FSSAI is the symbol of reliability and a trust-building factor for consumers. Once you register for FSSAI for your food business, you have been following a perfect guideline of the rules implemented by FSSAI. If any quality deficiency is perceived, the business person will be penalized by a fine and/or imprisonment. So, you should go for FSSAI registration on the government portal and fill out a form to register by paying accurate FSSAI registration fees. 

Why is FSSAI registration mandatory?

Here are some basic reasons why FSSAI registration is mandatory. 

When you register for an FSSAI certificate, you have to follow some standard rules implied by the government of India through the FSSAI department. FSSAI is the contracted form of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. The department ensures the consumption of food is safe in all respects. Nobody can avoid the FSSAI regulations during packaging, transporting, contamination, damage, and many other criteria.

If any small business wants to grow and compete with the larger brands, they must register for FSSAI. FSSAI gives the confidence to choose a new brand for consumption. Usually, they remain affordable compared to very reputed companies. Hence, less reputed companies will grab the attention of a vast audience when they register for FSSAI, and the FSSAI mark with the registration number is implemented on the box or package. 

FSSAI Act protects consumers in all respects in terms of quality, quantity, transport, storage damage, use of pesticides, and many more. So, if you want to grow your food business, you must register with FSSAI. If you ask about the FSSAI registration fees, they are very low. But once you get the license for your food business, your business reputation and credibility will grow remarkably. 

Customers will understand that no FSSAI-registered food business operator can supply bad quality food as there is a fear of penalty or imprisonment. 

In a nutshell, you will get the following benefits:

• Increase business with competitors—monetary benefits 
• Statutory Benefits: the FBO and consumers will get legal benefits 
• Reliability increases and increases the customer base
• Assurance of food safety for consumers-increases trust factor 
• Regulated Manufacturing and Transportation

FSSAI Registration Simplified

Any FBO (Food Business Operator) engaged in manufacturing, packaging, handling, processing, selling, and supplying can get FSSAI registration.

As per the nature and criteria of the business, FSSAI registration is mandatory for consumer safety. 

FSSAI is a 14-digit alphanumeric number that should be imprinted on all the packages of the food business, along with the business office from which it is distributed. The digits of the number indicate the state or region in which it is packed or manufactured, and all other details. If any of the factors of the business like manufacturing, processing, supplying, etc. are changed from the FBO’s end, they have to inform the FSSAI authority immediately. Otherwise, the FBO may be penalized or imprisoned.

Eligibility for FSSAI Registration

• The Food Business Operators (FBOs), who are running the following business must obtain an FSSAI registration. There is no boundary wherever you live anywhere in India, you require FSSAI registration.
• Retail shops and retailers
• Processing unit of vegetable and edible oil 
• Diary units that include petty milkmen, milk packaging chilling units, etc.
• Food premises of any kind, temporary stalls, fixed stalls, and so on 
• Hawkers selling freshly prepared food or packaged food 

Let’s learn various types of FSSAI registration:

1. FSSAI basic registration

FBO that deals with food businesses with less than a yearly turnover of 12 lakhs a year must obtain a basic FSSAI registration. The FBOs who want to get basic FSSAI registration must fill out form: A, available on the FSSAI portal. (https://fssai.gov.in/).

• In this criteria, you will get:
• Hawkers
• Street vendors
• Individuals 
• Home bakeries
• Home food manufacturers, etc. 

2. FSSAI State License 

FBOs having a yearly turnover higher than 12 lakhs but less than 20 crore must obtain the FSSAI state license. FSSAI registration fees for this category vary according to the food genres. We will provide a chart for all categories. Then, it will be cleared out.

• Food manufacturing unit with a large production and distribution
• Processing units of vegetable oils and edible oils
• Transporters liable to transport a large amount of products through the vehicle 

3. FSSAI Central License

FBOs (Food Business Operators) gaining revenue of more than Rs. 20 crores in a financial year, and operating the business in multiple states of India must obtain a central FSSAI registration certificate. The candidates who want to get a central FSSAI license have to fill out the form B available on the FSSAI registration portal. FSSAI registration fees under the central category are 7,500/- with the same renewal fee. 

Who should get this central FSSAI license?

• Food exporters and exporters
• Food sellers having a proprietary license
• FBOs that operate at central government premise  

How to process an FSSAI registration online?

Obtaining an FSSAI registration online is a very easy process. The applicant has to visit the FosCos web portal. (https://foscos.fssai.gov.in/). 

