All about the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

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All about the Food Safety and Standards Authority
of India

• This blog describes you about the Food safety and
  standards and how to obtain FSSAI license in a
  hassle-free manner.

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• Chiefly, the food safety and standards authority
  of India (FSSAI) is responsible about the
  protecting and encouraging public health through
  regulation and guidance of food safety. It is
  purely an independent body established under the
  Ministry of Health Family Welfare, Government
  of India. The FSSAI was established under the
  Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• Moreover, FSSAI helps to regulate and it also
  supervises the functioning of the food businesses
  in India. It is mandatory for all the food
  business operators, distributors, retailers and
  the storage houses to get FSSAI License. FSSAI is
  located in major 5 regions like
• Northern regions, With head office located at New
  Delhi.
• Eastern regions
• North-Eastern regions
• Western regions
• Southern regions

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Food safety and standards act, 2006

• Consequently, an Act to
• FSSAI unite the laws relating to food and
• In addition, this act establishes the Food
  Safety and Standards Authority of India
• This act Lays down science based standards for
  articles of food and
• It also regulates their manufacture, storage,
  distribution, sale and import, to ensure
  availability of safe and wholesome food for human
  consumption.
• This Act dominated all other food related laws
  like Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, Food
  Products Order, Milk and Milk Products Order,
  Solvent Extracted Oil, De- Oiled Meal and Edible
  Flour Order, 1967 etc.

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Process to get Food license
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• In essence, FSSAI has introduced an online
  application called Food Licensing and
  Registration System (FLRS). FLRS provides the
  option for checking the eligibility for the
  license and applying through online. In addition,
  it sends automated alerts to the applicants via
  SMS or email so that the FSSAI registration and
  license can be renewed on time.
• To apply for food license who should follow these
  steps
• First go to http //foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in
   website and check your eligibility criteria for
  registration or state/central license.
• Fill the sign up form under selected criteria
  and activate your account.
• Now sign-in to your account and start filling
  the application form. Make sure have all
  the documents required for the selected criteria.

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• Submit and take a print out of your
  application. A reference number will be shared
  with you which will help in tracking the status
  of your application.
• After receiving the application, the authorities
  will examine and carry out an inspection. If the
  inspector gets satisfied, he/she will forward the
  report and the FSSAI license will be issued by
  the concerned authority. This may take up to 60
  days.

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How to verify the FSSAI License Number Online?
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• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
  (FSSAI) has introduced about more number of
  reforms towards ensuring hygienic and healthy
  foods to the consumer. Recently, some of the
  modifications was implemented in such way that
  food safety audit conducted in food manufacturing
  and restaurant premises across India, and the
  regular inspection of FSSAI registration and
  FSSAI license among the food business operations
  in India.
• All the food businesses operator must obtain
  a food license or FSSAI registration through
  online before commencing their food business. The
  FSSAI number has to be mentioned compulsory in
  the product and within the premises. An FSSAI
  License is valid up to next 5 years, one has to
  renew the FSSAI License by providing necessary
  documents after 5 years.

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FSSAI LICENSE NUMBER

• Basically, there are different kinds of FSSAI
  registration number based on the scale of the
  food business operation.
• The 14-digits of an FSSAI license number are
  divided into 5 groups.
• Each groups represents the information regarding
  to the type of the food business operator,
  compared to others.
• The FSSAI authority identifies the category of
  food business operator.

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• ABOUT 5 DIFFERENT GROUPS OF THE FSSAI
  REGISTRATION NUMBER
• 1st digit represents whether the business is
  having FSSAI registration or FSSAI license. In
  case of FSSAI registration, 1st digit will be
  1, while in case of FSSAI license, 1st digit
  will be 2.
• 2nd and 3rd digit describes the FSSAI License
  state code. Central FSSAI license is represented
  by 00, while State licenses are shown by
  successive digits.
• 4th and 5th digits show the year when the
  business got the FSSAI registration.
• 6th, 7th and 8th digits indicates the Registrar
  Officer under whose influence the FSSAI License
  falls. So, each state will assign these digits
  from 001 to 999 as Registrar Officers.
• 9th to 14th digits show the number of the food
  business operator, who is under a specific
  Registrar Officer. Each Registrar Officer can
  hold up to 10 lakh food businesses or serial
  numbers up to999999.

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When FSSAI License has to renew?

• As per the regulations, FSSAI license is valid
  for a period of 1 to 5 years from the date of
  issue of registration as specified by the
  authority. The initial validity or the term of
  registration will be varying from 1 to 5 years as
  chosen by the food business operators themselves.
• Since, the primary registration given to every
  food business operator is limited only to a
  number of years. Every food business operator is
  required to renew their FSSAI registration before
  its expiry in order to continue receiving the
  benefits of such license. 
• The application for the renewal of registration
  must be made at least 30 days prior to the date
  of expiry mentioned in the current food license.
  Any renewal application is filed beyond the
  mentioned date, then the applicant should pay a
  fine of about Rs.100/- per day of delay.
  Moreover, if a food business operator misses to
  renew the FSSAI license, then the operator should
  apply freshly for the FSSAI license.

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PROCEDURE FOR RENEWAL OF FSSAI LICENSE        

• The first and foremost step in the renewal
  of FSSAI license is to file Form A, in case of
  basic FSSAI registration or Form B in case of
  central or state FSSAI license with the
  signatures of the authorized signatory. These are
  the basic forms which contains business
  activities of the food operator which are
  required to be filled along with the
  self-attested declaration. Besides, identity
  proofs such as Aadhaar Card, Driving License or
  Voter Identity Card is also necessary.
• The application for renewal should go with an
  audit report or Food Safety Management System
  Plan, or Certificates regarding food safety
  management system has to be filed.
• Form IX i.e. form of nomination of persons by the
  company has to be filed in the prescribed format.

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• After receiving the application for FSSAI renewal
  along with all the necessary documents, the
  authorities will then examine the application and
  if necessary, could also arrange for an
  inspection at the premises.
• After successful inspection by the authorities,
  if they are satisfied, then they issue a license
  in favour of the food business operator.
• It takes not more than 60 days for the food
  license to reach the food business operator. If
  more than 60 days have passed and the food
  business operator has not received the license,
  then it can resume its business without waiting
  for any further notice.

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DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR FSSAI REGISTRATION

• Application Form-B duly completed and signed by
  the proprietor.
• Layout of the processing unit.
• List of directors along with their address and
  contact details.
• List of machinery along with the installed
  capacity.
• ID proofs and address proof issued by the
  Government authority.
• List of food manufactured.
• Name of the responsible person nominated by the
  manufacturer along with the alternative
  responsible person along with the authority
  letter.
• Analysis report of the water which is used as an
  ingredient in the food product, through a
  Government recognized laboratory on food testing.

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• Partnership Deed and articles of association
  consulting the constitution of the firm.
• A copy of certificate obtained under the
  Co-operative acts
• No Objection Certificate issued by the
  manufacturer in case of re-labellers.
• Source of milk and milk products processing
  units.
• Details on the source of raw material for meat
  and meat processing plants.
• Pesticide residues report of water in case of a
  manufacturer of packaged drinking water, mineral
  Water, carbonated water from a govt. recognized
  lab.
• No Objection Certificates from local body or the
  municipality and from the State Pollution Control
  Board except in case the unit is established in
  the notified industrial area for a particular
  food business (Optional).

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Conclusion

• Getting a license should be your top priority
  when opening or running food business. Hope this
  helps in making the process a bit easier for you.