FSSAI State License in India

Role of Food Safety Standard Authority of India

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) plays a pivotal role in ensuring food safety, hygiene, and quality standards across the food sector in India. Here's an overview of its multifaceted role based on the provided information:

1. Formulating Guidelines and Norms: FSSAI is responsible for creating comprehensive guidelines and norms that govern the entire food sector. These standards cover various aspects from production to distribution, ensuring adherence to food safety regulations.

2. Initiatives for Food Safety Awareness: FSSAI introduces and promotes initiatives aimed at raising awareness about food safety among both businesses and consumers. These campaigns contribute to educating the public about safe food handling practices.

3. Releasing Directions for Food Business Operators: FSSAI issues specific directives and guidelines for food business operators (FBOs) to comply with regulations, ensuring that they maintain high standards of food safety and hygiene.

4. Setting Norms for Food Testing Labs: FSSAI establishes norms and rules for food testing laboratories to ensure the accuracy and reliability of food testing procedures, which is crucial for maintaining quality standards.

5. Data Collection on Contaminants: The authority accumulates and analyzes data concerning contaminants in food articles, enabling them to monitor and address potential risks to public health effectively.

6. Recommendations to the Indian Government: FSSAI provides recommendations to the Indian Government for formulating new provisions and regulations, leveraging its expertise to enhance food safety standards nationwide.

7. Utilizing Rapid Alert System: FSSAI employs a rapid alert system to promptly identify and address issues related to food articles available to the public. This system ensures swift action to mitigate potential risks or hazards.

8. Regulating Proprietary Food Units: FSSAI imposes stringent norms for proprietary food units, mandating them to acquire FSSAI licenses without exceptions. Unregistered units are prohibited from continuing their operations without a valid food license.

9. Regulation of Manufacturing, Storage, Sale & Distribution: FSSAI regulates and oversees the entire process of food manufacturing, storage, sale, and distribution, ensuring strict adherence to food safety and hygiene standards at every stage.

10. Establishing Information Networks: FSSAI sets up legitimate information networks aimed at spreading awareness among the masses, providing accurate and valid information related to food safety and hygiene to ensure informed decision-making.

Who Can Obtain the FSSAI License or Registration?

Various types of food businesses can apply for FSSAI registration or licenses, including:

• Petty retailers, hawkers, and itinerant vendors
• Tea stalls, snack stalls, juice stalls, and street food vendors
• Dairy units, vegetable oil processing units, and meat processing units
• Restaurants, hotels, clubs, and catering businesses
• Retailers, wholesalers, distributors, suppliers, and marketers of food products
• Transporters, including refrigerated vans and milk tankers
• Importers and exporters
• E-commerce operators, physical and cloud kitchens, and many others

Benefits of Obtaining an FSSAI State License

1. Enhanced Brand Recognition: Acquiring an FSSAI State License establishes a strong sense of credibility and trust among consumers. It signals compliance with stringent food safety standards, fostering confidence in the brand among target end-users and the general public.

2. Improved Business Credibility: The possession of an FSSAI State License enhances the overall credibility of the business. It signifies a commitment to adhering to legal and safety standards set by the FSSAI, which is a significant factor in building trust with customers and stakeholders.

3. Increased Customer Attraction: Businesses with an FSSAI State License tend to attract more customers. This license serves as a mark of reliability and quality assurance, drawing consumers who prioritize food safety and hygiene in their purchasing decisions.

4. Legal Stability: Operating with an FSSAI State License provides legal stability that unregistered counterparts lack. It ensures compliance with regulatory standards, protecting the business from legal repercussions and ensuring smooth operations within the legal framework.

5. Promotion of Best Practices: The FSSAI State License encourages and facilitates the adoption of best practices related to food safety. It equips business owners with guidelines and standards to ensure the production, handling, and distribution of safe and hygienic food, benefiting both the business and its consumers.

Who Need to Apply For FSSAI State License?

The requirement for a State FSSAI License applies to various businesses and entities involved in food production, processing, distribution, and handling within a single state in India. Here's a breakdown of who needs a State FSSAI License based on specific criteria:

1. Businesses with Annual Turnover: Entities operating within a single state and generating an annual turnover ranging from more than Rs 12 lakhs to less than Rs 20 Crores fall under the ambit of requiring a State FSSAI License.

2. Facility Dealing with Proprietary Foods: Any facility involved in the production or handling of proprietary foods, regardless of turnover, is required to obtain a State FSSAI License.

3. Vegetable Oil Production & Processing Facility: Vegetable oil production and processing facilities using solvent extraction methods and meeting the turnover criteria specified need to acquire a State FSSAI License.

4. Hotels with 4-Star Rating or Less: Hotels with a rating of 4 stars or lower fall under the purview of needing a State FSSAI License for their food operations.

5. Dairy Product Facilities & Milk Chilling Units: Facilities dealing with dairy products and milk chilling units with a production capacity ranging from 500 to 50,000 liters require a State FSSAI License.

6. Storage Units with Limited Capacity: Storage facilities with an overall capacity of less than 50,000 metric tons per year need to obtain a State FSSAI License.

7. Slaughterhouses: Slaughterhouses with specific animal handling capacities—more than 2 up to 50 large animals, more than 10 up to 150 small animals, or a daily capacity of more than 50 up to 1000 poultry birds—require a State FSSAI License.

8. Food Processing Facilities: All food processing facilities, including re-packing units, with a per-day capacity of not less than 100 kg/l to up to 2 metric tons come under the mandate of obtaining a State FSSAI License.

Procedure of FSSAI State License Registration