FSSAI is the supreme authority for supervising and regulating food safety in India. Food Business Operators (FBO) need to take license from the FSSAI. Food safety license lays down scientific standards for food articles, it regulates their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import in order to ensure food safety. As per Section 31(1) and 31 (2) of the Food Standards and Safety Act, 2006, every Food Business Operator in the country is required to be licensed/registered under the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India. The authority is responsible for creating an information network across the country so that the public, consumers, etc. receive rapid, reliable and accurate information about the food safety and also hygiene and the other related issues of concern. All food businesses having turnover of more than 12 lacs are required to take a license. Every food business operator involved in the storage distribution processing, manufacturing and sale of food products must compulsorily obtain FSSAI Registration or License. FSSAI allots 14-digit numeric registration or a license number which is printed on all the food packages.
Step 1. File Application in Form A with fee of Rs. 100
Step 2. Grant of Unique Application Reference Number
Step 3. Registering authority may order inspection before the grant of registration
Step 4. Registering authority may grant or reject application within 7 days
Step 5. After Grant of Registration the FBO can start business
Some of the categories of businesses need Registration with FSSAI are
| Business Type | Description |
| Food Business Operator | Food Business Operator with more than Rs. 12 Lakh turnover in a year and who has a business as a retailer, supplier, distributor, wholesaler, and, food vending establishments. And also a business of canteen, club, Dhaba, restaurants, and hotels |
| Petty Food | Petty food manufactures |
| Small Stalls | Small stalls selling food items |
| Business | Businesses involved in selling food for religious and social gathering |
| Cottage Industries | Cottage industries that are selling food items |
| Production or processing Milk & Oil | Production or processing units of vegetable oil and refineries include oil expeller system. The capacity has to be less than 100 kg/litre a day (except meat or milk). |
| Dairy Units | Dairy units, involved in /collection/ procurement / chilling/handling of milk, having a capacity has to be less than 500 litres a day or up to 2.5 Metric Ton of milk solids. |
| Slaughter Shops | Slaughter shops having not more than 2 large animals or 50 poultry birds or 10 small animals in a day. |
| Registration Type | Business Type | Turnover per year |
| Basic Registration | Petty Food Business | Upto Rs. 12 Lakh |
| State License | Medium Food Business | Rs. 12 Lakh to Rs. 20 Crore |
| Central LIcense | Large Food Busienss | More than Rs. 20 Crore |
State Food License
Food Business Operator, who has a business as a retailer, supplier, distributor, wholesaler, and, food vending establishments with an annual turnover between Rs. 12 lakh to Rs. 20 Crores
Production or processing units of vegetable oil and refineries include oil
expeller system with turnover within Rs. 12 Lacs to Rs. 20 Crores
4-star rating Hotels
Dairy units, involved in /collection/ procurement / chilling/handling of milk,
having a capacity between 500 litres to 50,000 litres or up to 50,000 metric
tonnes yearly
Slaughter shops having more than 2 large animals to 50 large animals. And has
the capacity of 50 to 1000 poultry birds or 10 to 150 small animals in a day.
Food processing units, including the daily capacity of more than 100 kg/litre to
up to 2 metric tonnes.
Central Food License
Food Business operator with more than Rs. 20 Crore Annual Turnover, who has a business as a retailer, supplier, distributor, wholesaler, and, food vending establishments.
Production, manufacturing or processing units of vegetable oil and refineries
include oil expeller system with a capacity of over 2 metric tonnes per day.
Wholesalers who have an annual turnover of more than Rs. 30 crores.
5-star hotels
Caterers who are working under Central Government for Railways, Airport,
Seaport, Defence etc
Dairy units, involved in /collection/ procurement / chilling/handling of milk,
having a capacity over 50,000 litres a day or more than 50,000 metric tonnes
yearly
Slaughter shops having more than 50 large animals. And has the capacity of more
than1000 poultry birds or more than 150 small animals in a day.
Food processing units, including the daily capacity of more than 2 metric tonnes
excluding the grains, pulses & cereals milling units
Step 1
Food business operator submits an application form to the Licensing Authority
via the FSSAI online registration process in Form B along with the fees
STEP 2
Then the operator receives a Unique Application Reference Number
STEP 3
The application must consist of Affidavit, Annexure and additional information
as applicable.
STEP4
Thereafter, the person will receive the Unique Application ID
STEP 5
The authority does an inspection after the receipt of an application, if
considered necessary and issues an inspection report.
STEP 6
Finally, the grant of license within 60 days after completing all the
formalities
Basic FSSAI Registration
- Declaration form
- Authority letter
- Copy of the property paper (if the property is owned)
- Copy of Rent Agreement (If rented property)
- Electricity bill or water bill of business place
- Identity proof of proprietor or partners or directors like Aadhar Card, or Voter ID card
- Form X for the designation of persons by a company with the board resolution.
For Central and State FSSAI License
- Declaration Form
- List of Partners, Owners, and Executive Members of Society with full address Latest
- Identification proof such as Aadhaar Card or Voter ID card
- PAN Card
- Address Proof such as Telephone, Mobile Bill, Electricity or Gas Bill
- Copy of Property papers (if owned)
- Copy of Rent Agreement and Landlord's NOC (if rented)
- Partnership Deed/ MOA/AOA of the firm
- NOC from the manufacturer (in case of Distributor)
- NOCs from Municipality or local body
- E-Code document issued by DGFT
- Form IX Nomination of persons by a company
- FSSAI Basic Registration fees Rs. 100
- FSSAI state license fees Rs 2000 to 5000 which varies from state to state
- FSSAI Central License fees Rs. 7500
Note: This is approximate fee. Please check actual fee from the FSSAI authority
It is mandatory for Food Business Operators to follow the guidelines of FSSAI. Failure by FBO in complying the order will attract the following penalties.
| Particulars | Penalty |
| Substandard Food | Up to Rs. 5 Lakh |
| Misbranded Food | Up to Rs. 3 Lakhs |
| Misleading Advertisement | Rs. 10 Lakhs |
| Food containing Extraneous matter | Rs. 1 Lakh |
| Food Quality not in compliance with the Act | Rs. 2 Lakhs, Rs. 25000 for Petty Business |
| Failure to comply with directions of food safety officer | Rs. 2 Lakh |
| Un hygienic or unsanitary processing or manufacturing of food | Rs. 1 Lakh |
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