Make your customers more trustable by FSSAI registration
                     Make your customers 
more trustable by FSSAI 
registration
In this blog, we have discussed about the 
importance of food safety license and 
how FSSAI registration builds trust among the 
customers.
Make your customers more trustable by FSSAI 
registration
Chiefly, FSSAI stands for Food Safety and Standards 
Authority of India. It mainly issued by the 
government of India to build trust among the 
customers. Every individual or Food business 
operator who is connected to manufacturing, 
storage, transportation or distribution of food 
product must compulsorily obtain FSSAI 
registration or license.
In India, the registration or licensing related to the 
food business is governed by the Food Safety and 
Standards Regulations 2011. Whether you have to 
obtain FSSAI registration or FSSAI License it 
completely depends upon the size and nature of 
your business. 
customers opinion on Food Business Licensing and 
Registration under FSSAI
According to the survey by Red seer, by 2021, the food 
sector in India is expected to touch at least $2.5 billion from 
its current size of about $700 million. This means almost 4 
times as many people are going to ordering their food 
through online in just 3 years.
But be alert, with the tremendous growth in the opportunity, 
the regulators are watching ever more closely to look for 
food safety violations.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
In fact, FSSAI was provided under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. 
Which, includes various acts, and orders that have until now handled food-
related issues in many Ministries and Departments. It has been created for 
laying down the science-based standard for items of food. And also, to manage 
their production, storage, delivery, sale and import to ensure the presence of 
safe and healthful food for human intake.
In short, it is the firm under the control of the government of India and the 
ministry of health and family affair. Food Safety and Standards Authority of 
India (FSSAI) does not provide certification to its customers. But, a license or 
registration which is a necessary requirement for all Food Business Operators 
(FBOs) in India.
Advantages of FSSAI registration:
• FSSAI License issues single 
point access to all the laws 
and departmental controls
• FSSAI License builds 
confidence to customers 
regarding quality, quantity 
and also the hygiene of food
• A single food license is 
sufficient for different 
establishments of same 
business in the same local 
area
Simultaneously, FSSAI License and Food License works for the set 
standards for food quality. It is an initiative taken by the government to 
ensure good quality food for customers to avoid the problems related to 
adulteration and inferior qualities served.
The main responsibility of FSSAI department is to make sure that all 
the food-related laws are being followed by the food business operators 
and other customers. Under those common procedure defined for 
obtaining food license. Food business operator can apply for the 
FSSAI registration according to their food business type and turnover.
Moreover, a person involved in food business is known as a food 
business operator. Before starting a food business in India every food 
operator has to obtain food license before starting their business.
WHO IS REQUIRED TO HAVE FSSAI LICENSE?
– Hotels
– Restaurants
– Delivery hotel, restaurants or kitchens on Swiggy, Zomato Order, Uber 
Eats
– Food Chains
– Packaged Food Manufacturer
– Food sellers and resellers
– Food Importers and Exporters
– Raw Material Suppliers to Food Businesses
– Canteens running in Corporate Companies, Schools, Colleges, Hospitals, 
Government Institutions.
CRITERIA FOR DECIDING THE TYPE OF REGISTRATION (CENTRAL 
LICENCE/ STATE LICENSE/ BASIC REGISTRATION)
There are two criteria for deciding which type of registration is applicable on 
your business.
• Turnover based registration – Depending upon the turnover of the business, 
the department set limits for applicability of certain registration i.e. central, 
state or basic FSSAI registration.
• Specific registration– In certain businesses, the department specifies 
particular registration irrespective of their turnover.
• Office in more than one state – If there are more than one operational unit, 
which we have to apply an extra central license for the head office and other 
relevant license for other branch offices.
Types of FSSAI Registration
CENTRAL LICENSE
In fact, the food business operators such as the large manufactures, operators 
in the central government agencies, importers, exporters, apart from turn 
over, they are required to obtain Central food license.
STATE LICENSE
Moreover, food business operators like marketers, small to medium sized 
manufacturers, storage units, transporters, retailers, etc. are however 
required to obtain the FSSAI State License issued by the State Government. 
