FSSAI Registration is required for all companies, manufacturers, and food beverage entities in India that deal with food production and supply of food. Under the FSSAI Act, 2006, every food operator has specific requirements that have to be complied with. Under sections 31(1) and 31(2) of the Act, every food operator must register with the relevant state FSSAI authority.

We have tried to answer some of the Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) related to FSSAI Registration or FSSAI License process in India. If you still can’t find the answer to your question, then please don’t hesitate to contact us.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Q1: What is FSSAI registration?

FSSAI Registration is required for all companies, manufacturers, and food beverage entities in India that deal with food production and supply of food.

Q2: What are the rules of the FSSAI?

All companies handling or dealing with food manufacturing and processing require this license. The license must be displayed on all packets where the food is packed. Apart from this, the license is required to be displayed in the business.

Q3: What is the process to get FSSAI certification in India?

The process of FSSAI registration is completely online. The applicant has to utilise the FosCos System for FSSAI registration.

Q4. How will I know about the stages/status of my application?

An applicant is informed by SMS/Email alert at many stages of application processing. Moreover the applicant can obtain the status by using facility of “Track Application Status” on FoSCoS.

Q5: What is the validity of the FSSAI license?

The validity period of the FSSAI License would depend on the application. Usually, this period varies between 1 year to 5 years. The amount paid by the applicant would determine the validity. The applicant has to make a renewal of application 30 days before the expiry of the license.

Q6: Is there any business or individual exempted from securing the FSSAI license?

Yes, FSSAI vide order number 03-01/2012/Enf-I/FSSAI dated 21st Jan 2015 exempted individual members to obtain FSSAI registration certificate. He/she must be a registered member of the society which is licensed/registered with FSSAI and subject to all such conditions as laid down in the order. They are the following:

  • Cooperative Society/Gruh Udyog/Mahila Udyog/ Self Help Group or any similar government registered society
  • Petty manufacturer of food in the house for the purpose of conducting business
  • Petty Retailers
  • Any Hawker or Street Vendor
  • Temporary Stall owner
  • Small FBOs and Cottage Food Industries

Q7: What is the fee charged for FSSAI Registration?

The FSSAI charges the following fee:

  1. Fees for license issued by central licensing authority: INR 7500
  2. Fees for license issued by state licensing authority
    1. Manufacturer / Miller Above 1 MT per day production or 10,0001 to 50,000 LPD of milk or 501 MT of milk solids per annum: INR 5000
    2. Below 1 MT of production or 501 10,000 LPD of milk or 2.5 MT to 500 MT of milk solids per annum: INR 3000
  3. Hotels 3 star and above: INR 5000
  4. All food service providers including restaurants/boarding houses, clubs etc. serving food, canteens (school, collages, offices, institutions), caterers, banquet halls with food catering arrangements, food vendors like dabba wallas etc.: INR 2000
  5. Any other food business operator: INR 2000

Q8: What would happen if the FSSAI License and Registration were not taken?

There are harsh consequences of not taking the license:

  • The FSSAI Logo cannot be utilized.
  • Obtaining Credit would become hard.
  • Non-compliance will cause penalties such as fines.
  • Apart from this, the authority can also close down the business.

Q9: Are there any penalties for not taking the license?

Yes, the following are the penalties levied under the FSSAI Act, 2006:

  • Substandard Quality: Rs. 2 Lakhs, Rs. 25 thousand for petty manufacturers
  • Brand name of the food is copied or misguidance Rs. 5 Lakhs
  • Fake Description Rs. 10 Lakhs
  • Adulterated Matter in Food: Rs. 1 Lakh
  • Non-Compliance of orders of officer Rs. 2 Lakhs
  • Unhygienic ways of Processing: Rs. 1 Lakh.

Q10. In what circumstances application will be rejected?

Ans: Licensing Officer can reject the application in the case when the required information is not provided
within the stipulated time of 30 days or is convinced that the applied application is not tenable and cannot be granted. Before refusing license an applicant shall be given an opportunity of being heard and reasons for refusal shall be recorded in writing.

