FSSAI stands for Foods Safety and Standards Authority of India and has the authority to provide the registration or the license certifying compliance with any set standards or norms to the Food Business Operators or the FBO. It is provided under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006. Hence, we can say that if any individual or entity for that case intends to commence a food-related business in a commercial complex or simple residential complex, i.e., a home, it is also mandatory that they obtain a certification or registration from the FSSAI in India.
FSSAI Registration Types
Under FSSAI registration, there are three types of registration available, and to apply to any of these, the applicant should access the FoSCoS – FSSAI website. There are three types of registration available with FSSAI.
FSSAI Basic Registration
In the case of an owner with an FBO where the annual turnover is below INR 12 Lakhs and the per day production capacity is up to 100 litres or KG then, they should obtain the FSSAI Basic Registration Certificate only.
FSSAI State License
FSSAI State License should be obtained by those entities that are medium-sized FBOs, and the annual turnover earned by them is over or exceeding INR 12 Lakhs but is within INR 20 Crore. They shall obtain the same from the relevant State Government.
FSSAI Central License
Now, large-sized FBOs that earn an annual turnover of INR 20 Crore should obtain this license, i.e., the FSSAI Central License. This should be obtained by such FBOs from the Central Government.
Process for Issuance of FSSAI Certificate
Once the FSSAI Authority receives an application from the FBO for issuing the FSSAI Registration or the License, it will conduct the following:
- Confirming the jurisdiction of FSSAI to which the applicant would belong and the office fee receipt, if any, is to be paid
- Verification and scrutiny of the documents submitted by the applicant
- They shall also conduct the inspection of the business premises of the FBO prior to the granting of registration or license if necessary.
And on the basis of the satisfaction of the above points by the FSSAI Authority, they shall issue and send the copy of the FSSAI Registration or Certificate to the email address provided by the applicant. It shall be having a QR code embedded to the same for the verification of the authenticity of the certificate.
License Number under FSSAI
The FSSAI Registration or License shall provide the applicant with a 14-digit number, a unique identification for each FBO. They would also be required to display the same on the food packages sold or distributed by them and also anywhere prominent in the business premises or address of the FBO.
This 14-digit number shall be divided into 5 sections, which hold information pertaining to the FBO, helping to distinguish them from others. The information held by these 5 sections in a separate manner is described below:
- Section 1:
This is holding the first digit indicating if this particular FBO is in receipt of the FSSAI Registration or License or not.
- Section 2:
Section 2 is holding the 2nd and also the 3rd digits of the license number issued to the FBO. This provides information regarding the state and its code where the FBO is registered and is operating.
- Section 3:
Now, the third section holds the 4th and 5th digits of the license number and precisely indicates the year during which the FBO received the registration or license from FSSAI.
- Section 4:
Here, section 4 holds the 6th, 7th, and 8th digits pertaining to the license number issued to the FBO and indicates the quantity of the enrolling master of the FBO.
- Section5:
Now comes the last section of the license number, which holds the last six numbers or digits of the license number and indicates the unique license number which is issued to the FBO by the FSSAI.
Procedure for Downloading FSSAI Certificate
When the applicant receives the FSSAI Registration or Certificate in their email with a QR code embedded in it, they can download it from the FSSAI website. For this, the following steps should be followed them:
Step 1: Access the online portal or website of the FSSAI which is FoSCoS – FSSAI and then click on the tab named, ‘Login-Business’, provided at the top right of the home page.
Step 2: Now, the user should enter the username and password in the fields provided for the same, along with the correct entering of the captcha code provided in the box. And then click on the button named ‘Sign-in’.
Step 3: On proper entering of all the data, you will be given access to the account, where the dashboard will be displayed on the screen with the following options:
– Incomplete Application
– Submitted Applications with Successful Payment
– Reverted Application by Authority
– Issued.
Step 4: Now click on the option namely, ‘Issued’, which will provide two options:
– ‘Issued – License’ when the application for FSSAI License has been made for or
– ‘Issued – Registration Certificate’ when the application for FSSAI Registration has been made.
Step 5: This will display your FSSAI certificate with all the details, and under the column, namely, ‘Reference No./Registration No.’ of the certificate details, you can click on the FSSAI Certificate Registration Number, which will open the FSSAI Certificate.
Step 6: Then click on the download option and click on the Save option, which will download and save the certificate onto the computer or system.
FSSAI Certificate – Importance
Once the FBO has taken FSSAI registration or license, they should display the same on the food packages and also on the address or such other prominent place in the business premise. So basically, they should use this logo of FSSAI, and this would also help them stamp the assurance with respect to quality assurance of the products and also it states that the food is safe for consumption being sold by the FBO.
This will also help the entity or FBO attract consumers and investors. The failure of an FBO to take such FSSAI registration or license would make them face civil liability, which would also increase their cost. The Food Safety Officers are more likely to verify and inspect such FBO premises running without the FSSAI registration or license, leading to heavy fines and penalty charges. Hence, it is mandatory and important that the entities register for FSSAI.
Thus, we can now conclude that it is always preferred and important that a business entity engaged in the business of food production and selling take FSSAI License and also have the same ready for being verified and displayed such that their credibility and quality are stamped.
The user can always access the FSSAI website and download the certificate by signing in to their account. This would help them be updated, and they are also required to use the 14-digit unique registration number along with the logo of FSSAI on their production packages.
