What are Regulations for Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses?
According to the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011, it is mandatory for all food businesses operators, manufacturers, importers, distributers, wholesalers, retailers, hotels, restaurants, eateries, as well as petty food businesses to have an FSSAI registration/license so they are in compliance with the FSS Act. Food businesses with an annual turnover up to INR 12,00,000 need a registration certificate. Food businesses, with an annual turnover above this amount, need a license.
There are two types of licenses: a central license, issued by the central government, and a state license, issued by any of the state governments. The central license is issued on the basis of manufacturing capacity, as well as turnover. Those operating food businesses within an Indian state need a state license that is also based on capacity or turnover. Those that operate businesses in two or more states require an additional central license for head office/registered office and separate license/registration for other locations they operate in. Only transporters need a singular license/registration for all vehicles an individual transporter runs. Those food business operators that deal with non-standardized products have to first apply for the product approval and only then they can obtain a license under the licensing and registration regulations. All importers and exporters have to obtain a central license from FSSAI.
What is FSSAI Compliance Criterion for Import of Food Products to India?
Food articles imported to India from foreign countries and distributed in India need to conform to the FSSAI regulations or suffer restrictions on import. The FSSAI also has stringent regulations for packaging and labeling under Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labeling) Regulation, 2011.
These two reasons serve to demonstrate why imported food articles, worth millions of dollars, languish in various Indian ports. For example, all chocolates, as defined in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011are to be prepared from milk. They cannot contain any vegetable oil or fats. Labels need to mention artificial flavors usedto comply with FSSAI regulations. If these guidelines are not adhered to then chocolates are not permitted to enter Indian markets. Global chocolate manufacturing giants Lindt, Cadbury, Mars, and Ferrero are suffering a huge loss as a consequence.
Alcoholic beverages including beer are suffering the same fate. FSSAI stipulates that all ingredients, including additives need to be mentioned on labels in descending order of their composition by weight and volume, which for alcoholic beverages, is not always possible. Liquor imports have therefore fallen, since labels that fail to mention additives, like color, water, flavoring, and preservatives are all withheld at ports. Another stipulation for food products is to have “inseparable labels” and not stickers. Food products with detachable labels are withheld. FSSAI opines that it is only trying to ensure consumer safety as some of these stickers are only in Chinese and Japanese so consumers cannot understand what’s written. These reasons have compelled many foreign companies to withdraw from India.
Some of the other FSSAI compliance criteria for labeling of imported food include:
- Language on labels must be in English as per FSSAI Regulations, 2011.
- “Vegetarian” or “Non-Vegetarian” must be declared by affixing the symbol for “Vegetarian” or “Non-Vegetarian” on packages
- Mention name and complete address of the importer in India;
- Mention net weight or number or measure of volume of contents;
- Mention batch number or lot number or code number, and FSSAI license number;
- Mention month and year in which the commodity is manufactured or prepared;
- Declare “Best Before” date on the package;
- Mention nutritional information or nutritional facts per 100 grams or 100 milliliter per serving of food product on the label;
- Name and address of the manufacturer should be mentioned on the label and
- FSSAI logo and license number of the importer should be available on the label.
How Do the Indian Regulations Compare with Global Standards?
The Indian food safety regulations, as implemented by the FSSAI, are primarily based on the Codex Alimentarius. The Codex was formed with the collaborative efforts of the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization, two eminent United Nations health and food bodies. The Codex Alimentarius international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice contribute to the safety and quality of the food that reaches consumers. Since the FSSAI regulations are framed on the guidelines of the Codex Alimentarius, they adhere to international standards. Other international standards formulated by global agencies like the European Food Safety Authority, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, and the
Gives complete insight on FSSAI rules & regulations
Thank you Baskaran, please feel free to ask any questions you have I will be happy to answer them here.
How do retailers control damages pertaining to poor delivery performance by vendors?
What is the current process now to Import Health Supplements or to get product approval for existing product in market. Is FSSAI giving provisional NOC or it is not at all allowing any product approval for Imports or it is free flow to Import the health supplements into India.
Hi Kunal, There is a draft regulation on nutracuticals which should get formalized soon then it will be clear how to go about importing nutraceuticals.
please confirm which nutraceutical products requires product approval or which requires only central license.
Is there any process or regulation to sell homemade foods? Any licenses required for selling homemade food online?
Dear Murthhy, if your annual sale will be less than 12 lakhs you have to register and if it is ore than 12 you have to take a lic.
i just need to supply manufactured local traditional foods from one state to other states through online process.do i need to register for that or have to opt for license. does i need to register a company . kindly help me.
thanks
Hi Kumar you will need a license/registration for doing this.
Please share the current problems related with food safety in India and its implementation, prevalent even after the enactment of the new FSS Act. And what suggestions and recommendations would you give to solve them?
Hi, namrata there are a million answers to your question but the most important is that there is a need to increase the level of awareness with both food businesses and consumers about food safety and its importance.
As Namrata asked, could you please tell us the current problems withe Food Safety and Standards in India and how it would be best to solve them?
Are there any guidelines on how much flavour (nature identical and or artifical) can be used per 500gms of product?
Dear Dr Saurabh,
We looking for any food safety norm required food pet food manufacturing. Which agency looks after manufacturing/packing/processing of pet food for dog, cat etc.
Waiting for reply
No agency in India is currently looking on Petfood Manufacture/packaging etc. Please correct me if there is any recent regulation from FSSAI?
Hello Dr. Saurabh,
Going back to Mr. Kunal Tyagi’s question, it means, at present, we can import finished nutraceuticals, without prior product approval, for marketing, following guidelines of labels, claims etc. Is it applicable?
Thanks & regards
Dr. Pradeep Visen
Former scientist, CDRI, Lucknow
Director, Nutra-V Natural Care Pvt. Ltd., Lucknow
Dear Sir, Please advice. Which one is the current FSSAI India “Food Additives (Preservatives, Colors) & Standards” standard already in force. Will you please provide link.
Dear Saeed,
FSSAI released new notification and amend the existing standards for additives with following standards.
http://www.fssai.gov.in/Portals/0/pdf/Gazette_Notification_Additive_Harmonization_16_09_2016.pdf
Thanks
Pravesh
Dear Sir,
I make masala products and sell to friends and relatives. Planning to introduce the products online and to nearby stores…pls guide me if I need to apply for food safety license and criteria to obtain it.
Dear Sir, Please advice.
Following enzymes were mentioned with GM resources, under the FSSAI Regulations
1100(iv) alpha-Amylase from Bacillus megaterium expressed in Bacillus subtilis
1100(v) alpha-Amylase from Bacillus stearothermophilus expressed in Bacillus subtilis
For the above GM enzymes, would they be considered as Standardized Food Additive – no need to register?”
Please advice.
Thank you.
Pream Madarasinghe-Sri Lanka
We manufacture Ricinolic acid (RA) from castor oil ( after a hydrolysis process).t.
RA is listed as a fatty acid – INS No. 570.
Since castor oil is vegetable oil, am I right in saying that castor oil does not require product approval, as it is not listed as a commodity in fssai ac
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Hi, I wanted to know if I own a Hotel which includes lodging and ancillary services & wherein I have outsourced the entire F & B function to a 3rd Party Vendor who has registered for FSSAI License for all products provided by him for the aforementioned hotel including packaged drinking water and other products which are provided to Customers as per package plan for the Room + Food.
Would I require to register or even apply for an FSSAI license being the Hotel Owner?
Is there any regulatory body in India that deals with nutritive value/ production/ marketing of pet food ?