FOOD LICENSE/FSSAI REGISTRATION
The Food Safety and Standards Authority Act(FSSAI) or Food License Act is used to secure the laws relating to food and to establish science-based standards for food to control their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import, to make sure the availability of food for human consumption and for other food-related issues. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and State Food Authorities are jointly responsible for implementation and enforcement of FSSAI.
Under FSSAI, there are two kinds of FSSAI license namely, the Central FSSAI license and State FSSAI license. In addition to FSSAI License, there is also a FSSAI registration which is applicable for petty food retailers. Know more about difference between FSSAI registration and FSSAI license. In this article, we look at the procedure for obtaining FSSAI license in India.
FOOD LICENSE/FSSAI License
FSSAI license is issued by the FSSAI Regional Offices which are functioning across the nation. This FSSAI license can be issued and renewed for a period of 1 to 5 years.
FOOD LICENSE/ FSSAI License Eligibility
Central FSSA license can be obtained by the following units:
1.Dairy units which include milk chilling units equipped to handle and process.
2.Vegetable oil processing units and units that produce vegetable oil by the process of solvent extraction and refineries that includes oil expeller unit.
3.Slaughtering units.
4.Meat processing units.
5.Food processing units that include relabelers and repackers.
6.Proprietary foods.
7.100% export oriented units.
Documents Required for FOOD LICENSE/ FSSAI License
1. PAN Card
2. Identity Proof
3. Passport Sized Photo
4. Electricity Bill/ Water Bill
5. Rent Agreement
6. Trade License
BENEFTS OF FSSAI LICENSE
Importance of FSSAI License
A food license by which is issued by the FSSAI is regarded as a permit which is required to operate a food-related business and also in order to ensure good quality of food in your business and for the benefits one from government actions on non-compliances.
But, some of the entrepreneurs oversee the importance of FSSAI license as to how this license can be used as an effective marketing tool in order to boost your business. One can also modify the FSSAI Food License. As, any sound food business operator, you would want your business to be helped by any of the tools that could help to promote sales. You can use an FSSAI license for the same, in the following ways:
1.Consumer awareness:
In this age of information, the consumers have become more alert and informative about the quality of the food which they eat. With the number of diets and increasing of the healthy eating food options, people are required to know as to what they are consuming is not just safe but is of really good quality. More so after the recent controversy with Maggi, are proving the consumers have started to take the food safety standard seriously. Thus, food is proving that they have the FSSAI license, which can give you an added advantage of a solid and an increase in the customer base.
2.Legal Advantage:
Most of the businesses identify getting an FSSAI license as an expensive, time consuming and an inconvenient process of documentation, thus they try to avoid getting the license. But, in reality, the process is not so cumbersome and there are a lot of consultancies that can help you get the license with ease. The actual cost which is required in order to achieve the license is less than what you will have to pay for it as the penalties if you are caught. It is thus advisable for any businessman to firstly get the license before you can even officially open your business.
3.Using the FSSAI Logo:
Once you have the license, you can skillfully use the FSSAI logo in your menu cards and also in the pamphlets in order to publicise your food’s superior quality over others. This, however, gives you an edge over the many food operators who are not having the food license. All the packaged food are thus required to have an FSSAI number. The logo is seen as a mark of validity and also for assurance by the consumers. In fact, the selective customers want to consume food products specifically who are having the license. It helps you in developing a brand name.
4.Business Expansion:
When the time comes for your business to expand in other areas or outlets, you can easily do so with the use of your FSSAI license. The license will help you to establish your reputation and also qualification to grow your business in a new direction with ease. Moreover, the license can also make it easier for you to get bank loans and for funding which is required for expansion.
It is thus believed that there are more than 5 crore food businesses in the country while only 33 lakhs of them are registered with FSSAI. The importance of the quality standard is ever growing and it is beneficial in the short as well as in the long run for your business in order to have an FSSAI license.