How to get FSSAI license ?

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory body established by the Indian government under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. It is responsible for regulating and supervising the safety and standards of food products in India. FSSAI plays a crucial role in ensuring that the food consumed by the Indian population meets the highest quality and safety standards.

Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) is an enhanced version of Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS) which was launched in 2012 for issuance of pan-India FSSAI Licenses and Registration. It had evolved incrementally and organically with changing regulatory needs.

Types of Food Licenses

FSSAI issues three different types of FSSAI food license which are: 

• Basic Registration
• State License
• Central License

The three licenses differ on the basis of the scale of operation of the food business which is being carried out. 

• Basic Registration: The Food business operators like petty food manufacturers and also the small-sized manufacturers, storage units, transporters, retailers, marketers, distributors etc are thus required to obtain the FSSAI Registration. The FSSAI Registration is however issued by the State Government. Depending upon the eligibility, an FBO can thus fall under the State or Registration license. It is thus mostly for the units having an annual turnover which is up to 12 lakh. The maximum tenure of this license is 5 years and the minimum is 1 year.

• State License: Food business operators like small to medium-sized manufacturers, storage units, transporters, retailers, marketers, distributors etc. are however required to obtain the Fssai State License. The State License is issued by the State Government and it is important that you have operations in only 1 state like Delhi, in order to obtain the State FSSAI License in Delhi. It is thus mostly for the units having an annual turnover of more than 12 lakh. The maximum tenure of this license is 5 years and the minimum is 1 year. 

• Central License: Food Business Operators (FBO) such as the Importers, 100% Export Oriented Units, large manufacturers, operators in the Central Government agencies, airports, seaports etc are however required to obtain a Central Food License. The Central license is issued by the Central Government. Furthermore, FBOs have to obtain the Central License for their head office, and if they have operations in more than 1 state. It is thus mostly for the units who are having an annual turnover which is greater than 20 crores. The maximum tenure of this license is 5 years and the minimum is 1 year. 

Eligibility Criteria for FSSAI License

Eligibility Criteria for FSSAI Basic Registration

• For Manufacturers, following is the eligibility criteria

• Dairy Units, including Milk Chilling Units that are equipped to handle and process - Upto 500 LPD of milk or up to 2.5 MT of milk solids per annum

• Vegetable Oil Processing Units and the Units that produce vegetable oil through the process of solvent extraction and refineries, including Oil Expeller Unit. - Turnover up to 12 lakhs per annum

• Slaughtering Units - Large animals upto 2, Small Animals upto 10, Poultry Birds 50 per day.

• Meat Processing Units - Turnover up to INR 12 lakhs per annum

• All Food Processing Units including retailers and repackers - Turnover not exceeding Rs. 12 lakhs and whose production capacity of food does not exceed 100 kg/ltr per day.

Other Businesses

Following businesses which has turnover up to INR 12 lakh per annum should take FSSAI basic registration

• Storage (Except Controlled Atmosphere and Cold)

• Storage (Cold/Refrigerated)

• Storage (Controlled Atmosphere + Cold)

• Wholesaler

• Retailer

• Distributor

• Supplier

• Dhaba, Boarding houses serving food,Banquet halls with food catering arrangements, Home based Canteens/Dabba Wallas, Permanent/ Temporary stall Holder, Food stalls/ Arrangements in Religious gatherings/fairs etc. Fish/Meat/Poultry shop/Seller or any other food vending establishment

• Club/Canteen

• Hotel

• Restaurant

• Transporter

• Marketer

• In addition to it, following businesses should also take FSSAI license irrespective of the annual turnover.

• Hawker (Itinerant/Mobile Food Vendor)

• Petty Retailer of snacks/tea shops

• Eligibility Criteria for State License

For Manufacturers, following is the eligibility criteria

• Dairy Units, including Milk Chilling Units that are equipped to handle and process - 501 to 50,000 LPD of milk or more than 2.5 MT to 2500 MT of milk solids per annum

• Vegetable Oil Processing Units and the Units that produce vegetable oil through the process of solvent extraction and refineries, including Oil Expeller Unit. - Upto 2 MT/day and turnover above 12 lakh

• Slaughtering Units - Large Animal (More than 2 upto 50) Small Animal (More than 10 upto 150) Poultry Birds (More than 50 upto 1000/ day)

• Meat Processing Units - Upto 500 kg meat per day Or 150 MT per annum

• All Food Processing Units including retailers and repackers - More than 100 kg/ltr to 2 MT/day. All grains, cereals & pulses milling units.

