Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011 governs food business registration and licensing in India. Those involved in the manufacture, storage, transportation, or distribution of food products in India must get fssai license or registration.
It may be necessary for the business to register or obtain a license with the FSSAI, depending on its size and nature. FSSAI licenses and registrations are discussed in this article.
FSSAI Registration
Every petty food business operator must be registered with FSSAI. Any person or entity who operates a small food business must:
- Manufacturing or selling food by himself, petty retailers, hawkers, itinerant vendors, or temporary stall holders; or
- Food is distributed in religious and social gatherings, excluding caterers;
- Other food businesses with annual turnovers of not over Rs.12 lakhs, including small-scale and cottage operations:
- There is no food production capacity greater than 100 kg/ltr per day (except for milk and milk products) or
- Up to 500 liters of milk are procured or handled and collected each day
- A slaughterhouse can slaughter two large animals, ten small animals, or 50 poultry birds per day.
The application for FSSAI registration in Form A is required of small food business operators. It is the responsibility of an authority to provide the registration or reject the application within 7 days of receiving the FSSAI registration application.
There is a photo of the applicant on the FSSAI registration certificate as well as the registration details. While conducting a food business, the certificate must be displayed prominently at the business place.
FSSAI License
Anyone operating a food business in India without being a petty food business operator must obtain a license from the FSSAI. Various licenses are available from the FSSAI, including state licenses and central licenses. Licensing authorities change based on the business’ size and nature. The FSSAI requires a central license for large food manufacturers, processors, and transporters, while state licenses are required for medium-sized manufacturers, processors and transporters.
Licenses are more expensive and more complicated to obtain than registrations with the FSSAI. In order to apply for a FSSAI license, the applicant must submit Form B along with the necessary self-attested declaration, affidavit, and annexures.
In response to a request by the food business operator, a FSSAI license is issued for a period of 1 to 5 years. FSSAI licenses for more than five years would require the higher fee. The person can renew their FSSAI license by making an application no later than 30 days before the expiration date if they obtain registration for one or two years.
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