General facts about FSSAI license and registration

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General Facts about FSSAI License and
Registration

• In this article, you will come to know about the
  general facts regarding the FSSAI license and
  registration.

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General Facts about FSSAI License and
Registration

• FSSAI stands for Food standards and safety
  authority of India. It is the prime authority
  which is responsible for regulating and
  maintaining the food safety. FSSAI is compulsory
  for all the Food Business Operators (FBOs) in
  order to get FSSAI License. Consequently, FSSAI
  was established under the act of food safety and
  security act, 2006. It is a general organization
  made for protecting the health of the people. The
  common confusion among the FBOs is the license
  which the businessman is required to obtain

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OVERVIEW OF FSSAI

• FSSAI registration can be done in 1-2 days and
  the license can be obtained in 10-12 working
  days. FSSAI lays down science-based standards for
  the articles of food and it regulates their
  manufacturing, storage, distribution, sale and
  import in order to deliver safe and also
  wholesome food to 130 citizens of the country.
  Simultaneously, the chairperson of the FSSAI is
  appointed by the central government amongst the
  persons who are in the field of home science. It
  is compulsory for all the manufactures, traders
  and restaurants to get this certificate.

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General benefits of FSSAI

• Specifically, food license issued by the FSSAI is
  regarded as a permit which is required to operate
  a food related business and also in order to
  ensure good quality food in your business and for
  the benefits of one from the government actions.
  But, some of the entrepreneurs supervise the
  importance of FSSAI license as how this license
  can be used as an effective marketing tool to
  boost their business. The FSSAI license can be
  used in the following ways
• 1. CUSTOMER AWARENESS
• In addition, the customers becomes more alert and
  informative about the quality of food they eat.
  Moreover, with the number of diets and increasing
  of the healthy eating food options, people are
  necessary to know as to what they are consuming
  is not just safe but is of really good quality.
  More so after the recent controversy with Maggi,
  are proving the consumers have started to take
  the food safety standard seriously.

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• 2. LEGAL ADVANTAGE
• Most of the business people thinks getting
  an FSSAI license as an expensive, time consuming
  and also an inconvenient process of
  documentation, so avoid getting the license. But,
  in reality, the process is not so cumbersome and
  there are a lot of consultancies that can help
  you get the license with ease
• 3. USING THE FSSAI LOGO 
• Once you have the license, you can skillfully use
  the FSSAI logo in your menu cards and also in the
  pamphlets in order to publicize your foods
  superior quality over others.  However, this
  gives you an edge over the many food operators
  who are not having the license. Moreover, all the
  packaged foods are required to have
  an FSSAI number. The logo is thus placed as a
  mark of validity and also for assurance by the
  consumers. It helps in developing a brand name.
• 4. BUSINESS EXPANSION
• Consequently, with the help of FSSAI
  registration you can easily expand your
  businesses. The license will easily help you to
  establish your reputation and also your value to
  grow your business in a good direction with ease.
  Moreover, the license can be used to get bank
  loans easily and also for funding which is
  required for the expansion. 

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Why is FSSAI Registration Important?

• Every business operator who is involved in
  the food businessmanufacturing, processing,
  storage, distribution, and sale should
  compulsorily have an FSSAI registration. 14-digit
  FSSAI license number is printed on all the food
  packages.
• Further, the main purpose of the FSSAI
  registration is to create more responsibility on
  the part of the Food Business Operator (FBO) in
  terms of the quality of the food. The FSSAI
  certificate of the FBO ensures the quality and
  safety of the food products. It is important for
  every manufacturer to print the FSSAI license
  number of the product.

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GENERAL TYPE OF FOOD LICENSES

• FSSAI, issues three different types of license
  namely
• Central license
• State license
• Basic FSSAI registration
• The detailed information about the three food
  licenses.
• FSSAI REGISTRATION STATE LICENSE
• In fact, food business operators such as small to
  medium sized manufacturers, storage units,
  transporters, retailers, marketers, distributors
  etc. are required to obtain the FSSAI State
  License.
• The State Government issues the state license. It
  is important for all the food operators who
  operate food in only 1 state. It is mostly for
  the units having an annual turnover more than 12
  lakh.

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• FSSAI REGISTRATION 
• The Food business operators like minor food
  manufacturers and also small-sized manufacturers,
  storage units, transporters, retailers,
  marketers, distributors etc. are required to
  obtain the FSSAI Registration.
• The FSSAI Registration is issued by the State
  Government. Depending upon the eligibility, an
  FBO will fall under the State or Registration
  license. It is mostly for the units having an
  annual turnover which is up to 12 lakh.
•  FSSAI REGISTRATION CENTRAL LICENSE
•  Food business operators such as the Importers,
  100 Export Oriented Units, large manufacturers,
  operators in the Central Government agencies,
  airports, and seaports etc. are required to
  obtain a Central Food License. The Central
  Government issues the central license.
  Furthermore, FBOs have to obtain the Central
  License for their head office, and if they
  operate food in more than 1 state. It is mostly
  for the units who are having an annual turnover
  which is greater than 20 crores.

