FSSAI Registration in India

Food Safety License (FSSAI License) is a compulsory document that every Food Business Unit (FBU) should have to obtain the legal permit of working under the regulations of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), an apex body working under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Norms, as prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act), are applicable with this License should be strictly followed by the Food Businesses of the form Food Manufacturing, Distributing or Packaging.

It is useful for these trades to know the salient features related to FSSAI License:

FSSAI License is compulsory for those Food Business Operators that are operating in Manufacturing, Procurement, Processing, Storage, Packaging, Distribution and Sales of Food Products. There are different types of FSSAI License available for these businesses based on their size and nature of business:

Basic Registration:

• Single-State Petty Food Businesses with an annual turnover of under INR 12 lakh.
  Note: FSSAI Registration/License is not mandatory for Petty manufacturers who prepare food items for selling purpose in home, Petty Retailer, Hawker, Itinerant Vendor, Temporary Stall Owners, Small Scale Cottage FBO/Tiny FBO.
• State License: Single-State Hotels, Restaurants and Medium-Sized Food Manufacturers with annual turnover of above INR 12 lakh and below INR 20 crore
• Central License: Enterprises with annual turnover of above INR 20 crore

Given below are the businesses that should be registered with FSSAI License before starting any kind of commercial activities:

• Food Chains
• Hotels
• Wholesalers
• Food sellers and Re-Sellers
• Dairy and its Processing
• Food Importers and Food Exporters
• Processors, like dry fruit, pickle makers, dairy, etc.
• Suppliers of Raw Materials to Food Businesses
• Retailers & Establishments who have a Retail Outlet
• Transporters – Who transfer items from one chosen location to other
• Canteens in corporations, colleges, schools, government institutions, hospitals, etc.
• Packaged Food Manufacturers who manufacture/produce items, such as, biscuits, ready to eat products, etc.
• Food Safety and Standard Authority of India issues a 14-Digit Unique License Number to every eligible Food Business Operators that they should compulsorily display clearly along with FSSAI logo on their Brand Label, Packages, etc. and in the Business location. This License Number stands as the identity of the Food Business Operator
• FSSAI License is a regulation of Government of India for the eligible Food Business Operators to strictly maintain the standard, quality and hygiene norms as prescribed by FSSAI.
• FSSAI License is valid for 1 year/5 years and should be renewed (Application Form C) within 30 days before its expiry date otherwise, the business will not be considered illegal.
• It is a legal offense for any Food Business Operator eligible to have a FSSAI License to run its activities without this document and if found can be penalised with fine up to INR 5 lakh/jail term up to 6 months. There are various other penalties applicable on the Food Business Operator (FBO) for not maintaining the quality, standard and hygiene norms as specified by FSSAI:
• Quality of food: INR 2 lakh for State/Central License holders, INR 25,000 for petty manufacturers
• Misbranding: INR 5 lakh
• Substandard Food Products: INR 3 lakh
• Misleading Ads/Wrong Food Description: INR 1 lakh

Eligibility Criteria for FSSAI Complete Registration in India

Compulsory for the Food Business Operators

Must have valid Id to get FSSAI

Documents Required for FSSAI Complete Registration in India

Registration of FBUs need different documents to submit with specific application depending on their size and invested business capital as given by the Food Safety Department of India (Central/State).

• Form B fully filled and properly signed
• Design Plan of processing Unit specifying dimensions and operation-wise area allocation
• Name and list of equipment and machinery used with the number and installed capacity
• List of Food Category for manufacturing
• Authority letter from manufacturer nominating a responsible person's name and address
• Water Quality Report for Food Processing as per FSSAI Standard
• Proof of possession of premises
• Partnership deed/Affidavit of proprietorship
• NOC and copy of License from the manufacturer
• Copy of certificate obtained under Coop Act 1861/Multi State Coop Act 2002
• Food Safety Management System Plan or Certificate

