FSSAI Food License

FSSAI License: Guidelines for Health Drinks

FSSAI Dept. has issued Industry specific Guidelines for Manufacturing & retailing of health drinks. FSSAI license for health drinks can be obtained within 20-45 working days. In this article, we will discuss the FSSAI Guidelines for health drinks.

What is FSSAI?

Every food operator aims to maintain the quality of the food being provided to the consumer and ensuring his or her safety and satisfaction. FSSAI or Food Safety and Standards Authority of India plays a crucial role in ensuring quality levels of food by formulating various standards and controlling procedures. FSSAI also implements a variety of measures that help in the elimination of hazardous and toxic elements. As a result of the implementation of these measures, the consumers get assurance about food safety.

The way a product has been packaged says a lot about its quality. The packaging also makes consumers aware of safety standards. It is imperative that food manufacturers make use of the best food production techniques that help avoid food degradation so that it is totally safe for consumers to consume. The confidence a consumer has in a food manufacturer and the products manufactured by him is the manufacturer’s biggest asset. The government helps in maintaining the food quality standards by implementing high-quality benchmarks. The FSSAI License / FSSAI Registration can be obtained depending on the turnover of Food business operator.

Why are the FSSAI Licensing norms different for food products and different for drinks?

It is important to understand that safety standards for food and drinks differ from one item to another. The major goal behind these safety standards is the implementation of these measures that are important and crucial for that specific food item. When implementing these measures, one thought that must take precedence over others is ensuring public health. There must be the strict prohibition of adulteration, fraud, misleading and false claims, and other malpractices to cheat the consumers and play with their health.

If you are starting a health drink business, make sure that you have an experienced food consultant so that the safety levels of food and beverages sold to the consumers are ensured. FSSAI Quality Audit^[1] must be conducted periodically to check whether the food sector is complying with the standards set for the food and beverage products. There must be open communication between the consumers and manufacturers from the government so as to have a common understanding and bring any misconceptions to a minimum.

 If your annual turnover is less than Rs. 12 Lac, then you can apply for FSSAI Registration and in case more than 12 lac and less than 20 Cr. you should apply for FSSAI State license. In case it is more than 20 Cr then apply for the FSSAI Central License.

Checklist before applying for FSSAI License for Health drinks

Before applying for Food license for Health drinks, you need to fulfil the pre-requisite checklist mentioned at below – FSSAI State license is always considered as under control of respective state government & in case you are applying for FSSAI state license, may be required additional information as listed below.

1. A hazard analysis test must be conducted for the identification of hazards and their successful elimination.
2. Critical limits can be established for every milestone and controlling point. Proper procedures must be followed for the purpose of maintaining food production standards and for the establishment of verification procedures so as to confirm that corrective actions have been taken.
3. Extensive training must be imparted to the employees so that they understand their responsibility and fulfil the same standards regarding correct food product handling.
4. The quality check of the food items must be ascertained by the distributors.
5. It is imperative to give time to activities like promotion and awareness activities, advertising, marketing and more as this helps in attracting customers.

Consumers need to know that the food and drinks that they are consuming have been safely handled at the time of production and are totally safe to consume. The raw material needs to be stored separately from processed food. Consumers must know that every food and drink has an expiration date and it must be consumed within that specified time. The ingredients used in food and drinks need to be analyzed for safe consumption. It is very important to have relevant and high-end food control safety measures as it helps in identifying adulterated food.

FSSAI had issued a notification that firmed up the standards set for fruit drinks and carbonated fruit drinks. In 2016 August, the proposal of these amendments came up and was made applicable one month after they arrived in the public domain. These amendments have now been regularized by FSSAI after giving due consideration to a lot of suggestions that were made by the stockholders. The objections that were raised were also considered. Now, these regulations are referred to as the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations, 2016 and these are related to ‘revision of carbonated fruit beverages or fruit drinks.

There will be no change in the standards as mentioned in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 that deals with FRUIT & VEGETABLE PRODUCTS in ‘Carbonated Fruit Beverages or Fruit Drinks’ (2.3.30) sub-regulation. FSSAI has made only one addition to these regulations.

FSSAI has given the definition of fruit drinks or carbonated fruit beverages as beverages that are prepared from water/carbonated water and fruit juice. These products may contain dextrose, sugar, liquid glucose or inverted sugar, oil, peel, and fruit essences besides other ingredients appropriate to the beverage.

FSSAI standards for Health drinks business in India

The standards for health drinks as prescribed by FSSAI are as follows-

• The manufacturer should inscribe safety warning on the drink’s label so that customers are aware as to what they are consuming. 
• The label should also inscribe the consumption limit.
• Further the label should also disclose if drinks are unsuitable for pregnant women or children.

As per FSSAI regulation, the standard requirements for Getting FSSAI License are as follows:

• Fruit content (m/m)
• Total Soluble Solids(m/m)Not less than 10.0 percent
• Lemon or lime juice not less than 5.0 percent
• Other fruits not less than 10.0 percent

The latest amendment brought by FSSAI:

If the fruit juice quantity in a beverage is under 10% but above 5%, (2.5% in case of lemon or lime), it will be considered a “carbonated beverage with fruit juice”. The Total Soluble Solids or TSS of 10.0 will not be applicable.

Declaration of fruit juice quantity on the carbonated fruit drinks or beverage labels is a mandatory requirement.

Conclusion

It is significant to note that in India, the soft drink consumer market is growing by thirty percent annually, but at the same time, consumers are forever looking for better and healthier options. Top companies like PepsiCo, Dabur, and Coca-Cola have already announced that they are bringing out a new product line of fruit-based drinks. FSSAI has already regularized the beverage category and very soon many other companies will be expected to follow suit.

Do you wish to register for FSSAI license for health drinks? Are you looking for a food license advisory? Would you like to know about the FSSAI laws? Please feel free to contact Enterslice, India’s leading online legal, Chartered Accountants and tax advisory firm.

Read our article: Implications of Non Compliance with the Provisions of FSSAI