The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India referred to FSSAI. An institution is authorised to sell food for a profit thanks to the licence the FSSAI issues. Any food business operator who is engaged in the manufacture, processing, storage, distribution, or sale of food is required by law to apply for and maintain an FSSAI Registration. Therefore, the FSSAI's purview extends beyond eateries. An FSSAI License not only serves as a legal document but also as a symbol of unsurpassed food quality. You receive a 14-digit registration number when you register with the FSSAI. The scale of operations will in turn determine this licence (we'll explore this in the next section).

Issuing authority of the FSSAI License

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India grants FSSAI Licenses. The FSSAI is an independent organisation that was created by the Indian government's Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSAI Act, 2016), a consolidated statute relating to food safety and regulation in India, was used to establish it. Through its primary responsibilities of regulating and overseeing food safety, the FSSAI is primarily accountable for the protection and promotion of public health.

The essential documents required for the basic FSSAI License:

• Photo ID of the Owner of the Food Business (Restaurant Owner).

• Evidence of the premises' full possession (eg. Rental Agreement ).
• A Partnership Deed or an Incorporation Certificate.
• List of food items to be handled (which would include inputs as well as the final menu).
• A comprehensive management plan for food safety.

 The documents essential for the FSSAI State License:

• You would require official identification (such as an Aadhar card, voter ID card, passport, or driver's licence).

• The Form-B must be properly completed and signed (in duplicate) by the proprietor, partner, or designated signatory.
   
• You will need to have a strategy/ blueprint or layout design of the restaurant that includes all of the kitchens and production areas as well as the exact specifications (indicating the measurements in metres).
   
• All of your restaurant's key personnel, including a list of the Executive Members or Directors of Societies or Trusts, together with their full addresses and contact information Any restaurant must have this component.
   
• A detailed list of every piece of machinery and equipment, including all of its constituent components. This is crucial, especially if you have a kitchen or industrial facility.
   
• A list of food types to be provided to the clients would need to be shared.
   
• An authority letter that contains vital information, like the name and address of the accountable person the restaurant has designated. Along with this, you should also list other significant individuals and the authority granted to them so that it is simple to get in touch with the POC for any inspections, sample collection, and so forth as needed.
   
• A revised study of the water used as a primary ingredient in food preparation. Only from a reputable public health laboratory should this be done
   
• Reliable confirmation of property ownership. This can be a lease or a selling deed.
   
• A food safety plan or a certificate of the same will be required from you.
   
• If milk is utilised as a component or raw material, you must provide proof of the source or a plan for purchasing milk that includes the locations of milk collection facilities (in the case of Milk and Milk Products processing).
   
• You would also like to mention the sources of raw meat ingredients and the meat processing facilities if your restaurant is not vegetarian.
   
• You must provide the pesticide residues report for the water in addition to the water analysis point specified under point number 9. This specifically applies to facilities that produce packaged drinking water, mineral water, and/or carbonated water from a reputable public health laboratory.
   
• The business plan may also be required, so have it close at hand.
   
• A NOC certificate from the municipality or other local authority is required.
   
• The Board Resolution and the completed Form IX: Nomination of Persons by a Company.
   
• The certificate is given by the tourism ministry.

How to get an FSSAI License?

The FLRS, short for Food Licensing and Registration System, is a new online application procedure that the FSSAI has just introduced. The page is available here (FLRS)

Users now have the ability to check their eligibility for a licence and submit an online application through FLRS. In addition, it automatically notifies business owners via email and text message so that the registration and licence can be renewed on time.

How to enquire about the status of your FSSAI license registration?
 

• Checking the progress of your food licence application is quite simple.

• Visit the FSSAI website by clicking this short link.
   
• Fill in your specific tracking information as it appears on the form below.
   
• You will receive a 17-digit application number when you initially apply for a food licence, so keep it close at hand.
   
• Your route to the status page would be determined by the information you provided.

Types of FSSAI License
 

FSSAI Central License
 

The Central Government's Central Food License must be obtained by Food Business Operators (FBOs). Only when a state has been active for more than a month does a central food licence go into effect. The national offices are all covered by the central licence, which is thus only applicable to the national headquarters. Typically, restaurants (FBOs) with an annual turnover of more than 20 crores obtain a central licence. The Central License has a 5-year maximum and a 1-year minimum duration.

FSSAI State License
 

For small to midsize restaurants, the FSSAI state licence is necessary. The state authority in the area where the restaurant will be located issues this permit. It is essential to keep in mind that the restaurant can only operate in one state to qualify for a, Therefore, if a restaurant's annual turnover was between 12 lakh and 20 lakh INR, a state licence would be required. This license's minimum and maximum periods are each one year.

Basic FSSAI Registration
 

Small, slow-moving eateries with annual sales of up to one hundred thousand dollars must register with the FSSAI (basic). The State Government of the relevant state also issued this FSSAI registration. This license's maximum and minimum terms are five years and one year, respectively.

FSSAI License Cost in India
 

Depending on the type of licence issued, different FSSAI licences have different prices. The annual FSSAI license cost ranges from only 100 INR (for the bare minimum FSSAI registration) to 7500 INR (for the FSSAI Central License).

The costs for each licencing category are listed below.

• FSSAI license costs 100 INR annually.
• FSSAI State License costs between 2000 and 5000 INR annually.
• The annual fee for FSSAI Central License Registration: is 7500 INR

Validity of an FSSAI License

An FSSAI licence is valid for a period ranging from one to five years. Once the licence price has been paid, the licences are typically renewed annually.

Renewal of the FSSAI License

The FSSAI food licence must be renewed for a duration of one year or five years, according to the FSSAI (depends on a case-to-case basis). The renewal must be completed no later than 30 days before the license's stated expiration date. For each day that renewal is delayed after the expiration date, a late FSSAI license renewal cost of 100 INR per day is charged.

Online Renewal of the FSSAI License

In order to log in, create a User ID and password. 

• The validity of this User ID and password is limited to thirty days.
• Fill out the renewal form.
• You will receive a special 17-digit number after completing the form that you may use to check the progress of the renewal.
• The renewal should typically be finished within a 30- to 60-day term.

Conclusion:

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, or FSSAI, is an independent agency created under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. All FBOs engaged in the small-scale food business are needed to have a basic licence called FSSAI Registration. The following companies are included in this category: any FBO with a maximum annual turnover of Rs. 12 lakh. FSSAI Registration, which is essentially a food safety certificate distributed by the food authority in India, assures the security of food goods. An FSSAI Licence may be issued to any producers, merchants, restaurants, grocery stores, importers, exporters, etc.