Step 1: Application and Form Fill Up

• At the very beginning, you should register on the portal by providing essential credentials.
• Then, click on the “Apply for New license/Registration”. This menu is for first-time applicants for an FSSAI license.
• After clicking on the section, you will get three more options, “General”, “Railway Station”, “Airport/Seaport”
• On clicking, you will get another page where you have to select the “STATE” of the business where you want to do the business.
• Select the state where you want to run your business. 
• After selecting the menu, you will get the type of business as per your selected menu: “General”, “Railway Station”, and “Airport/Seaport”. You will get the relevant menu to select. 
• If you select the GENERAL option, “you will get Select Kind of Business (Multiple Selections can be made from each group)”
• Select the option/ options at that level. Learn the details of rules and regulations starting from DAIRY under the GENERAL menu, and then carry on reading all other menus related to your business.
• Then, proceed on. 
• Fill out the form A or B as per your requirement (we have mentioned previously).
• While applying, you have to keep all your documents in the scanned format with the recommended kb or MB limit. 
• You will get an option to pay before applying. Pay the recommended fee as per your license. 
• On submission, you will get a 17-digit Application Reference Number (ARN) for FSSAI license. Through this number, you can track the application status you have submitted. 
• This is the primary task of filling out the form for having an FSSAI license in a specific category. Let’s learn what happens next. 

Step 2: Inspection status of FSSAI Authorities

This stage is very important for an applicant. Hence, you may require modification, a current document update, or anything else. Your application may be rejected after all. If any dispute appears after inspection, you will get the status checked by putting in ARN. You have to reply within 7 working days of getting the dispute. 

Step 3 Clearance for Approval

If the authority of FSSAI is satisfied with the information and documents you have submitted, you will get an FSSAI registration certificate from the authority.

Step 4: FSSAI Registration Certificate Issue

When everything is great and no dispute is found in the application, you will get a 14-digit unique FSSAI number, and you can use the FSSAI logo with the registered number. You can then use the FSSAI logo and the number printed on all food products, packages, or the respective food business you have. 

Documents required for FSSAI registration

If you apply online for an FSSAI registration certificate, you have to keep all the documents scanned in perfect format and size. Then, the matter will be easy and you have to face no complications while applying.  

1. FSSAI Basic Registration application: 

• Personal Identity Card of the business holder (just like the AADHAAR card)
• Residential proof issued by the Government
• Fill out the form-IX for basic registration 
• Details of the business you operate 
• NOC for the business from the local government
• Source of raw materials for the food business or manufacturing unit 

2. Documents for FSSAI State license

• The measurement of the business setup in meter-format
• A recall plan for production and the supply of the market (Food recall is the process of collecting by the authorities when they are disputed or problematic in quality or difference in labelling)
• Fill out form IX
• Form B (for state FSSAI license)
• List of directors of the business with their complete details
• Self-declaration for partnership deed or proprietorship
• Copy of certificates 
• NOC from Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA)
• The list of machinery and equipment used for the purpose (including their numbers)
• Government-issued identification certificate

3. FSSAI Central License Documentations

• Applicants have to fill out Form B, filled out and signed by the FDO. It must be an Authorised Signatory.  
• The blueprint of the food processing unit, and the entire establishment with the proper dimension mentioned. 
• List of directors/ proprietors/ partners/ executive members of the society/Trusts with the address and contact details (For large companies, it is mandatory)
• Name and list of equipment, apparatus, and all that you use. The number of apparatus or machines also needs to be included there.
• Address proof and identity proof issued by the government of India of the proprietor's partners signed in place of the authorized signatory. (Optional)
• The list of the category of food, desired to be manufactured or packaging
• The name and address of the authority, responsible for maintaining the guidelines issued by the government. 
• The authority letter included the name and address of the responsible person who was nominated by the manufacturer. The applicant has to include alternative responsibilities and the name and address of the person. (For manufacturers and processors)
• Analyst report of bacteriological and chemical usage, and whether it is permissible. Mandatory for food manufacturing and processing units only. 
• Proof of property passion on the place (rent agreement, electricity bill, sale deed, etc.) 
• Self-declaration for partnership or partnership deed

After filling out all these, you have to proceed to pay the recommended fees for FSSAI registration.

FSSAI Registration Fees for Online Submission:

State FSSAI License fee Analysis 

You have to keep in mind that an FSSAI license or certificate can be registered for 5 years (maximum).

To learn more about the fees in detail, you can visit the page FSSAI portal: https://foscos.fssai.gov.in/assets/docs/KindofBusinessEligibility.pdf

Validity and renewal fundamentals of FSSAI registration

The validity of FSSAI registration depends on your application. You can do it for a year to 5 years maximum and must renew before the date of expiry. 

If you do not renew it on time, you may be penalized with extra charges. FBO must file an FSSAI renewal application before its expiration to avoid fines and charges. Let’s have the charge structures.

The following are renewal procedure/date violation charges:

You can check the FSSAI license expiry date on the FSSAI registration portal. Log in and check every detail of your FSSAI license by implementing the FSSAI registration number.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you have received details of FSSAI registration certificate application details, steps, procedures, fee structures, and fines (if applicable) through this piece of writing. If you want to learn more about FSSAI registration fees or want to apply for a new FSSAI registration flawlessly, you can contact Online Legal India. So, what are you waiting for? Contact us now!