REGULATORY FRAMEWORK :
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is a statutory body under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The Food Safety and Standards Act (FSS), 2006 is the primary law for regulation of food products. The Food authority regulates and checks for safe food manufacture, storage and handling practices of Food Business Operators (FBOs). FSSAI checks for compliance and that FBOs are following the regulations and standards as mentioned in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 The FSSAI functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The main aim of FSSAI is to
1. Lay down science-based standards for articles of food
2. To regulate manufacture, storage, distribution, import and sale of food
3. To facilitate safety of food
APPLICABLE FSSAI LICENSE : FSSAI issues three types of license based on the nature of food business and turnover:
1. Basic FSSAI Registration: For Turnover less than ₹12 Lakh
2. State License: For Turnover between ₹12 Lakh to ₹20 Crore
3. Central License: For Turnover above ₹20 Crore
FSSAI issues a 14-digit License number to food business operators who are in compliance of the rules and regulations under the FSS act. To overcome the adulteration in the food and poor products, FSSAI has addressed it compulsory to get this license.
APPLICABLE FORMS FOR APPLICATION :
Form A – This for is for Basic FSSAI Registration
Form B – It is required for State and Central License
Form IX – Form IX is the nomination form that is to be submitted forward with the FSSAI application.
The owner of a food business can nominate an employee of the business to be in charge of the establishment or the unit. Such a nominated person is responsible for food safety or any contravention of the FSSAI Act.
However, FSSAI by its notification Dated, 18-Sept-2018, has clarified that Form IX is not required where food business is operated by a Proprietorship Firm as Proprietorship is a business enterprise that is owned and controlled by one person who possess the entire Authority and Responsibility w.r.t. business.
FSSAI LICENSE / REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY :
Many times as a Food Business Owner, it is difficult to decide what license to go for State or Central. Here, eligibility criteria are listing down so that you can determine up your kind of business and proceed to apply your food license.
NO LICENCE , ONLY REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT
FOLLOWING CATEGORY OF BUSINESSES HAVING TURNOVER UP TO 12 Lacs PER ANNUM:
1. Petty Food Business Operators
2. Temporary or fixed stall
3. Hawker – Selling packaged or freshly prepared food by travelling (usually on foot or movable carts) from one location to other location.
4. Vegetable Oil Processing Units
5. Meat Processing
6. Storage – Cold/Refrigerated/with or without Atmospheric Controlled
7. Wholesaler – distribution of food product from manufacturer to retailer
8. Distributor – distribution of food product from original place of manufacture to person who makes the final delivery or to final consumer
9. Supplier – distribution of food product to consumer as per requirements raised by the consumer.
10. Retailer of food product
11. Marketer – promoter of food product
12. Hotels, Restaurant and Bars, Club/Canteen, Mid Day Meal Canteens
13. Food Agencies
14. Dhaba
15. Dairy unit including Milk Chilling Units processing Upto 500 Ltrs of Milk per day or Upto 2.5 MT of Milk Solids per annum
KIND OF BUSINESS
1. Dairy Units including Milk Chilling Units
2. Vegetable Oil Processing Units
3. Meat Processing where processing of slaughtered animals/poultry birds into meat & meat products
4. All Food Manufacturing/ Processing units other than above three category
5. Storage – Cold/Refrigerated
6. Storage – Atmospheric Controlled + Cold
7. Storage Without Atmospheric Controlled + Cold
8. Wholesaler – distribution of food product from manufacturer to retailer
9. Distributer, Supplier, Retailer, Marketer of food product.
10. Hotels
11. Restaurant and Bars
12. Club/Canteen, Dhaba, Mid Day Meal Canteen
13. Caterer, Mid day Meal Caterer
14. Food Vending Agencies
15. Importer/Exporter of Food Item
16. Food Business Activities at premises of Central Govt Agencies
17. Food Business Activities at premises of Airport/Seaport
18. E-commerce
19. Food Business Operators having food business activities in two or more States/UTs have to declare one Head Office/Registered Office.
Criteria to obtain STATE LICENSE
processing 501-50,000 Ltrs. Of Milk per Day or 2.5 – 2500 MT Milk solid per Annum
which process upto 2 MT per Day
upto 500 KG Meat per Day or upto 150 MT meat per Annum
with Production capacity upto 2 MT per Day
with Storage Capacity Upto 10,000 MT
with Storage Capacity Upto 1,000 MT
with Storage Capacity Upto 50,000 MT
Having Turnover more than 12 Lacs but upto 30 crore per Annum
Having Turnover more than 12 Lacs but upto 20 crore per Annum
having rating of One Star, Two Star, Three Star, Four Star
Having Turnover more than 12 Lacs but upto 20 crore per Annum
Having Turnover more than 12 Lacs per Annum
Having Turnover upto 20 crore per Annum
Having Upto 100 Vending Machines in only one State/UT
NA
NA
Criteria to obtain CENTRAL LICENSE
Processing of More than 50,000 Liters of Milk per Day or More than 2500 MT of Milk Solid Per Annum
2 MT per Day
More than 500 KG Meat per Day or More than 150 MT meat per Annum
with Production capacity more than 2 MT per Day except grains, cereals and pulses milling units Annum
with Storage Capacity more than 10,000 MT
with Storage Capacity more than 1,000 MT
with Storage Capacity more than 50,000 MT
Having Turnover more than Rs. 30 Crores per Annum
Having Turnover more than Rs. 20 Crores per annum
Five Star and Above
Having Turnover more than Rs. 20 Crores per Annum
Having Turnover more than 12 Lacs per Annum
Having Turnover more than Rs. 20 Crores per annum
More than 100 Vending Machines and/or located in two or more States/UTs
Importing or Exporting any type of food product with no limit on the capacity
No limit on Capacity or Turnover