Other Businesses

• Following businesses  should take up  FSSAI State registration

• Storage (Except Controlled Atmosphere and Cold) - Capacity upto 50,000 MT

• Storage (Cold/Refrigerated) - Capacity upto 10,000 MT

• Storage (Controlled Atmosphere + Cold) - Capacity upto 1000 MT

• Wholesaler - Turnover upto 30 crores

• Retailer - Turnover upto 20 crores

• Distributor - Turnover upto 20 crores

• Supplier - Turnover upto 20 crores

• Caterer - Turnover upto 20 crores

• Club/Canteen - Turnover more than 12 lakhs/annum

• Hotel - Three star & above and below Five star OR Upto Three star and Turnover more than 12 lakhs

• Restaurant - Turnover upto 20 crores

• Transporter - Having upto 100 vehicles/ wagons Or turnover upto 30 crores

• Marketer - Turnover upto 20 crores

• Premises at Central Government

• Food catering services in establishments and units under Central Government Agencies like Railways, Air, Airport, Seaport, Defence etc.

Eligibility Criteria for Central License

• Manufacturers

• Dairy Units, including Milk Chilling Units that are equipped to handle and process - More than 50,000 litres of milk per day Or 2500 MT of milk solids per annum

• Vegetable Oil Processing Units and the Units that produce vegetable oil through the process of solvent extraction and refineries, including Oil Expeller Unit. - More than 2 MT/day

• Slaughtering Units - Large Animal (More than 50) Small Animal (More than 150) Poultry Birds (More than 1000) per day

• Meat Processing Units - More than 500 kg meat per day Or 150 MT per annum

• All Food Processing Units including retailers and repackers - More than 2 MT/day except grains, cereals & pulses milling units.

• Proprietary Foods

• 100% Export Oriented Units

Importers

• Importers importing food items including food ingredients and additives for commercial use

Other Businesses

Following businesses  should take up  FSSAI Central registration

• Storage (Except Controlled Atmosphere and Cold) - More than 50,000 MT

• Storage (Cold/Refrigerated) - More than 10,000 MT

• Storage (Controlled Atmosphere + Cold) - More than 1000 MT

• Wholesaler - More than 30 crores

• Retailer - More than 20 crores

• Distributor - More than 20 crores

• Supplier - More than 20 crores

• Caterer - More than 20 crores

• Hotel - Five star & above

• Restaurant - More than 20 crores

• Transporter - More than 100 vehicles/ wagons Or More than 30 crores

• Marketer - More than 20 crores

• Premise in Air/ Seaport

• Food Catering services in establishments and units under Central Government Agencies like Defence etc.

• Storage, Wholesaler, Retailer, Distributor operating in the premises of Central Government Agencies

• Food Catering services in establishments and units under Central Government Agencies like Air and Airport, Seaport

• Storage, Wholesaler, Retailer, Distributor operating in the premises of Air and Airport, Seaport

Documents Required to Apply for FSSAI License

General Documents

• New/Renewal/Modification of License

• New Registration

• Proprietorship Declaration

• CGWA NOC dated 11.01.2021

• Online Sale of Alcohol under FSSAI License by E-Commerce FBO  ||
  Draft format for Declaration for Ecommerce FBO under Category 14

• Self Declaration for Exporting FBO

• Sample Food Recall Plan and Guidelines

• BIS License/Receipt by Manufacturers of Packaged Drinking Water / Mineral Water

• Repacker - Declaration/Undertaking for owning full compliance of the food product in case exemption is sought for submission of 'NoC from Manufacturer'

How to View Required Document for License?

Follow the below steps to view required documents for license.

• Visit FoSCoS website

• Click on ‘Documents Required’.

• Click on ‘View Required Documents for License’.

