FSSAI: Food License and Registration
We at VINCULAR provide a one stop solution for all types of food license certification and FSSAI state and central license registration.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was established under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006. The primary role of FSSAI is to maintain the standards for food articles and for manufacturing, processing, distribution, sale and import of food to ensure safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
Any entity working in the food industry must register with the FSSAI, whether it be food manufacturing, processing, packaging, selling, or distribution.
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India
FSSAI regulations
Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses
Food Product Standards and Food Additive
Prohibition and Restriction on Sale of Certain Food Products
Regulation to Contaminants, Toxins and Residues in Food Items
Food Packaging and Labelling Regulation
Laboratory and Sampling Analysis
Import of Safe Food
Approval of Non-Specified Food and Food Ingredients
Regulation to Organic Food
Regulation to Vegan Food
Alcoholic Beverages
Fortification of Food
Advertisement & Claim
Guidelines for Accreditation of Laboratories for Food Testing
Food Product Standards and Food Additive
Prohibition and Restriction on Sale of Certain Food Products
Regulation to Contaminants, Toxins and Residues in Food Items
Food Packaging and Labelling Regulation
Laboratory and Sampling Analysis
Import of Safe Food
Approval of Non-Specified Food and Food Ingredients
Regulation to Organic Food
Regulation to Vegan Food
Alcoholic Beverages
Fortification of Food
Advertisement & Claim
Guidelines for Accreditation of Laboratories for Food Testing
FSSAI licenses categories
| S. No. | Types of FSSAI License /Registration | Impacted Entities | Eligibility Criteria Based on Annual Turnover |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basic Registration | Petty food manufacturers, small-sized manufacturers, storage units, transporters, retailers, marketers, distributors, etc. | Up to 12 lakhs |
| 2 | State License | Small to medium-sized manufacturers, storage units, transporters, retailers, marketers, distributors, etc | 12 lakhs to 20 crores |
| 3 | Central License | Large manufacturers, 100% Export Oriented Units, importers, operators in the Central Government agencies, airports, seaports etc. | More than 20 crores |
FSSAI license: validity and renewal
The validity for the FSSAI License or Registration is from one to five years in each category and renewal should be done before 30 days of expiry date.
Food packaging and labelling guidelines
FSSAI under the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and labelling) Regulations, 2011 regulates the packaging and labelling guidelines of the pre-packed food items.
Mandatory declaration for packaging and labelling
- Name of food on the pack (with tradename or description)
- List of ingredients in descending order by weight and volume
- Nutritional information
- Veg/Non-veg logo
- Specific declaration of food additive and colour/flavour
- Name and address of manufacturer
- Net quantity
- Retail sale price (Inclusive of all taxes)
- Consumer care details
- Lot no/Code no/Batch identification
- Date of manufacturing/packaging
- Best before date and use by date
- Country of origin for imported food
- Instruction for use
- FSSAI License number with logo
- Allergen information
FAQs
FSSAI was established to establish science-based standards for food articles and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import.
FSSAI has launched Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) for issuance of pan-India FSSAI Licenses and Registration.
Following are the types of licenses granted by FSSAI;
- Basic Registration
- State License
- Central License
FSSAI License can be valid for a period of 1 to 5 years.
Any entity shall have a import license from the Central Licensing Authority in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011 to import any article of food.
The registration to the Food Business Operator is granted basis on the following location of the premises of its operation; General, Railway Station, Airport/Seaport.
The registration to the Food Business Operator is granted basis on the following location of the premises of its operation; General, Railway Station, Airport/Seaport.
FSSAI has two kinds of approval procedures, one is a license and the other is a registration.
Entities involved in petty food businesses are eligible for FSSAI registration, irrespective of their selling technique and whose annual turnover does not exceed Rs 12 lakhs.
FSSAI grants two types of license namely; State FSSAI license and Central FSSAI license to the food business operators having an annual turnover between 12 lakhs to 20 crores and more than 20 crores respectively.
Inspections of the food businesses are conducted on the points of Sanitary and Hygienic Requirements.
The FSSAI license or registration is required for all food business operators, including those running pharmacies or medical supply shops that provide health or nutritional supplements.
FSSAI license is required for every catering business, including those run by the central government like the railroads, airports, seaports, and the military.
An entity has to apply for FSSAI Central License for the export unit in order to export the food products.
Both the FSSAI License number and the FSSAI Registration number is of 14 digits but begin with the number “1” and “2” respectively.
FSSAI Licensed FBOs involved in Manufacturing and Import/Export are required to file annual returns.