State government allows food operations in only 1 state. It is mostly for the 
units having an annual turnover of more than 12 lakh.
BASIC REGISTRATION
Simultaneously, the Food business operators like retailers, 
marketers, small-sized manufacturers, storage units, 
distributors, transporters and petty food. This type of 
Registration are mainly required if the turnover not 
exceeding 12 lakh per annum. The business earns a good 
among customers through licensing.
STREET VENDORS OR MOBILE FOOD VENDORS
• Mobile Vendors are defined under Section 2(1) (n) of the Street Vendors 
for the Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending under 
the “Street Vendors Act”, 2014. The self-contained food service operation, 
located in a readily movable motorized wheeled or towed vehicle, used to 
store, prepare, display or serve food intended for individual portion 
service.
• Specifically, all Mobile Food vendors, Hawkers are required to take “basic 
registration” irrespective of their turnover. Apart from FSSAI registration
, Mobile Food vendors are requested to take NOC from local authority to 
run the business. The license built more trust among customers.
What happens if you do not apply for an 
FSSAI License?
• The immediate consequence will be deregistration of your business 
from any food business platform you have listed on.
• Secondly, if you own a food business of any sort or responsibility of 
that business, then you can be imprisoned for a period of 6 months 
and be made to pay a fine of up to Rs. 5 lakhs under the Section 31 of 
the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Given the seriousness of 
the consequences, every food business is advised to get themselves 
registered on the food which is supplied, please make sure to 
mention your 14 digit registration number, particularly on packaged 
food.
Certain standards for the processing of license under FSSAI:
• For the purpose of licensing, the owner of a grocery store is known as a Food Business 
Operator (FBO). The FBO needs to first realize the capacity of the shop/food business, in 
order to apply for a specific category of license. The amount of turnover is the biggest 
determiner of the kind of license granted to an FBO by FSSAI.
• However, if a food business has its branch in more than one state, then it has to obtain 
a ‘central license’ for its head office. If annual turnover of Food business crosses Rs. 20 
Crores then, we have to obtain central license.
• Moreover, if a food business has an annual turnover of Rs. 12-20 Crores, then it must 
obtain state license. The license once obtained under FSSAI will be valid for 5 years, 
after which renewal is mandatory.
• However, one category of FBOs have been exempted from this obligation and that is 
‘petty food manufacturers’, who have an annual turnover less than 12 Lakhs.
• Petty food manufacturers are small-scale manufacturers with a capacity of less 
than 100 kg of production in a day or temporary vendors. They are required to 
register themselves by filling Form A under Schedule II of FSSAI and not obtain 
a license.
• An FBO may obtain a central license by applying on http://www.fssai.gov.in and 
sending a copy of the required documents and prescribed legal fee to the 
Central Licensing officer within 15 days of filing application.
• Form B in the Scheduled 2 is to be filled to obtain a state license and submitted 
to the nearest designated officer along with required documents and the 
prescribed fee.
STEP INVOLVED IN OBTAINING FSSAI LICENSE:
STEP 1 – CONSULTING, DOCUMENTATION & FILING
• Fill the online application.
• Get consultation from the experts on the type of license needed
• Customers should provide the necessary documents
• Double check the paper works
• Form A and Form B are usually generated for the actual license 
process.
• File it with the concerned authorities.
STEP 2 – FOLLOW UP AND WAITING FOR APPROVAL
• After the CS or CA has filed the application, resolve the 
questions asked by the authorities
•  Follow-up the food department for further process.
• Then there will be a 20-day wait period during which the 
government considers your application
STEP 3 – DELIVERY OF LICENSE
• Once approved, a digital and paper copy of the license is 
sent to you on the given address.
• The obtaining of the license takes a maximum of 30 days.
• The waiting period mentioned here is for basic license. 
For the other two licenses, the government approval can 
take a maximum of 50 days.
RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION
FSSAI License or Registration can be applied maximum for 
5 years. The application can renewed two months prior to 
the date of expiration by paying the FSSAI Fee. In case of 
failure to get renew on time, we have to apply for license 
freshly or pay penalty.