Background: FSSAI license is a food license issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. This is regarded as a permit for any food related business in India. In his previous article Navneet Dhiman explained the benefits of filing Income Tax Returns (ITR). Here he shares about FSSAI registration and filing of returns.

FSSAI registration is a basic registration for food businesses in the central department of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Food business operators or FBOs can start a business of food takeaway, restaurant, food points, canteen, manufacturing food products or repacking, food van, ice cream parlour, tea shop, etc. with the permission of FSSAI department to get a license.

FSSAI registration is a basic registration for food businesses in the central department of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

FSSAI department divides the license in three parts:

1. FSSAI Registration: Food businesses with annual turnover below INR 12 lakhs. All petty food business operators require the FSSAI registration. A petty food business operator is someone who manufactures or sells a product by himself or a retailer, hawker, street food vendor or someone who owns a small juice shop, a temporary fruit stall or a sweet shop, sells food on movable carts.

Petty food business owners may also mean small scale cottage industries or similar other industries whose annual turnover doesn’t exceed beyond INR 12 lakhs. They are required to obtain the FSSAI registration by submitting the FORM A. The application is either accepted or rejected and the same is notified in writing within 7 days from the date of application.

For more information on eligibility, visit here.

Any person or entity that is not a petty business classifies for a FSSAI license which is of two types, state and central namely.

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2. FSSAI State License: Food businesses with an annual turnover of more than INR 12 lakhs up to INR 20 crore. Following are the entities that qualify for a FSSAI state license:

• Hotels up to 4 star rating, restaurants and bars having a turnover of up to INR 20 crores per year
• Caterers and mid-day meal canteens
• Food retailers, suppliers, transporters, whole sellers and product distributors with a turnover of up to INR 20 crores
• Dairy units and slaughter houses
• Cold storage units, meat processing units and all cereals, grains and pulses milling units

FSSAI state license can be obtained by filing FORM B.

For more information on eligibility, visit here.

3. FSSAI Central License: Food businesses with an annual turnover of more than INR 20 crore and business in more than one state or export business. The following entities qualify for a FSSAI central license.

• Hotels that have a five star rating and restaurants with an annual turnover of more than INR 20 crores
• Food vending agencies with more than 100 vending machines or having machines in two or more states
• Food product importers and exporters
• Caterers and departmental canteens belonging to central government institutions
• Food products marketers, retailers, suppliers, distributors, wholesalers and transporters with an annual turnover of more than INR 20 crore

The FSSAI central license can be obtained by filling up FORM B.

For more information on eligibility, visit here.

FSSAI registration is the only registration for food businesses in the department. So, registration certificate of FSSAI is issued without physical visit of food inspector. Department provides certificate for 1 to 5 years validity. And before expiry of validity of certificate, FBOs need to renew certificate before 1 month of expiration. After the beginning of the last month of validity, the department charges penalty of INR 100 per day till filing of renewal. Once last date of validity goes by, FBOs need to apply for fresh application to continue food business.

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Government fee

Registration: INR 100 per year

State License: INR 2,000 rupees per year and INR 3,000 per year in case of manufacturing

Central License: INR 7,500 per year

Timeline

15 days – 2 months

Filing FSSAI returns

Every licensed food business operator (FBO) who has an annual turnover of INR 12 lakh and above is directed to file an annual return.

All food manufacturers, labellers, importers, packers are required to file return either electronically or in physical forms may be prescribed by the concerned food safety Commissioner, in Form D1 on or before 31^st March of each year to the licensing authority with respect to food manufactured or sold in the previous financial year.

Information required to file annual FSSAI return:

• Name of the food product manufactured/imported/ exported/handled
• Size of bottle/can/any other package (like PP) or bulk package
• Quantity in Metric Ton
• Rate per unit or per Kg of packing C.I.F. (cost, insurance, freight) / F.O.B. (free on board)
  
  

Note : All FBO licensees who are engaged in the process of manufacturing of milk and/or milk products are required to file returns on half yearly basis for the period of 1st April to 30th September and 1st October to 31st March of every financial year in Form D-2, within one month from the end of the period.

Who is exempted from filing FSSAI return?

Exempted entities from filing annual return are as follows:

• Fast food joints
• Restaurants
• Canteens
• Grocery stores

What will be the penalty for delay in filing FSSAI return?

In case delay in filling return beyond 31^st May then penalty of INR 100 per day till delay continues.

FBOs can apply registration and file returns with help of Mylex Infotech Pvt Ltd as we help to expedite the process and make it hassle-free.

Also read: Want to sell food online in India? Legal requirements you need to know

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