Yes, the following guidelines have to adhere for the FSSAI registration process:

  • The FSSAI license number and the logo design must be affixed to all food products. The colour must not be the same as the package.
  • The name of the brand must be mentioned in the package.
  • When it comes to imports, there is no exemption regarding the same. Their license number and import information must be mentioned. This is required for securing clearances from different authorities.
  • The height numbers and letters must be prescribed in ‘2.3.3’ of FSS (Food Safety and Standards – Packaging and Labelling Regulation, 2011.
  • The Logo is not a certificate.

Q12. How to identify the category of FSSAI License/Registration by number?

FSSAI License number is of 14 digits and starts with ‘1’ while FSSAI Registration number is also of 14 digits and starts with ‘2’.

Q13: How can I renew my FSSAI license?

Usually, the food safety license is valid for 5 years. Just before 30 days of expiry, the applicant must make an application for renewal of the same. The applicant must refill the respective forms and submit the information to the authority.

The FSSAI license or registration cannot be renewed if it is not applied  within 30 days from the expiry of license/registration. Once the license/registration is expired, the FBO has to apply afresh.

Q14. How to renew your license/Registration after expiry?

Food Business Operator can renew the FSSAI License/Registration even after expiry date with following penalties:

  • Three times of the existing annual license/registration fee in the period – 1st day to 90th day from the original expiry date.
  • Additional two times of the existing annual license/registration fee (i.e. total 5 times) in the period – 91st day to 180th day from the original expiry date.

Refer FSSAI Order number 15(31)2020/FoSCoS/RCD/FSSAIpt4 dated 29th October, 2021.

Q15: If a business entity has different chains of eateries, does it have to apply for multiple FSSAI licenses?

No, there is no requirement for the business to apply for multiple Licenses. Instead, the business can make an application for the central license. This would provide licenses to all the FBOs controlled by the main business.

Q16: Is there anything called as recall under the FSSAI Act?

Yes, food is recalled when there is no compliance with the quality of a particular product. Usually, food is recalled throughout India. It is present under section 28 of the Act.

Q17. Do I need to file annual return for my food business activities?

FSSAI Licensed FBOs involved in Manufacturing (including repacking and relabellers i.e FBOs getting their food products manufactured by third party manufacturers) and importing of food products need to submit Annual Returns in Form D1 by 31st May of every preceding financial year. Merchant Exporter can file Quarterly annual report through online system.

Q18. What is the penalty for late or non-submission of Annual Returns?

Non-submission of annual return beyond 31st May of every year will attract a late fee of Rs. 100 per day till the date of submission of annual return.

Q19: Do export and import houses require to secure food license?

Yes, a Central FSSAI registration license is required for export and import houses. Apart from this, the house would also need to take IEC registration.

Q20: Whether NOC from FSSAI is required for export?

No, NOC is not required from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India for exporting food products from India however FSSAI License is required to be taken by the exporter.

Q21: What is the process of the FOSCos FSSAI license?

Previously the registration process for FSSAI was conducted online through Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS). Since November 2020, the Food Safety and Compliance System (FosCos) has replaced the previous system (FLRS). It is an important update that is required to be adhered to.

Q22: What is the significance of QR Code on FSSAI License/Registration?

FSSAI is dispatching License and Registration to FBOs online with QR code. On scanning, QR code shows the details of FSSAI License or Registration as available in FSSAI database. This helps in identifying
any fraudulent activity.

Q23: Is an FSSAI license required for opening a food truck?

Yes, any Food Business Operating Licence or Shop and Establishment licence is required for the food truck in India.

Q24: Is FSSAI required for repacking and selling?

Yes FSSAI license is required for repackaging and selling. Any business that is dealing with food requires this form of license.

Q25: How to check my FSSAI licence number online?

The following procedure has to be considered for checking FSSAI license number online:

  • Enter the 14 digit account number
  • Check and see the validity
  • Login with User Name and Password
  • Get Details

Q26: Who are petty food business operators? What is the eligibility for FSSAI registration certificate?

Petty Food Business Operators (FBO) who himself manufactures or sells any article of food or a petty retailer, hawker, itinerant vendor or a temporary stall holder or small scale or cottage or such other industries relating to food business or tiny food business operator having annual turnover up to Rs. 12 Lacs and/or whose

i. production capacity of food products does not exceed 100 kg or litres per day, or

ii. procurement or handling and collection of milk is up to 500 litres of milk per day, or

iii. slaughtering capacity is 2 large animals or 10 small animals or 50 poultry birds per day or less

These FBOs are required to obtain FSSAI Registration Certificate by applying on Food Safety Compliance System or Food Safety Connect app. This Registration Certificate is embedded with QR code and has the image of FBO with 14-digit Registration number starting with 2 (2xxxxxxxxxxxxx).

