers small food hawkers/ vendors.
3. It helps in transferring or surrendering of license.
4. Promotes organic products.
5.  It also gives license for mid-day meals, food export and import, and businesses operating in food.

Process of Applying under FSSAI Registration via FOSCOS

The process on the website as follows:

1. At the top of the home page of the website provided two search bars which incorporate the search for ‘Standardized Food Products’ and ‘Eligibility of your food business.’
2. In the below of the search bars, it has ‘View all FSSAI standardized Food Products,’ ‘Clubbing of Variants of Products’ and ‘View all Eligibility Criteria Details’ buttons.
3. After clicking on the ‘View all FSSAI standardized Food Products’ the food category name, food sub-category name, product name, and FSSR number can be seen.
4. After clicking on the ‘Clubbing of Variants of Products,’ it opens a PDF file that contains the list of all the Standardized Food Products having variants.
5. It has a ‘View all Eligibility Criteria Details’ button, which opens the PDF containing the table of the kinds of business, its criteria, type of license/ registration for the business.
6. The homepage of the website contains the ‘Track Application,’ ‘Know Your Officer,’ ‘FBO Search,’ ‘How To Apply,’ and ‘Application Processing’ options/buttons.
7. In the option of ‘Know Your Officer’ option, it is asked to select the State and District from the dropdown list.
8. A Food Business Operator can be searched by clicking the ‘FBO Search’ button and entering the details of Company Name, License/Registration Number.
9. The option given in the website for license of FSSAI registration is given like ‘How To Apply.’
10. The ‘Application Processing’ option on the home page shows the stages of processing of the FSSAI application by the Licensing/Registration Authority.
11. The home page also has the ‘Apply License,’ ‘Apply for Registration Certificate,’ ‘Modification of License and Registration’, and ‘Renewal of License and Registration’ tabs at the bottom of the home page ( above mentioned five options/buttons) through which the consumers can apply or modify their license/registration.

Read our article:What is the Procedure for Getting an FSSAI License Number?

Relationship between FSSAI and FOSCOs

The only point which has to be understood is that in FSSAI registration, the FOSCOs (Food Safety Compliance System) process/ system has been introduced to replace the existing system of FSSAI registration in FLRS (Food Licensing and Registration System).

The old system of FLRS has been subsided by the new system of FOCOS, the reason for replacement to conceptualize the one point stop for all engagement of FBO with the department of any regulatory compliance transaction.

The new system of FLRS has been linked with the mobile application and other Information Technology mediums. In the words of FSSAI on the coming of FOCOS, it was stated that any single regulatory mechanism at PAN India level with an integrated response system ensure the food fraud, provides advanced risk-based and data-driven regulatory approach.

How FOSCOs is better than FLRS?

1. It is a scheme of all engagements under FBO under one department.
2. The criterion has been changed; it is based now on the standardized product listing. This helps to grant licenses in a better way to the manufacturers. This new category has been introduced only for the manufacturers in order to eliminate errors in giving licenses to manufacturers. It is a selection based methodology.
3. The filing of returns online will rule out the old postal delays in the filing of return process. The old system required dispatching and preserving the receipts proofs. Then there were disputes regarding the submission of returns and harassment of the food business operators.
4. The paper-based documents have been rationalized and replaced with tick-based declarations.
5. The system is very much similar to FLRS so that the users have connivance to shift to the new system under FOCOs.

Notification of FASSA In June 1, 2020 For Launching FOSCOS

The body FSSAI has executed a new platform for the FBO in India, in name of FoSCoS, which shall be launched in two-three phases all over India.

Considering the first phase, it is to be launched in States and Union Territories of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Goa, Delhi, Odisha, Manipur, Chandigarh, Puducherry, and Ladakh with effect from 1st June 2020.

It will be launched soon in the remaining States /Union Territories. Where the FSSAI issued in a Public Notice on 12th October 2020, informing the Food Business Operators about the implementation/ execution of the platform of FoSCoS in the remaining/other twenty-seven states and Union Territories with effect from 26th October 2020.

 It is further updated about the FBOs that after the launch of the second phase of the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) in the remaining 27 States/Union Territories that is  covering the entire country ; the process is planned to be completed on 1st November 2020, and enabling the new system will come into force. 

Conclusion

The FSSAI-Food safety and standards authority of India has further clarified after the launch and implementation of the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS)^[1] across the country by the end of 2020.

1. It was made clear that any issues faced by the existing customers and suggestions from the stakeholders/ purchasers  shall be  considered to make the system more tech-friendly and user friendly; after the first phase of FoSCoS was implemented in nine states and Union Territories (Delhi, Gujarat, Odisha, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Ladakh, Chandigarh, and Puducherry) to remove the existing Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS) with effect from 1st June 2020.
2. It was further notified that the notice added that its user manuals are made available with the official website.
3. The current system of FLRS Food Licensing and Registration System will be again made available on 22nd October 2020, for license and registration of the Indian Railways and handling consumer grievances filed to date. 
4. It is also informed that the new version of the consumer grievances addressed/portal, i.e., Food Safety Connect (FCS), has been considered to be brought for addressing the queries relating to FoSCoS. It will be launched on or before 1st November 2020.
5. In order to get acquainted, and FBO can visit the homepage to know more about, SOPs, documentation, and the trial procedure, it has been made available on the website.

It can be concluded that from the year 2011 onwards, FSSAI’s online licensing platform (FLRS) has become an essential part of licensing and registrations in India it can be further stated that, on  FSSAI, around 70 lakhs licenses and registrations have been issued till date. Over 40 lakh registrants are active on it the website.  

Read our article:FSSAI Registration/Licensing for Restaurant Business in India