Did you know that a Food License Registration certificate is required to operate a food product business? To manufacture, distribute, or transport food products, you must register with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The FSSAI was established by the Government of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 established the FSSAI. The FSSAI Certificate and FSSAI License are the same things, and they both guarantee the quality, purity, and other essential factors on which customers can rely. There are also three types of FSSAI License Registration varies according to their nature of business FSSAI Basic License, FSSAI State License, and Central FSSAI License.

What is FSSAI STATE License?

FBOs not covered by Schedule 1 of the FSS Regulations, 2011, but with a yearly turnover of 12 lakh rupees or more (up to 20 crore rupees) should apply for a state license to continue operating. Similarly, regardless of turnover, all grain, cereal, and pulse milling units must have a State License FSSAI.

Who is required to have a State FSSAI License?

• Businesses that operate in a single state and have an annual revenue of more than Rs 12 lacs but less than Rs 20 crores.
• Facility dealing with Proprietary foods Vegetable oil production & processing facility using the process of solvent extraction meeting above turnover criteria.
• Hotels with four stars or fewer.
• Facilities dealing with dairy products, Milk Chilling Units having production capacity ranging from 500 to 50000 lit Storages possessing the overall capacity of less than 50,000 metric tons yearly.
• A slaughterhouse with a capacity of more than two and up to fifty large animals. Or the ability to handle more than ten and up to 150 small animals.
• A daily capacity ranging from more than 50 to up to 1000 poultry birds.

Why FSSAI State License:

• Creates strong brand recognition among target end-users and the general public
• Increases a company’s creditworthiness, allowing it to attract more customers.
• Provides legal stability that unregistered counterparts do not.
• Provides best practices to the business owner in order to ensure food safety.

Procedure to acquire FSSAI State License:

The FSSAI License is primarily granted on the basis of the scope of operation and the volume of production. The typical steps involved in obtaining a State Food license are as follows:

Step 1: Prepare the aforementioned document and file the application using Form B.

Step 2: Submit the form to the licensing authority via the FOSCOS online portal. The filing procedure concludes with the payment of standard fees.

Step 3: An in-depth examination of the application and documents by FSSAI officials. 

Step 4: If necessary, FSSAI officials will conduct an on-site inspection to determine the level of compliance at business premises.

Step 5: The licensing authority grants the State FSSAI License. If the application is not compliant, the licensing authority may revoke it.

Step 6: After obtaining the license, the business owner can begin operations. It should be noted that the license holder must have the license displayed at their business premises at the time.

Documents required:

• Passport-sized photographs of the person seeking the license
• Identification and address proof of the person seeking the license
• PAN card of the applicant
• A copy of the applicant’s property documents (if the applicant owns the business location).
• A copy of the rent agreement and the landlord’s NOC (in the case of rented property).
• Details on raw material suppliers
• Form B The applicant has completed and authenticated the form.
• The local Municipality has provided a list of the machinery installed at the NOC facility.
• Particulars of food category and proposed food articles to be produced at the plant Import Export Code rendered by Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
• Form IX Authorization letter containing the name and address of the responsible individual
• System of food safety management (FSMS)

The FSSAI has backed stringent norms for proprietary food units, as the majority of them operate without any regulations. FSSAI has mandated that these facilities obtain FSSAI licenses without exception. According to the FSSAI, unregistered proprietary food units are not permitted to operate without a valid food license.

To ensure maximum food safety and hygiene, FSSAI has rolled out mandatory provisions for FBOs as well as regulation of the manufacturing, storage, sale, and distribution processes. In addition, the authority has established a legitimate information network to raise public awareness about food safety and hygiene.