FSSAI full form is basically the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. It is the governing and regulatory body for ensuring the safety of food products delivered to the consumers. Sometimes it is also referred to as the Food Authority of India. The Food Safety and Standards Act empowers FSSAI to exercise the powers in addition to carrying out the functions specified to them by the Government of India as well as the Ministry of Health and Family Affair. The Ministry of Health and Family also acts as a consultant for the FSSAI Food License.
FSSAI, empowered by the Food Safety and Security Act of 2006, sets the standards for healthy and consumable food products based on facts backed by science. The Food Authority of India also helps regulate the storage, production, distribution as well as the sales of the food products deemed safe to consume for the buyers of these food items. In addition to this, the food regulatory body also ensures that the food products are free from impurities and adulteration.
What is FSSAI license number?
FSSAI license is basically a 14- Digit registration number which is printed on food packages.Every food item in India has to be marked with the FSSAI logo and has to display the 14 digit-license number after they have under gone the food safety checks under the Food Safety and Standards Act. In addition to this, the food regulatory body has also instructed all restaurants and food eateries enlisted on the food aggregator apps like Zomato and Swiggy to display their fssai license number on the application and also give a hygiene rating for the food prepared by the restaurant. Failure to provide the aggregation apps with the required information will lead to your restaurant business being De-listed from the apps.
How to Apply
The process of application starts with the identification of eligibility of your premise. Depending upon the installed capacity (in case of manufacturers) and/or turnover (for other Kind of businesses) and/or location, your premise may be eligible for any of the following categories:
TYPES OF FSSAI LICENSE
| Central License | State License | Registration |
You can check Clarification on jurisdiction
Fee Structure
| Please Note: License/Certificate can be applied for a maximum period of 5 Years. | |||
| Central (1 Year) | State (1 Year) | Registration (1 Year) | |
| New Application | Rs. 7500 | View | Rs. 100 |
| Renewal Application | Rs. 7500 | View | Rs. 100 |
| License/Certificate Modification | Rs. 7500 | View | Rs. 100 |
| Duplicate License/Certificate | 10% of the Applicable License Fee | View | 10% of the Applicable Certificate Fee |
FSSAI ELIGIBILITY RULES
Many times as a Food Business Owner it is difficult to determine what license to go for State or Central. Here, we list down the eligibility criteria so you can look up your type of business and swiftly proceed to acquire your food license.
Basic FSSAI Registration
Basic FSSAI registration is applicable for all food businesses and related activities like storage, sales, distribution, repacking and labeling for which the annual turnover does not cross Rs. 12 lakh or for food businesses which have a maximum turn over of Rs. 12 lakh Annually.
State FSSAI License Eligibility
The following FBOs can apply for a state FSSAI license
- Restaurants and Hotels
- Meat processing Units and Slaughtering Units
- Proprietary Foods
- Food Processing Units inclusive of corresponding retailers and repackers
- Vegetable Oil Processing Units as well as Production Units
- Dairy Units inclusive of Milk Chilling units
Central FSSAI License Eligibility
The following Food Business Owners have been deemed eligible to obtain the FSSAI central license by the regulatory authority
- 5 Star Hotels and above
- All Food Businesses inclusive of retailers, distributors, suppliers, and caterers mentioned for state license could apply for the central license if their operations are at larger scale.(~20 crore or more)
- Restaurants/ Food processing and handling chains with multiple branches across various states have to obtain the Central FSSAI license for the main branch/head office
- 100 % export oriented food processing/production units
- Food processing units, relabellers, and repackers who are processing more than 2 Metric Tonnes per day excluding grains, cereals, and pulse milling units
- Refrigerated storages holding a capacity of 10,000 Metric Tonnes or more
- Wholesalers with their annual turnovers amounting to Rs. 30 Crores or more
- Food Catering services located at airports as well as seaports
Based on Annual Turnover has to either apply for simple FSSAI Online Registration in FORM A with FSSAI or apply for Licensing in FORM B.
