What is FSSAI Registration in India 

FSSAI registration is essential for anyone involved in the food business in India, whether it's opening a restaurant, bakery, hotel, cloud kitchen, or food stall. Food Business Operators (FBOs) engaged in manufacturing, preparation, selling, transportation, distribution, and storage of food products must also obtain FSSAI registration. 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) oversees and regulates the entire food industry in the country. Established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, FSSAI ensures that food products undergo quality checks to prevent adulteration and the sale of sub-standard items. 

The FSSAI operates under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which consolidates laws related to food safety and regulation in India. Its responsibilities include registering and licensing FBOs and establishing rules and regulations for running food businesses in the country.

FSSAI Registration

Every person (natural or artificial) involved in food business, such as manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution and sale of food products must compulsorily obtain FSSAI Registration or License.

FSSAI Registration is different from the FSSAI License depending on the size and nature of the business. FBOs should obtain the necessary registration or license depending on the size of their businesses.

FSSAI Registration is a 14-digit registration or a license number that is printed on all the food packages. The 14-digit registration number gives details about the assembling state and producer’s permit. This registration procedure is aimed to create more accountability on the FBO to maintain the quality of the food products. 

The licensing and registration procedure and requirements are regulated by Food Safety & Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011.

Food Business Operators Who Require FSSAI Registration?

The Food Business Operators (FBOs) carrying on the following kinds of the food business must have FSSAI License/Registration:

1. Petty retailers, Retail Shops, Snacks shops, Confectionery or Bakery shops, etc.
2. Temporary stalls, fixed stalls, or food premises are involved in preparing, storing, distributing, and selling food products.
3. Hawkers sell packaged or freshly prepared food by traveling from one location to another.
4. Dairy Units, including Milk Chilling Units, Petty Milkmen, and Milk Vendors
5. Slaughtering house
6. Fish Processing, Meat Processing, and unit
7. All Food Manufacturing units that include Repacking food
8. Vegetable Oil Processing Units
9. Proprietary food and Novel food
10. Cold/refrigerated storage facility
11. Transporter of food products having several specialized vehicles like insulated refrigerated vans/wagons, milk tankers, food wagons, food trucks, etc
12. Wholesalers, suppliers, distributors, and marketers of food products
13. Hotels, Restaurants, and Bars
14. Canteens and Cafeteria, including mid-day meal canteens
15. Food Vending Agencies and Caterers
16. Dhaba, PG provides food, a Banquet hall with food catering arrangements, Home Based Canteen, and Food stalls at fairs or religious institutions.
17. Importers and Exporters of food items and food ingredients.
18. E-Commerce food suppliers, including cloud kitchens

FSSAI Registration/FSSAI License

FSSAI registration is provided based on the business types, turnover, and production capacity. According to the installed capacity and turnover, FBOs are eligible for essential, central, and state licenses.

• FSSAI Registration: Food Business Operators having a turnover of less than Rs.12 lakh per annum must obtain FSSAI essential registration. Food business operators who are petty food manufacturers can obtain registration. Form A is the FSSAI registration form the applicant must fill out to receive FSSAI essential registration.
• FSSAI State License:  Food businesses having a turnover of more than Rs.12 lakh per annum and less than Rs.20 crore per annum must obtain the FSSAI state license. Form B is the FSSAI registration form the applicant must fill out to get an FSSAI state license. Food business operators like small to medium-sized manufacturing units, storage, transporters, retailers, marketers, distributors, etc., need to take FSSAI registration from the state government.
• FSSAI Central License: Food businesses having a turnover of more than Rs.20 crore per annum must obtain the FSSAI central license. The FSSAI registration form the applicant must fill out to obtain FSSAI primary license is Form B. Food business operators like 100% Export Oriented Units, large manufacturers, importers, food business operators in Central Government Agencies, airports, seaports, etc., need to obtain FSSAI registration from central government.

Fee Scheme

The FBO needs to pay the below-mentioned fee to obtain FSSAI License/Registration.

Sl.No	Details	Fee
1	Manufacturing License	Rs.2000 to 7500 per year
2	Registration Certificate	Rs.100 per year
3	Modification of License and Certificate	Rs.1000 for the license and Rs.100 for the registration
4	Renewal of License and Certificate	Same as New license/Registration

Documents for New FSSAI Registration Certificate

1. Photograph of the Applicant
2. Government-issued photo identities such as AADHAAR, PAN, Voter ID, etc
3. Proof of Address of Businesses activity (if the address is other than as mentioned in the Photo ID Card)
4. Documents for Renewal/Modification of License
5. Any change in documents or information provided during the grant of the previous food business license.
6. Certificate of Food Safety Management System being adopted
7. Medical fitness certificates of all workers engaged in the firm
8. All details of technical personnel in charge of the operation
9. Documents required for Renewal of Registration/License
10. Any change in documents or information provided during the grant of the previous registration

Procedure for New Application (Registration/ License)

After login to the portal, the system will display the dashboard; click on the License/Registration option in the left menu and select the Apply for New License/Registration option.

1. Select the State and Read the Note before proceeding
2. Read the Group Heads of Kind of Business. Select Restaurant from food services Business Group Head
3. Choose the right Radio Button according to the turnover of your food business and Proceed to fill out the application
4. Fill in all the mandatory fields as shown in the application Form B
5. Please furnish the communication details with caution, and communication made by the authority will be done to the mentioned contact details viz Mobile Number or Email ID, etc
6. Upload the relevant set of documents. Pay the fee with available modes and click on apply.
7. After completing the fee payment, a receipt will be generated with a 17-digit reference number that can be used for future reference.

Procedure for Renewal 

FBOs can submit a request to renew their existing issued licenses/ registrations using the Renewal tab. The renewal application needs to be submitted between the time frame of 120 days and 30 days before the date of the expiry of the license.

As soon as the FSSAI authorities issue the FSSAI registration certificate, the status will be displayed as ‘Registration Certificate Issued.’  The applicants can download the certificate by logging into the FoSCoS website.