Q27: My License/Registration is suspended or cancelled. Do I need to stop food business activities?

On the suspension or cancellation of his/her License or registration, a food business operator needs to stop food business activities immediately. Carrying out any food business activity on suspended or cancelled License/Registration is an unlawful activity and shall attract penal actions under FSS Act, 2006.

Q28: Do I need to obtain FSSAI License for utensils/packaging material meant for serving or packaging of food?

No. FSSAI License/Registration is not required for utensils or packaging material as these are not covered under the definition of food as per Section 3(n) of FSS Act, 2006.

Q29: My License was cancelled. Can I apply for fresh License?

Ans: After a period of 3 months from the date of cancellation under Regulation 2.1.8 (3), the Food Business Operator may make a fresh application for Registration or license to the concerned authority if all observations made in the improvement notice have been complied with.

Q30: My application has been returned back with some queries on it. What to do?

Respond to the queries raised by Licensing or Registering Authority within 30 days. The application for the editing/modification shall be available on the dashboard of the applicant. If an applicant does not respond to the queries of Licensing or Registering Authorities, the application will be rejected.

Q31: What kind of license do pulses/grains milling unit need to obtain?

Pulses/Grains etc. milling unit comes under Manufacturing Kind of Business. These milling units exclusively covered under State License irrespective of their production capacity.

Q32: Whether NOC from FSSAI is required for export?

No, NOC is not required from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India for exporting food products from India however FSSAI License is required to be taken by the exporter.

Q33. Are physical documents required to be submitted at Regional/State Offices for License after submitting online application?

No, there is no need to submit physical documents at Regional/ State offices for Central/ State license.

Q34. I have closed down my food business. How to surrender the FSSAI License/ FSSAI Registration?

You need to apply online for surrendering the License or Registration by login into the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) account from which license/registration application was filed. After approval of the concerned authority, it will be considered as surrendered.

Q35. How to transfer the License from one owner to another in case of death of owner?

License can be transferred in case of death of the owner. Transfer application can be made online. For transferring of License, Death Certificate and Proof of Legal Heir is required.

Q36. How and where to make an appeal against the order of Licensing/Registering Authority?

Under Section 32 (4) and 32(5) of FSS Act, 2006, any person who is aggrieved by the decision of Licensing/Registering Authority, may appeal to the Commissioner of Food Safety whose decision thereon shall be final. The period within which such an appeal may be brought shall be fifteen days from the date on which notice of the decision was served. In case of appeal against an improvement notice it shall be 15 days or the period specified in the improvement notice, whichever expires earlier.

Q37. How will I know about the stages/status of my application?

An applicant is informed by SMS/Email alert at many stages of application processing. Moreover the applicant can obtain the status by using facility of “Track Application Status” on FoSCoS.

Q38. What is the maximum time for grant of Registration Certificate after applying?

A registration certificate has to be issued by the registration authority within 7 days of the date of
making application. In the case, registration authority wants to conduct inspection of the premise of the
applicant, the inspection must be conducted within 30 days of the date of application and registration to be issued, if premises found in order as per Schedule 4 of FSS (Licensing and Registration of food businesses) Regulations, 2011.

Q39. What is the maximum time for grant of FSSAI License after applying?

A license has to be issued by the Licensing Authority within 60 days of making complete application by an applicant. This time includes scrutinization of application and inspection of premises by the concerned authority.

Q40. Where to approach if license is not issued within the prescribed timeline or unsatisfied by the decision of Licensing authority or application is rejected or license is suspended/ cancelled by the concerned authority?

If you are aggrieved by the decision of concerned licensing or registering authority, you may appeal to the Commissioner of Food Safety of your State under Section 32 of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Details of Commissioners of Food Safety of all States/UTs are available at

https://fssai.gov.in/cms/commissioners-of-food-safety.php

In case of auto-rejected applications of Central License or delay of processing, you can write to the
Directors of FSSAI Regional Offices. Details are available at https://www.fssai.gov.in/cms/directory.php.
For appeals under Section 32 of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, FBOs shall represent their case to
Chief Executive Officer, FSSAI.

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