• Select ‘Kind of Business Group’ and ‘Kind of Business’.

• Click on ‘Submit’.

• You can see the list of required documents in the list below.

How to Apply Online for FSSAI License?

Follow the below steps to apply for fssai license.

• Visit the FoSCoS website.

• Click on ‘Apply for New License/Registration’.

• Select the premise of operation i.e General, Railway Station, Airport/Seaport.

• Select your state.

• Select your ‘Kind of Business’.

• Select suitable turnover or capacity from the below list and click on ‘Proceed’.

• You can see your license eligibility is a new page. Here, click on ‘Click here to Proceed’.

• Fill the application form.

• Upload the required documents.

• Make the required payment.

How to Check FSSAI License Status?

Follow the  below steps to check FSSAI License Status.

• Visit the FoSCoS website.

• Click on Track Application.

• Enter the ‘Application Reference Number’

• Enter the captcha.

• Click on ‘Submit’.

How to Apply for FSSAI License Renewal?

Follow the below steps to apply for fssai license renewal.

• Visit the FoSCoS website.

• Click on ‘Apply for Renewal without Sign-in’.

• Enter the license/ registration number.

• Enter the validity end date.

• Enter Captcha.

Fee Structure for FSSAI License

Following is the fee structure for FSSAI License according to various conditions.

• Petty Food Business Operators - Rs. 100

• Dairy Units including Milk Chilling Units :

• More than 50,000 Liters of Milk per day or More than 2500 MT of Milk Solid Per annum- Rs. 7500

• 10001 – 50,000 Ltrs of Milk per day 501 MT – 2500 MT of Milk Solids per annum- Rs. 5000

• 501 – 10,000 Ltrs of Milk per day 2.5 MT – 500 MT of Milk Solids per annum- Rs. 3000

• Upto 500 Ltrs of Milk per day Upto 2.5 MT of Milk Solids per annum- Rs. 100

• Vegetable Oil Processing Units

• More than 2 MT per day- Rs. 7500

• 1-2 MT per day - Rs. 5000

• Below 1 MT per day- Rs. 5000

• Turnover upto Rs. 12 Lacs per annum- Rs. 100

• Slaughtering House

• Large Animals: More than 50 Small Animals: More than 150 Poultry Birds: More than 1000- Rs. 7500

• Large Animals: 3 to 50 Small Animals: 11 to 150 Poultry Birds: 51-1000- Rs. 2000

• Large Animals Or 2 Small Animals or 10 Poultry Birds: 50- Rs. 100

• All Food Manufacturing/ Processing units other than Dairy Units, Vegetable Oil, Meat Processing and Slaughtering Houses

• Production Capacity: More than 2 MT per day No Grains or Cereals or Pulses Milling Units- Rs. 7500

• Production Capacity: 101 Kgs/Ltrs – 1 MT per Day All Grains, Cereals, Pulses Milling units without any limit on Production Capacity- Rs. 3000

• Production Capacity: 1MT – 2 MT per Day- Rs. 5000

• Turnover upto Rs. 12 Lacs per annum Or Production capacity upto 100 Kgs/Ltrs per day- Rs.100

• Proprietary Food - Rs. 7500

• Food or Health Supplements and Nutraceuticals etc.- Rs.7500

• Non-specified food- Rs. 7500

• Radiation processing of food - Rs. 7500

• Substances added to Food:

• Production Capacity: More than 2 MT per Day- Rs. 7500

• Production Capacity: Up to 2 MT per Day - Rs. 5000

• Turnover upto Rs. 12 Lacs per annum- Rs. 100

Application Forms

• Form A Registration Renewal FSSAI

• Form B License Renewal FSSAI

• Self Declaration for Proprietorship

• Declaration FSSAI English

• Declaration FSSAI Hindi

• Declaration for FBO

• Declaration Regarding FSMS Plan

• FORM IX Nomination for Person by Company Hindi

• FORM IX Nomination Person Company

References

While crafting this guide, we have consulted reliable and authoritative sources, including official government directives, user manuals, and pertinent content sourced from government websites

• FoSCoS 

• Kind of Business Eligibility