What is FSSAI Registration or Food License?

In order to maintain the quality of the food products being processed and produced in India, the food manufacturing is monitored by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. FSSAI has made it mandatory for the food manufacturers, traders and processors to obtain a Food License. All the food-based businesses are required to apply for this license depending on the following: -

• Turnover
• Scale of business
• Type of activity.

What are the various types of FSSAI Registration?

Basically, there are three types of registrations under FSSAI and they are as follows: -

1. Basic License Registration: Small Businesses or start-ups having turnover of upto Rs. 12lakhs.
2. State License Registration: The small and medium businesses having turnover from 12lakhs to 20crores.
3. Central License Registration: The businesses having a turnover of more than Rs. 20crores.

What is the validity period for the license by FSSAI?

The license is valid for five years and is required to be renewed within 30days from the expiry date.

Does someone require separate registrations, if they have two separate food-based businesses?

FSSAI License is location specific and you are required to have separate registrations, if your businesses are located in separate locations.

What are the steps involved in obtaining FSSAI License?

• Step 1: FSSAI Form A is filled on FSSAI website and payment is made.
• Step 2: After payment has been made successfully, Form B has to be filed along with multiple declarations and resolutions such as board resolution, No Objection Certificate by landowner to establish the identity of business. These are to be drafted by professionals such as Chartered Accountants and Company Secretaries as the application goes through rigorous vetting by the department.
• Step 3: On submission of application along with other documents, a code is generated for provisional registration which is to be quoted during all future correspondence.
• Step 4: The application is then reviewed by the department and it may call for additional information or suggest edits. The process takes around 30 to 40 days to get closed and involve follow ups with department before the receipt of licence number. With ClearTax the process can become simple. All you need to do is:
• Buy the Plan
• Upload documents
• Get Application Code
• Track status
• Obtain FSSAI license