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Food Licence Registration

Introduction

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a legal authority that offers a food license to all food business operators (FBO) in India. All the FBOs must follow all the rules and regulations of FSSAI for food quality control.

An FBO requires a FSSAI License or Registration and it all depends upon certain factors like the size of production, managing nature of food business activities, and range of operations. In the FSSAI Registration process, the FBO will get a 14 digit number that needs to be printed on food packages.

FSSAI Registration ensures the security of food products and it is essentially a food safety certificate circulated by the food authority in India. All the manufacturers, traders, restaurants, grocery shops, importers and exporters, etc. are eligible for issuing a FSSAI Licence. FSSAI Licensing assures that food products undergo specific quality checks, thereby decreasing the cases of adulteration, substandard products.

Who Needs Registration

  • Restaurants.
  • Online Food Selling Firms.
  • Hotel Cum Restaurant.
  • Club.
  • Canteen/Cafeteria.
  • Hawker.
  • food truck.
  • DHABAs.
  • Food Vending Agencies.
  • Home Based Canteen/ Tiffin Service.
  • Food Stalls-(religious gatherings, fairs, etc.).
  • Stall Holders-Permanent/ Temporary.
  • Food Item Wholesalers/ Retailers.
  • Food Item Manufacturers/ Storage Services/ Distributors or Suppliers/ Marketer.
  • Petty Retailer of Snacks/ Teashop

    • Types of FSSAI Licence

    Businesses engaged in food activities are required to apply for a food license which can be of different types based on turnover, the scale of business, and the type of activity. The Types of FSSAI Food licenses are as follows:

    FSSAI Basic Registration

    The FSSAI registration is for food business operators (FBOs) who have small-sized businesses or start-ups. They have an annual turnover of less than Rs.12 lakh. Basic registration can be upgraded depends on your business sales graph productivity.

    FSSAI State license

    The State FSSAI License is for the FBOs which have medium-size business. They have an annual turnover of more than Rs.12 Lakhs or up to Rs.20 crores. The state license can be further upgraded to a central license, all depends on your business sale graph productivity.

    FSSAI Central license

    The Central FSSAI License is applicable for FBOs which have a large business annual turnover i.e. above Rs.20 crores. It is also required in cases where you need to supply at the government offices or import/export food products.

    Benefits of applying for FSSAI Registration

    Consumer Awareness: All FBOs must know that a FSSAI Licence adds the benefit of a reliable & loyal customer base.

    Legal Advantage: FSSAI Registration is done under the regulatory body FSSAI, and legal action can be taken for any non- compliance.

    FSSAI Logo: FSSAI logo is a mark of validity and an assurance to your consumers that the food is safe to consume.

    Business Expansion: The goodwill of the Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) will make a business available and effortless to expand.

    Documents required for the registration

    Validity Time of FSSAI Licence

    FSSAI license validity stretches out from 1 to 5 years. According to the FSSAI rules, the food business operator is required to appeal for the renewal of the license in 30 days and it should be made before it’s expiry. Any FSSAI renewal application filed exceeding the expiry date is required to pay a late fee of Rs.100 per day for each day of delay. So, it’s essential for all food business operators to track and assure that their FSSAI license is valid at every time.

    What Is Included In Our Package?

  • Eligibility Consultation
  • Document Preparation
  • Application Drafting
  • Application Filing
  • Government Fees

    • Non-Compliance

    All Food Business Operators (FBOs) have to comply with the rules and regulations under the FSSAI. FSSAI holds a random investigation of the product. A Food Safety Official has the authority from FSSAI to inspect the working conditions along with the food handling techniques of the operators, associates, and staff.

    Thereafter, they determine a level, based upon how compliant the food business is, with the regulations set by the Food Authority, using a checklist. Based on the checklist, the Official registers a level for the FBO as:

  • Compliance (C),
  • Partial compliance (PC),
  • Non-compliance (NC), or
  • Not applicable/Not observed (NA).
  • Additionally, the Food Official might issue an Improvement Notice, describing the areas or levels that need improvements. If the FBO fails to change these, within a specified time, a Show Cause Notice is sent.

    • This Show Cause Notice states a date of hearing by which this FBO has to prove, backed with documentary evidence describing why it could not undertake the amendments or alterations. If the proofs are denied, or the FBO fails to reply to the Improvement Notice, within the specified time, it’s FSSAI number will get cancelled.

    In case the aggrieved FBO feels that the improvement notice is biased, it has the choice to file an Appeal with the State Commissioner for Food Safety. The decision by the State Commissioner can be challenged by appealing to the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal or the high court.


    Penalty of Non-Compliance

    ESIC Scheme ensures Various below is a list of FSSAI penalties for an FBO found which is found to be non-compliant to the provisions:

  • If the food business is running without taking an FSSAI certificate, the act is punishable under law. The FBO may face imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs.5 lakh for this.
  • If the FBO is selling the sub-standard quality of food items, it may be charged for an amount up to Rs.5 lakhs. In such a case, the person selling the sub-standard items, either himself or by a person working on his behalf, will be held responsible.
  • The business selling misbranded goods, either himself or by a person working on his behalf, can be penalized up to Rs.3 lakh.
  • All the FBOs included in sales, packers, storage, distributions, or importing of Food Items comprising superfluous or extraneous matter, a penalty may get levied of Rs.1 lakh.
  • The penalty specified in the above points may vary, according to the conditions. In extreme cases, where death occurs due to consumption of the particular food item, the fine may extend to Rs.5 lakh along with imprisonment, depending upon the harm caused.

    • How can LegalRaasta assist you in FSSAI Food License?

    LegalRaasta gives an end-to-end service for food licensing and FSSAI registration. Our commitment to every FBOs is:

  • FSSAI Registration at the shortest time frame.
  • General advice with FSSAI online application filling.
  • Guidance on choosing the right food license type.
  • Hand-holding by the complete registration process.
  • The solution to all your questions and concerns of FSSAI registration.
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