The Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 introduced to improve the hygiene and quality of food has brought about tremendous changes in the food industry. As per the Act, no person shall commence or carry on any food business except under a FSSAI license or FSSAI registration. Therefore, any food manufacturing or processing or packaging or distributing entity is now required to obtain a FSSAI License or Registration.

• FSSAI Registration

FSSAI Registration issued by FSSAI is required for carrying on activities related to any stage of manufacturing, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution of food.

• License Categories

FSSAI License can be divided into two categories State level License and Central License. Hotel, Restaurant and medium size food manufacturers are covered under State license. Large size food manufacturers come under Central licensing.

• Hawkers and Cottage Industries

Petty retailer, hawker, itinerant vendor or a temporary stallholder or small scale or cottage or such other industries relating to food business or tiny food business operator are exempt from obtaining FSSAI Registration or License.

• Location Specific

A separate FSSAI Registration or License required and issued for each location where food is handled. Therefore, an entity may have to obtain multiple FSSAI licenses if it operates multiple locations.

• Validity

Once a FSSAI License is issued, it is valid for one or two years. Before end of its validity, the license can be renewed for a further term based on the requirements of the business.

FSSAI registration for Food Businesses can be obtained through the FSSAI Food Licensing & Registration System. FSSAI registration for food business falls under one of three categories:

• Central License
• State License
• Registration

• FSSAI Registration Central License

Food business operators like 100% Export Oriented Units, large manufacturers, importers, food business operators in Central Government Agencies, airport, seaport, etc., need to obtain FSSAI registration from central government.

• FSSAI Registration State License

Food business operators like small to medium sized manufacturing units, storage, transporters, retailers, marketers, distributors, etc., need to take FSSAI registration from state government.

• FSSAI Registration

Food business operators who are petty food manufacturers can obtain registration under this scheme from the state government by submitting minimal documents.

The documents required for FSSAI registration varies based on the license applied and the type of licensing. However, these are some of the common documents required for obtaining FSSAI registration:

1. Photo Identity of Promoters of the Food Business
2. Proof of possession of premises (Rental Agreement / Utility Bill)
3. Partnership Deed / Certificate of Incorporation / Articles of Association / Memorandum of Association
4. List of food products manufactures or processed or stored
5. Food safety management system plan
6. Signed and Completed Form-B

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 has brought in tremendous changes to the food industry in an effort to make available to consumers, safe and standardized foods. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 has made FSSAI registration mandatory for food business operators and food products. In this article, we look at the two main types of FSSAI Registration- Food Business License and Food Product Approval.

• FSSAI Food Business Operator License

Food business operator license is required for all Food Business Operators in the country. The rules for FSSAI Registration for Food Businesses is laid out in the FSSAI Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses Regulation, 2011. As per the FSSAI Food Business Regulation Act, only petty food manufacturers are allowed to start a food business without FSSAI registration. Petty Food Manufacturer means any food manufacturer, who (a) manufactures or sells any article of food himself or a petty retailer, hawker, itinerant vendor or temporary stall holder; or distributes foods including in any religious or social gathering except a caterer. All other persons wishing to start a food business must possess an FSSAI registration prior to starting the business.

• FSSAI Food Product Approval

FSSAI food product approval is required for any food product which contains ingredients or additives that are not as per the FSSAI standards. Therefore, food products for which no standards have been specified by the FSSAI required FSSAI food product approval. FSSAI registration for food products must mainly be obtained by food product manufacturers or food product importers.