FSSAI Registration Online in India

The Food Licensing and Registration System is responsible for issuing the FSSAI License, which certifies food quality. Only those with valid food licenses are authorized to sell their products. According to Section 31(1) of the FSS Act, 2006, food licensing is mandatory for all food business operators in India.
 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the regulatory body responsible for granting FSSAI licenses to food business operators in India. Therefore, it is crucial for all food-related businesses, such as food product manufacturers, food traders, and food store operators, to obtain the FSSAI license online in India. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare established FSSAI to set standards for selling, storing, and packaging food products in India, as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The FSSAI license is categorized into two types based on the size or scale of the business: FSSAI Registration and FSSAI License, which is further divided into two parts.

All food-related businesses must obtain a food license, but the type of license needed depends on factors such as turnover, scale, and activities. Generally, there are two types of food licenses: FSSAI License and FSSAI Registration. However, it can be confusing to determine which one is appropriate for your business. So, let's take a closer look at the different types of food licenses available for more information.
 

Basic FSSAI Registration

Petty food business owners, such as itinerant vendors, petty retailers, or temporary stallholders, must obtain Basic FSSAI Registration, provided their annual turnover is at most Rs. 12 lakhs.
 

FSSAI State License

FSSAI State License is a license issued to a business with a turnover of Rs. 12 Lac to Rs. 20 Cr. Furthermore, the turnover limit is the same for an FSSAI State Manufacturing license or an FSSAI State Trading license.
 

Central FSSAI License

The Central FSSAI License is granted to food businesses with a turnover exceeding Rs. 20 Crore. Examples of businesses falling under this category include manufacturing, trading, and storage units.

The purpose of obtaining a food license is to ensure that the food products traded and sold by Food Business Operators are of high quality and meet the standards set by the FSSAI. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India aims to reduce the prevalence of substandard food products, and food adulteration, and to enhance the performance of food manufacturers by providing them with an FSSAI food license for their food business or service.

Documents necessary to obtain a food license:

• Completed and signed Form B
• Food business operator's photographs for identification purposes
• Rent agreement to prove possession of the premises
• MOA, Partnership deed, AOA, or other required documents depending on the type of entity
• List of food items or products involved
• Comprehensive plan or draft of the food safety management system.
   

To obtain a Central FSSAI License, you need to provide several documents, including:

• A filled and signed Form B
• A blueprint of your food business unit
• A list of equipment and machinery used in your unit
• Information on partners, directors, proprietors, etc., depending on the type of entity
• A list of food products or items to be dealt with
• Details of the raw materials sources used in your production process
• Form IX
• A copy of your certificate from the Ministry of Tourism
• A copy of your certificate from the Ministry of Commerce for 100% EOU
• A rent agreement (if your premise is rented)
• A NOC (No Objection Certificate) issued by FSSAI
• An Authority Letter
• A Declaration Form
• A NOC from the Manufacturer and a copy of their license
   

The following are the necessary documents for obtaining an FSSAI State License:

• Filled and signed Form B
• Blueprint of the food business unit
• List of equipment and machinery used in the unit
• Complete details of partners, proprietors, directors, etc., depending on the type of entity
• List of food products or items to be dealt with
• Authority letter
• Proof of possession of the premise, such as a rent agreement
• Certificate of the Food Safety Management System
   

Extra Documents Required for Manufacturers:

• Layout blueprint of the processing unit
• Detailed information about machinery and equipment used in the unit
• List of food license categories to be produced or manufactured
• Report on pesticide residues in water.

Basic Registration:

Once the relevant authority has verified all your documents, you will proceed to the login creation stage, where your login ID is created. Next, you must submit the duly filled Form A for approval and the prescribed fees. Finally, your license will be granted by the concerned authority within 10 to 15 days, depending on the location of your business.
 

State License:

After the verification process of all your documents by the concerned authority, the next step is to create your login ID. In addition to the required documents, a special document called the 'Declaration' must be submitted with the specified Form to obtain a State License. This 'Declaration' contains the signed general declaration statement of the operator, along with specified Form 9, Proclamation of Food Safety License Management System (FSMS), and declaration, which depends on the type of business carried out by the operator.

After completing the necessary documentation, you must file Form B to finalize the process. You will receive your license within 20 to 30 days, depending on the location of your business. If there are any errors or issues with your application, you must edit it and resubmit it within thirty days. Otherwise, your application will be rejected, and you must start the process again.
 

Central License:

The process for obtaining a Central License is the same as obtaining a State License, with the only difference being the type of food business operated by the FBO. The time taken for the granting process of the Central License is also similar.
 

If the food business is involved in exporting or importing food items, then the operator will need an IEC (Import Export Code), regardless of the business's turnover. Similarly, if the food business is involved in transporting food items, then a central license is required, which must state that the FBO is involved in transporting food items.

Food Business Operators not exempted under Section 31 (2) of the FSS Act must obtain a food license based on their eligibility criteria to conduct their food-related business. Failure to obtain an FSSAI food license can result in fines or penalties as specified below:

• Rs. 2 lakhs for non-compliance with food quality standards as per the Act, and Rs. 25,000 for small manufacturers.
• Rs. 5 lakhs for misbranded food products.
• Rs. 3 lakhs for substandard or low-quality food products.
• Rs. 10 lakhs for false promotion, misleading advertisement, or false description.
• Rs. 1 lakh for irrelevant matters in food products.
• Rs. 2 lakhs for non-compliance with directions from the food safety officer.
• Rs. 1 lakh for using unhygienic methods to process, prepare, or manufacture food items.

Compliance with the regulations outlined in the FSSAI Act 2006 is mandatory for all food business operators. Obtaining an FSSAI license is a prerequisite for every food business owner or operator, but many need to be made aware that renewing the license is equally important. It is mandatory to renew the FSSAI license within the prescribed period. Whether your food business involves processing, manufacturing, distribution, packaging, or trading, obtaining food certificates online every 1-5 years as an entrepreneur is essential.

A 14-digit unique number known as the FSSAI license is granted to all registered Food Business Operators (FBOs). It consists of five sections, each providing different information about the FBO. It is mandatory to display the introductory information of the FSSAI License and the FSSAI logo on the package of the food item.