Central FSSAI License in India

Responsibilities and Functions of FSSAI

Key responsibilities and functions of FSSAI encompass various crucial aspects:

1. Setting Food Safety Standards: Developing and establishing comprehensive guidelines and norms to ensure food safety and hygiene across the food industry.

2. Nationwide Awareness Initiatives: Launching widespread campaigns and initiatives to educate and create awareness among the public about the significance of food safety practices.

3. Issuing Mandatory Licenses: Granting mandatory licenses and registrations to food business operators after verifying compliance with food safety regulations.

4. Policy Recommendations: Providing recommendations to the Government of India for formulating new policies and amendments concerning food safety.

5. Regulatory Guidelines: Formulating and issuing directives and guidelines in alignment with the FSS Act, 2006, which outlines standards and protocols for entities operating in the food sector.

6. Enforcement Actions: Taking legal measures, including initiating legal proceedings, against food businesses suspected of engaging in illicit practices such as food adulteration or violating food safety regulations.

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 Central License

1. Global Recognition: The FSSAI License establishes a credible global identity for businesses, enhancing their brand recognition on an international scale.

2. Business Expansion: Possession of an FSSAI Central License facilitates easy expansion into new locations and the opening of additional outlets. Moreover, it simplifies access to financial support, including loans, for business growth.

3. Legal Assurance: This license provides a sense of security and legal compliance for everyone involved in the food industry. It acts as evidence of maintaining food quality and safety standards.

4. Consumer Confidence: Given the growing consumer awareness regarding food quality, having an FSSAI License instills trust among consumers, resulting in an expanding customer base.

Requirements for Obtaining an FSSAI Central License:

The FSSAI Central License is granted to food businesses that meet specific criteria:

1. Annual turnover exceeding Rs. 20 crores OR operating units across multiple states OR production surpassing defined threshold limits.

2. Businesses intending to start import/export of food items or sell via their e-commerce website, with an annual turnover of more than Rs. 20 crores.

Special Conditions for Application:

• Nutraceutical and Health Supplement Businesses
• Transporters managing over 100 vehicles
• 5-star or 7-star hotel establishments

Additional Criteria for FSSAI Central License:

These criteria encompass various aspects such as:

• Dairy facilities producing 50000 litres or 2500 megatons of milk solids annually
• Vegetable oil processing facilities with a daily production volume of 2 MT
• Slaughter facilities with specified daily capacities for large animals, small animals, and poultry birds
• Meat processing units with specific daily production capacities
• Food processing facilities meeting prescribed daily production limits
• Businesses involved in food articles' international shipping
• Refrigeration or cold storage facilities with a capacity of 1000 megatons or more
• Wholesalers, retailers, distributors, catering services, restaurants, and eateries meeting defined annual turnover criteria
• Catering services operating within government establishments like seaports and airports

Procedure of Central FSSAI Registration