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Difference between FSSAI Registration FSSAI
License

• In general, as per the Food Safety and Standards
  Regulation, 2011, all food operator must
  obtain FSSAI registration, if they are involved
  in the sale, distribution, transportation,
  storage, and manufacturing of the food products.
  The basic difference between the FSSAI license
  and the FSSAI registration is based on the size
  and nature of the FBO.

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FSSAI REGISTRATION

• FSSAI registration is required for Food Business
  Operators who
• Manufacture or sell any food article himself or
  a retailer, itinerant vendor, hawker, etc.
• Distributes food in religious and social
  gatherings, except a caterer
• Other businesses related to food whose annual
  turnover does not exceed INR 12 lakhs and
• Their food production capacity should not
  exceed 100kg or litre/day (other than products
  like meat and meat products and milk and milk
  products)
• collection of milk it up to 500-liter milk/day
• Their slaughtering capacity is 50 poultry birds
  or 10 small animals or 2 large animals/day
• All the FBOs are required to obtain the FSSAI
  registration. They can obtain the license by
  submitting an FSSAI registration form in Form A.
  After the submission of the application form, the
  FSSAI registration will be processed by the
  authority within 7 days.
• The information in the FSSAI registration
  includes the details of the registration and a
  photograph of the applicant. It is mandatory to
  display the certificate at the food business
  place, at all the times.

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FSSAI LICENSE

• All the entity who does not classify as business
  operators are required to obtain the FSSAI
  license in India. The FSSAI license is of two
  types, State FSSAI License and Central FSSAI
  License.
• The licensing authority changes based on the size
  and nature of the business. The large food
  manufacturers, transporters, processors, or
  importers are required to obtain the Central
  FSSAI license whereas the medium-sized food
  manufacturers require State FSSAI License.
• The fee and procedure for FSSAI License are
  extensive in comparison to FSSAI registration. An
  FSSAI license can be obtained by filling the
  particulars in Form B along with
  the self-attested affidavit, declaration, and
  annexures. Usually, an FSSAI License is granted
  for 1-5 years as requested by the FBO.
  Noteworthy, the higher the number of years, the
  higher the applicable fees will be to obtain the
  FSSAI license. The registration can be renewed
  not later than 30 days prior to the expiry date
  of the license.

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General principles of food safety

• Section 18 of the FSSAI provides for the general
  principles which are to be followed by the
  various authorities while implementing the
  provisions of the Act such as endeavor to achieve
  an appropriate level of protection of human life
  and health and the protection of consumers
  interests, carrying out risk management, etc.
• Further, there are general provisions related to
  food products are mentioned in the Chapter IV of
  the Act. These provisions includes the regulation
  of additives use or processing aid in the food or
  the presence of contaminants, insecticides,
  veterinary drugs residues or pesticides residues,
  etc. in the food products. Consequently, there
  are certain general provisions dealing with the
  packaging and labelling of foods.

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DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR FSSAI REGISTRATION

• The following documents required for the FSSAI
  registration are
• Form A Duly filed and signed
• Photo identity of the food business operator
• Possession of premises proof, such as a rental
  agreement
• Partnership Deep/ Articles of Association/
  Certificate of Incorporation, etc.
• List of the food items to be dealt with
• Food safety management plan

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The consequences of not obtaining the FSSAI
License or Registration

• In fact, all the persons registered under the
  FSSAI have to follow to the FSSAI rules and
  regulations. The Food Safety Officer conducts
  inspection of the facility provided by the food
  business operator and also identifies the level
  of compliance, if any, using his checklist. The
  officer marks the FBO based on the compliance
  level such as
• Compliance (C)
• Non-compliance (NC)
• Partial Compliance (PC)
• Non-applicable/ not observed (NA)
• In case the food safety officer issues
  an improvement notice to the FBO and he fails to
  comply with it, then the officer will cancel
  his registration. The decision of the officer
  thereon can be challenged through appealing in
  the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal or High Court.

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General procedure to obtain FSSAI Registration or
license

• The procedure to obtain FSSAI registration or
  license is
• The first step for FSSAI registration is submittin
  g FORM A or B to the food and safety department.
• The application will be processed by the
  department within 7 days. The fact will be
  intimated to the applicant in hand-written.
• In case, the FSSAI application is accepted, then
  the Food and Safety Department will grant
  registration certificate along with the
  registration number and the photo of the
  applicant.
• The food business operator must display the
  registration certificate in the office premises
  or print the FSSAI registration license number on
  the food product.

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Conclusion

• In fact, food security and safety are a major
  concerns in each and every place. Food, being an
  absolute necessity, it should be safe and fit for
  consumption. FSSAI has made it compulsory for all
  food-related business to register, or get a
  license, as it hopes to prevent these casualties.