Governing Law:

FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, with an object to ensure safe and wholesome food for human consumption, promoting public health and protecting consumers' interests.

As per Section 31(1) of FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS ACT, 2006, no person shall commence or carry on any food business except under a licence.

The FSSAI licensing and registration procedure is regulated under the Food Safety & Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011 

What are the functions of FSSAI?

1. Framing and enforcing food safety standards
2. Regulating food manufacturing, storage, distribution, and sale
3. Conducting inspections and testing
4. Issuing licenses and registrations
5. Providing training and awareness programs
6. Investigating food-borne disease outbreaks

Who needs FSSAI Registration/License?

1. Petty Food manufacturer

2. Petty retailer

3. Itinerant vendor/hawkers

4. Temporary or fixed stall holder

5. Slaughtering house/fishmongers

6. Hotels, Restaurants, Bars and cafes

7. Catering services

8. Wholesalers and distributors

9. E-commerce food platforms

10. Transporters

11. Dairy units

12. Cold Storage facilities

13. Importer and exporters of food items

Benefits of FSSAI Registration/License:

1. Compliance with food safety regulations
2. Enhanced credibility and reputation
3. Increased customer trust
4. Eligibility for government tenders
5. Compliance with international standards

 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR FSSAI REGISTRATION:

Petty food business operators are eligible to apply for FSSAI registration and these include-

1.     Annual turnover: ₹12 lakhs or less

·        Petty Food Business Operators

1. Manufactures or sells any kind of food by himself/herself
2.  Petty retailers
3. Hawker
4. Itinerant vendor
5. Temporary stall
6. Dhaba
7. Thela
8. Sweets Shop
9. Juice Stall, etc.

• Temporary or Fixed stall
• Vegetable Oil Processing Units
• Meat Processing
• Wholesaler/ Distributor/ Retailer
• All food Manufacturing/ Processing Units other than Dairy Units, Vegetable Oil, Meat Processing and Slaughtering Houses
• Substances added to food
• Storage- Cold/Refrigerated Cold/ refrigerated; Atmospheric Controlled/ Cold controlled Atmosphere/ without Atmospheric Controlled
• Transporter
• Hotel/ Restaurants/Club/ Canteen
• Food Vending Agencies

2. Production capacity:

1. Food (excluding milk/milk products/meat/meat products/vegetable oil): 100 kg/ltr per day
2. Milk procurement/handling/collection: 500 litres per day or upto 2.5 MT of Milk solids p.a
3. Slaughtering capacity: 2 large animals/10 small animals/50 poultry birds per day
4. Transporter- Single Vehicle
5. Food Vending Agencies- upto 12 Vending Machines in only one State/UT

ELIGIBILITY FOR APPLYING FOR AN FSSAI LICENSE 

A FSSAI license is for food business operators that are not classified as petty food business operators. The FSSAI license is further of two types, a State FSSAI License and a Central FSSAI License. 

STATE FSSAI LICENSE ELIGIBILITY- 

Annual Turnover & Production Capacity:

1. Dairy units: 501-50,000 LPD or 2.5-2,500 MT milk solids/annum
2. Vegetable oil processing units: Upto 2 MT/day
3. Slaughtering units: 3-50 large animals; 11-150 small animals, or 51-1000 poultry birds/day
4. Meat processing units: Upto 500 kg/day or Upto 150 MT/annum
5. Food processing units: 100 kg-2 MT/day
6. Substances added to food: Upto 2 MT per day
7. Storage businesses: Upto 50,000 MT
8. Transporters: Upto 100 vehicles or ₹30 crores annual turnover
9. Wholesalers: Upto ₹30 crores annual turnover
10. Retailers/ Distributors: Upto ₹20 crores annual turnover
11. Hotels:  1 Star to 4 Star or Hotel without Star
12. Restaurants/ Club/ Canteen/ Caterer/ Dhaba: Upto ₹20 crores annual turnover
13. Food Vending Agencies: Upto 100 Vending Machines 

FSSAI CENTRAL LICENSE ELIGIBILITY:

Annual Turnover & Production Capacity:

1. Dairy units: More than 50,000 Liters of Milk per day or More than 2500 MT milk solids/annum)
2. Vegetable oil processing units: More than 2 MT per day
3. Slaughtering units: More than 50 large animals, More than 150 small animals or More than 1000 poultry birds per day
4. Meat processing units: More than 500 kg Meat per day or More than 150 MT Meat per annum
5. Food processing units: More than 2 MT per day 
6. Proprietary food manufacturers
7. Food or Health Supplements and Nutraceuticals etc.; Non-specified food; Radiating processing of food
8. Substances added to food: More than 2 MT per day
9. Storage units: More than 50,000 MT
10. Transporters: More than 100 vehicles or More than ₹30 crores annual turnover)
11. Wholesalers: More than ₹30 crores annual turnover
12. Retailers/ Distributors:  More than ₹20 crores annual turnover
13. Hotels: 5-star rating and above
14. Restaurants/Club/ Canteen/ Caterers: More than ₹20 crores annual turnover
15. Food Vending Agencies: More than 100 Vending Machines
16. Importers: food items, ingredients, and additives
17. 100% Export-oriented units
18. E-Commerce

Documents Required

1. Business registration certificate
2. PAN card
3. Aadhaar card
4. GST certificate (if applicable)
5. Bank account statement
6. Food safety management plan
7. List of food products handled
8. Proof of possession of premises
9. Identity proof of proprietor/partners/directors
10. Proof of turnover (audited financial statement or income tax return)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’s)