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A BRIEF VIEW OF FSSAI LICENCE ONLINE IN INDIA

According to Section 31(1) of FSS Act, 2006, food licencing made compulsory for food business operators in our country.  This licence determines the food quality and standards. Food License was issued by Food Licensing and Registration System, which is also called as FSSAI license.

FSSAI is shortly called as Food Safety and Standards of India, which is responsible for the issuance of the license for the foods and for the owners who is doing the food business.  It is mandatory for all food business operators toget the FSSAI license online in India for their food products manufacturers, food traders and food store operators.  This authority is formed and run by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India and they are solely responsible for preparing and producing the standards of storing, packing and selling food items in our country. 

This licence is provided to food business owners according to the scale and size of the business and they are of two types as per Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.  Theyare FSSAI registration and FSSAI licence. Inturn this FSSAI licence is divided into two parts.

VARIOUS KINDS OF FOOD SAFETY LICENCE

The kinds of food safety licence is issued on the basis of the size and scale of the entity, like turnover of food business and kind of business operations that the entity is involved in.  All food related businesses need to get food licence.  They are of two kinds, the FSSAI licence and FSSAI registration.  We should know how to determine which one is right choice for our entity.

Let us go in detail to know more about food licence.

BASIC FSSAI REGISTRATION

This model is suitable for petty food business owners whose business turnover is not to exceed over 12 lakhs per annum, example petty retailer, temporary stallholders or itinerant vendor, hawker.

STATE FSSAI LICENCE

If the food business has a turnover of Rs 12 lac to Rs 20 crore, this licence is highly suitable. Itis mandatory to get the FSSAI state License.  It is similar as FSSAI state manufacturing or an FSSAI state trading licence.

FSSAI LICENCE CENTRAL

Entities whose turnover is more than 20 crores should get the Central FSSAI License registration, eg, some FBOs which come under this group are manufacturing, trading and storing unit etc.

REASONS FOR GETTING A FOOD LICENSE FOR FOOD BUSINESS

The main vision of food safety and standards authority of India is to ensure total quality and unadulterated products being produced and packed.  Theyshould make it clear that manufacturers are producing and packing the products keeping in mind the quality standards as prescribed by FSSAI.  The products that are traded need to be maintained with certain levels of quality and standards as dictated by FSSAI.  Theyhave certain guidelines for obtaining food licence, given by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India wherein the main objective is to promote the total quality of food products and to control the adulteration and to improve the levels of operation of food manufacturers. Ifall of these matched, and then the FSSAI food licence will be issued.

STEP BY STEP PROCESS TO GET AN FSSAI LICENCE IN INDIA

BASIC REGISTRATION

Once our files and documents are clearly verified by the concerned authorities and the next step is to create the login process wherein we have to submit the form A duly filled for approval and we have to pay the required fees in this step when the login ID is created.  Thenas per location of the business, licence will be issued within a period of 10 to 15 days.

STATE LICENSE

After documentation verification by the concerned authority, a special login ID is created by the concerned authorities.  Then to accomplish the state licence,we have to submit a specified form along with the special document called the declaration.  After this step, the declaration contains the signed general declaration statement of the business operator along with specified form 9, Proclamation of Food Safety Licence Management System(FSMS) depends on the declaration.

Along with Form B, other required documents has to be filled tocomplete the procedure.  Depending on the location of business, the licence will beissued within 20 to 30 days.If any mistakes found in the application, it should be edited and has to be submitted within 30 days.If not, the application gets rejected and we have to start right from the beginning step.

CENTRAL LICENSE

This type of licence process is as similar to getting the state licence. Theonly difference is the kind of food business operated by the FBOand the period at which the central licence is issued are same.

The operator needs an IEC, if the food business is import and export, whatever might be the turnover of the business.  Thenif the business involves in the transportation of food items,it needs a central licence in which there should be a mention that FBO is involved in the transportation of food items.

CONSEQUENCES OF SELLING FOOD WITHOUT A LICENCE

As per section 31(2) of the FSS Act, all food business operators with the exception of exempted groups should get a food license depending on the eligibility criteria to run their food related business.  If not, they have to pay fine or penalty as follows:

1.      The quality of food not in abidance per the act will get a fine of Rs 2 lakhs, 25,000 for small manufacturers.

2.      Food products that are misbranded will get a penalty of Rs 5 lakhs.

3.      Lowquality or substandard food product will incur a penalty of Rs 3 lakhs.

4.      False marketing or deceiving advertisement and false specifications will get Rs 10 lakhs as penalty.

5.      Food products that do not have pertinent matters will be fined Rs 1 lakh.

6.      Failure of following the food safety officer’s directions will get a penalty of Rs 2 lakhs.

7.      Fooditems manufactured by unhygienic methods will get a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

FSSAI LICENCE RENEWAL

All entities have a responsibility for online renewal of licence every 1-5 years regardless of whatever business they do for example whether a processing unit or manufacturing unit, distributing units or food packaging units or trading units. It is compulsory that renewing licence is as important as getting one.  Theyhave to renew as per the rules and regulations mentioned in the FSSAI Act 2006.  The majority of the population are not aware about the renewal of food licence is also important as getting one in a fixed time period.  So, it is very imperative that getting the FSSAI licence is very essential for every business owner or operator.

FSSAI NUMBER IS UNIQUE 14 DIGIT

The FSSAI licence is a unique 14 digit number issuedto all food business operators. It comprises of 5 sections. Each section describes the various information about the FBO.The food package should contain the introductory details of the FSSAI licence along with its logo.