Food Business Registration
and Licensing:
Friends nowadays for starting any food business to have
registration number or license number is considered as the need of an hour.
The main responsibility lies towards the FBO i.e. Food Business Operator.
FBO means a person or entity engaged in any
undertaking, whether private or public, for-profit or not, carrying out any of
the activities related to any stage of manufacture, processing, packaging,
storage, transportation, distribution of food, imports and including food
services, sale of food or food ingredients.
With concern to the food business a person needs to be
having registration number or license to run his business for any article of
food or engaged in any activity therein.
Introduction:
FLRS (Food Licensing and Registration System) is the
licensing apex body under FSSAI and launched in 2012. But due to some problems
like an outdated system, less technical support and not cope with new changes
FLRS is migrated to FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System). From the 1st
June 2020 FoSCoS come into effect to provide one point stop for all
engagement of a Food Business Operator with concern to regulatory compliance.
In the first phase of the launch of the compliance system 09
states or U.T. (Union Territory) are selected. These are mainly Tamil Nadu,
Gujarat, Goa, Delhi, Odisha, Manipur, Chandigarh, Puducherry, and Ladakh. The
details are available at https://foscos.fssai.gov.in/
Distinctive Feature of Registration, State License, and Central
License:
There are too many states of confusion regarding how to
go for registration, state license, and central license. Though the
registration and licensing system migrated toward Food Safety Compliance System the features of the registration and license remain the same.
Now, we move forward towards the distinctive points
regarding all the three parameters with their specifications. There are three
main pillars for the food business category.
1. Registration
2. State License
3. Central License
1. Registration: Generally we are in the myth
that too many charges are incurred to start a food business. But, in reality, one can start the business by Registration only. One can opt for registration
purposes with annual turnover up to Rs. 12 Lakh along with Rs. 100 fees per year.
To choose for the registration only
three documents are needed for oneself; A photo, ID proof, and declaration. A
registration certificate has to be issued by the registration authority within
7 days of application date. If the authority wants to conduct an inspection of the
premise then inspection could be conducted within 30 days of application date, if
premises found in order as per Schedule 4 of FSS (Licensing and Registration of
food businesses) Regulations, 2011.
2. State License: When FBO conducting business in a single
state with a turnover upto Rs. 20 crore need to obtain State license with a fees
of Rs. 2000 to Rs. 5000 per year.
So, if the turnover is over Rs. 12 Lakh then definitely
go for the state license otherwise, you may make an offense.
3. Central License:
When FBO conducting business in two or more states or having premises located
at seaport or airport or having turnover more than Rs. 20 crore then need to
obtain a central license with a fees of Rs. 7500 per year.
It is indeed important that Chemists Shops, Retailers
or any other retailing units are required to obtain FSSAI License if they are
involved in the selling of food products through their outlets.
The duration of
validity for license or registration is of 5 years. There is no provision of
renewing of the license or registration after its expiry.
A License or registration renewal application can be
made as early as 120 days in advance.
Petty food business operators:
Petty Food business operator means any small food the business operator needs a registration under FSSAI.
He himself may manufacture or sells any article of
food or a petty retailer, hawkers, itinerant vendor or a temporary stallholder
or small scale or cottage or such other industries relating to food businesses
with an annual turnover up to Rs. 12 lakh.
Food Business Operator having turnover more than Rs. 12
lakh rupees need to be applied for the license. If you do not possess the license
then it may be treated as ‘Conducting Business without License’ and it is an
offense under section 63 of FSS Act, 2006 and for which provision of the penalty of
upto Rs. 5 Lakhs and imprisonment upto 06 months.
So the business category which started at the nascent
stage but right not their annual turnover is over Rs. 12 lakh need to apply for
FSSAI license as per the specified criteria.
Here, you may track the status of your application on
the website of FSSAI. You may get more
information from 'Food Safety Connect' App. The information can also be
accessed through FBO Search facility available on www.foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in
Identification of Registration number or License Category:
Now, we discuss one
small method by which one could identify the food business category. It means
we are able to sort out the food products which have certified under
Registration or state license or central license.
FSSAI license number and registration number both are
14 digit numbers. The license number starts with ‘1’, while the registration number
starts with ‘2. The first three-digit pattern of FSSAI Central license out of 14 digits
are in the pattern of 100. So, the License number is ‘100XXXXXXXXXX’
Hence, by looking at just the FSSAI number we could
identify its status or category thoroughly.
Consultant or Facilitators:
One question could be in our mind that who could act as
Helping Hand for the food business operators. So, here FSM (Food Safety Mitra)
plays an important role. They act as Authorized facilitators or consultants
of FSSAI for filling applications of FSSAI license or registration.
FSSAI launched FSM who provides a helping hand for FBO’s
for filling the application form, license, and registration, training and auditing,
hygiene rating at different institutions and you could find the nearby FSM in
your location by entering pin code of the area on the website home page. For
more details, you may visit the link
Reference Video:
To understand the whole concept in easier manner the YouTube Video is attached herewith.
Link:
Conclusion:
1. There are three main categories in the food business
namely Registration, State License, and Central License.
2. For a small food business operator whose annual
turnover is upto Rs. 12 lakh he opts for Registration.
3. When business is located in a single state with annual
turnover upto Rs. 20 Crore then one may opt for State License with annual fees
of Rs. 2000 to Rs. 5000.
4. When FBO conducting business in two or more states
or having a location at the premise of airport or seaport with annual turnover more
than Rs. 20 Crore then one may go for Central License.