Documents to be enclosed for New Application for License to Central Licensing Authority
- Form-B Duly completed and signed (In Duplicate) by the Proprietor/Partner or the Authorized Signatory
- Blueprint/layout plan of the processing unit showing the dimensions in meters/square meters and operation-wise area allocation (mandatory for manufacturing and processing units only)
- List of Directors/Partners/Proprietor/Executive Members of Society/Trust with full address and contact details (mandatory for companies only)
- Name and List of Equipment and Machinery along with the number, installed capacity and horsepower used (mandatory for manufacturing and processing units only)
- Photo I.D and address proof issued by Government authority of Proprietor/Partner/Director(s)/Authorised Signatory. (optional)
- List of food category desired to be manufactured. (In case of manufacturers)
- Authority letter with name and address of responsible person nominated by the manufacturer along with alternative responsible person indicating the powers vested with them viz assisting the officers in inspections, collection of samples, packing & dispatch. (for manufacturers / processors)
- Analysis report (Chemical & Bacteriological) of water to be used as ingredient in food from a recognized/ public health laboratory to confirm the portability (mandatory only for manufacturing and processing units only)
- Proof of possession of premises. (Sale deed/ Rent agreement/ Electricity bill, etc.) (optional)
- Partnership Deed/Affidavit of Proprietorship/Memorandum & Articles of Association towards the constitution of the firm. (optional) – For MoA – Three pages need to be uploaded (First page – Certification of incorporation, Second page – Authorization of food business activity and Third page – list of directors with addresses)
- Copy of certificate obtained under Coop Act – 1861/Multi State Coop Act – 2002 in case of Cooperatives. (wherever applicable)
- NOC from manufacturer (mandatory for relabellers and repackers only)
- Food Safety Management System plan or certificate (if any)
- Source of milk or procurement plan for milk including location of milk collection centres etc. in case of Milk and Milk Products processing units.(wherever applicable)
- Source of raw material for meat and meat processing plants. (wherever applicable)
- Pesticide residues report of water in case of units manufacturing packaged drinking water, packaged Mineral water and/or carbonated water from a recognised/ public health laboratory
- Recall plan wherever applicable, with details on whom the product is distributed. (optional)
- NOCs from Municipality or local body. (optional)
- Ministry of Commerce Certificate for 100% EOU
- Supporting documentary proof for Turnover
- NOC/PA document issued by FSSAI (In case of multiple documents, merge them into one document and then upload)
DAIRY UNITS INCLUDING MILK CHILLING UNITS EQUIPPED TO HANDLE OR PROCESS
1. Upload Production unit photograph 2. Blueprint/layout plan of the processing unit showing the dimensions in metres/square metres and operation-wise area allocation (mandatory for manufacturing and processing units only) 3. List of Directors with full address and contact details (mandatory for companies only) 4. Name and List of Equipments and Machinery along with the number, installed capacity and horse power used (mandatory for manufacturing and processing units only) 5. Analysis report (Chemical & Bacteriological) of water to be used as ingredient in food from a recognized/ public health laboratory to confirm the potable (mandatory only for manufacturing and processing units only) 6. Food Safety Management System plan or certificate (if any) 7. Declaration Form 8. Photo I.D and address proof issued by Government authority of Proprietor/Partner/Director(s)/Authorised Signatory. 9. Proof of possession of premises. (Sale deed/ Rent agreement/ Electricity bill, etc.) 10. Copy of certificate obtained under Coop Act-1861/ Multi State Coop Act-2002 in case of Cooperative (wherever applicable) 11. Partnership Deed/Self Declaration for Proprietorship/Memorandum & Articles of Association towards the constitution of the firm 12. Source of milk or procurement plan for milk including location of milk collection centre etc. in case of Milk and Products processing units (wherever applicable) 13. Form IX: Nomination of Persons by a Company alongwith the Board Resolution. SLAUGHTERING UNITS
1. Upload Production unit photograph 2. Blueprint/layout plan of the processing unit showing the dimensions in metres/square metres and operation-wise area allocation (mandatory for manufacturing and processing units only) 3. List of Directors with full address and contact details (mandatory for companies only) 4. Name and List of Equipments and Machinery along with the number, installed capacity and horsepower used (mandatory for manufacturing and processing units only) 5. Analysis report (Chemical & Bacteriological) of water to be used as an ingredient in food from a recognized/ public health laboratory to confirm the potable (mandatory only for manufacturing and processing units only) 6. Food Safety Management System plan or certificate (if any) 7. Photo I.D and address proof issued by Government authority of Proprietor/Partner/Director(s)/Authorised Signatory. 8. Proof of possession of premises. (Sale deed/ Rent agreement/ Electricity bill, etc.) 9. Partnership Deed/Self Declaration for Proprietorship/Memorandum & Articles of Association towards the constitution of the firm 10. Form IX: Nomination of Persons by a Company along with the Board Resolution. 11. Declaration Form 12. NOCs from Municipality or local body.