Process for FSSAI Complete Registration in India

• Guidance and Information Collection for FSSAI License We’ll be reviewing your requirements and eligibility for FSSAI License from the documents/information you submit to us. Note that, license period, desired fees, business details, etc. are the primary data that you’ve to provide us. We’ll interact with you and guide you to avail the BEST and HASSLE-FREE procedure of FSSAI License. Once, you’re satisfied and we’ve all the required data available to prepare your Application, we’ll start with Application Drafting.
• FSSAI Application Drafting Based on your Food Business type, size and funds, we’ll be choosing the correct application as:
• Form A, Basic Registration Application
• Form B, State and Central Level Application
• and update you. We’ll be completing the application and attach with the required documents. We’ll ensure its correctness and for that, we’ll be interacting with you during this process, wherever required and finalize it only getting approval from your side.
• Application Submission and Status Update Your application will be submitted to the Food Safety and Security Office (State/Central) attached with necessary documents and Registration Fees, where the application will be checked in initial stage to ensure its validity and once done, you’ll get their response of acceptance/refusal within 15 days. They may ask for additional information/documents (if needed) and based on your response and validity, you’ll be accepted/refused for Physical Inspection.
• Physical Inspection Once your application is submitted to the concerned Office of Food Safety and Security Standard, they will be issuing Application ID for you and send to you. Afterwards, Physical Inspection will be done to assess your business location and processes. You should keep your business location and processes as per the permitted Standard of FSSAI to avoid scope of any objection/rejection from the FSSAI Inspection Department.
• License Procurement and Delivery After the successful completion of Physical Inspection, your License will be issued within about 30 days, otherwise it may be disapproved if the Physical Inspection Report is NOT satisfactory. We’ll be delivering you the same, once it is collected from the Department of Food and Safety Standard.
• CONGRATULATIONS!! Now, you’ve the legal permit to work under the provisions of FSSAI License.

Our Assistance to file the FSSAI Complete Registration in India

• Verification and Arrangement of Documents
• Application Drafting
• Registration Fees
• License Procurement and Delivery

Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs About Private Limited Company Registration

Q1. Is the FSSAI license (Food safety license) mandatory for small businesses?

A. Yes. It is mandatory for businesses however small or large to have an FSSAI license or registration as per the food safety and regulatory authority of India.

Q2. Is GST required for FSSAI (Food safety license)?

A. Yes. The food safety authority has said that it is mandatory to pay the GST for a business whose turnover is more than 20 lakhs. FSSAI introduced this GST regime in 2017 to align the goods and services.

Q3. What are the required documents for FSSAI registration?

A. To get the FSSAI registration, one needs to have the following documents. PAN Card, Driving license, Passport, Aadhar Card, Voter ID, Driving license Passport-size photos of the business owner NOC (No objection certificate) by the municipality.

Q4. How much does it cost to get an FSSAI registration?

A. The fee structure of FSSAI varies depending on the type of FSSAI license.

Q5. How can I check the FSSAI (Food safety license) number online?

A. You can check your FSSAI license number online via the website of FSSAI.:

Q6.What are the required documents for the FSSAI license?

A. A food business owner needs to have the following documents to avail of the FSSAI food license- Address proof of the business owner. Details of business type. Name of the business. Passport size pictures. An acknowledgment form from the FSSAI.

Q7.What is the Validity Period of the FSSAI License in India?

A. The FSSAI license can be acquired for a period of 1 to 5 years depending on the preferences of food business owners. The FSSAI introduced various licenses of different validity periods and food products.

Q8. When should I renew my FSSAI license?

A. A food business owner must renew the FSSAI license within 30 days before the expiry date of the existing license. If the business owner fails to renew the license then the penalty of Rs.100 per day will be levied until the renewal of the license is done.

Q10. What is the FSSAI license number?

A. The FSSAI license number is formulated with the 14-digits that provide the information about the license number of a food business owner.

Q11. How long does it take to get FSSAI license?

A. An FSSAI (Food safety license) usually takes 7 to 8 days, although a central license can take up to 30 days.

Q12. How many types of FSSAI licenses are there?

A. There are three types of FSSAI licenses- State License, Central License, and basic registration.

Q13. What if I don't have registered my business license?

A. If any individual runs his/her business without registering it, can be imposed a penalty of 5 lakhs or imprisonment under FSSAI regulations