Food License Registration

What is the foscos license?

The Food Safety Compliance System (FosCos) has been constituted by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare with a stringent visualization to implement FSS act on food business activities. FosCos was formed to keep a single point of contact for all the food operators. The role & responsibility of FosCos is to make sure that all food related laws are being followed by food business operators.

FosCos Licence or Registration is mandatory before starting any food business. All the manufacturers, traders, restaurants, small eateries, grocery shop who are involved in food business must obtain a 14-digit registration or a license number which must be printed on food packages or Displayed in Premises.

Your food license category

Basic Registration

The process of application starts with identification of eligibility of your premise. Depending upon the installed capacity (in case of manufacturers) and/or turnover (for other Kind of businesses) and/or location, your premise may be eligible for any of the following categories:

If Annual Turnover Below 12 Lac

State License

Central License

Railway

If Annual Turnover Between 12 Lac to 20 Cr

If Annual Turnover Above 20 Cr

If Premises in Railway Department

Documents required for the food license?

• Aadhaar Card

• Pan Card / Driving License / Voter Id / Passport [Any - 1]

• Passport Size Photo

• Sale Deed / Property Tax Paid Receipt / Society Maintenance Receipt / Electricity Bill / Telephone Bill / Water Bill [Any - 1]

• Rent Agreement If the property is rented

Additional documents required for the Partnership Firm:-

• Pan Card of The Partnership Firm

• All The partners Id & Address Proof

• Partnership Deed

Additional documents required for the Private Limited Company:-

• MOA/AOA of The Company

• Certificate of Incorporation

• Directors Id (List of Directors) With Address Proof

• Copy of Resolution

• Pan Card of The Company

Additional documents required for the Manufacturing & Processing Units:-

• Blueprint/layout plan of the processing unit showing the dimensions in metres/square metres and operation-wise area allocation

• Name and List of Equipments and Machinery along with the number, installed capacity and horse power used

• List of food category desired to be manufactured

• Analysis report (Chemical & Bacteriological) of water to be used as ingredient in food from a recognized/ public health laboratory to confirm the portability

• Source of milk or procurement plan for milk including location of milk collection centres etc. in case of Milk and Milk Products processing units.(wherever applicable)

• Source of raw material for meat and meat processing plants. (wherever applicable)

• Pesticide residues report of water in case of units manufacturing packaged drinking water, packaged Mineral water and/or carbonated water from a recognised/ public health laboratory

• Production unit photograph

Additional documents required for the Co-Operative Society OR Trust OR Autonomous Board:-

• Copy of Establishment

• List of Trustees

• Resolution of The Society / Trust

Additional documents required for the Relabellers & Repackers:-

• NOC & Copy of License from manufacturer

Additional documents required for the Hotel:-

• Certificate provided by Ministry of Tourism (HRACC)

Additional documents required for the Transporter:-

• For Transporters-Supporting documentary proof for Turnover or self declaration of number of vehicles

FEEDBACK?

Procedure for the food license?

Fill Online Application Form

Food License Fee Payment

Get Food License on Email

Benefits of having food license?

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is FSSAI?

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been constituted by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare with a stringent visualization to implement FSS act on food business activities. FSSAI was formed to keep a single point of contact for all the food operators. The role & responsibility of FSSAI is to make sure that all food related laws are being followed by food business operators.

FSSAI Licence or Registration is mandatory before starting any food business. All the manufacturers, traders, restaurants, small eateries, grocery shop who are involved in food business must obtain a 14-digit registration or a license number which must be printed on food packages or Displayed in Premises.

Which Kind of business should be selected?

If you are manufacturer, Repacker & Relabeller then select from these kind of business according to your products- 1. Dairy Unit including milk chilling units.( for milk industry) 2. Vegetable oil processing unit.( For edible oil, refined oil solvent extracted oil & edible Fat products producer) 3. Slaughtering Unit. 4. Meat processing Unit. 5. All food processing unit including relabeller & repacker. (for all food processing unit other than mention above) For other business select appropriate business , which will be carried out at the premise for which license is being applied from the available list. It may be more than one kind of business.

Who all requires Food License?

FSSAI License is mandatory for all Food Business Operators including all manufacturer, Re-Packer, trader, retailer, wholesaler, supplier, Transporters, importer & exporter etc.

Which type of FSSAI License do I require?

License/Registration type depends on the annual turnover of the food business. Please refer to the above explained License category for more clarification.

What is the difference between State & Central License?

Type of License depends on the nature of business and its annual turnover/production.

Can I operate on multiple stores with one License?

Separate license needs to be issued on each location basis on their annual turnover.

Does Start-up also require FSSAI registration/License?

Yes, it is legally mandatory for all food business start-up to get FSSAI license/registration to commence their business.

Can a caterer start its business with basic registration certificate?

Registration certificate are not valid for Caterers. They at least required to have State License irrespective of its turnover.

Does packaged & bottled water come under FSSAI?

All type of sale of sealed water comes under FSSAI act.

What are functional foods product, nutraceuticals, & who is the regulatory authority in India?

The functional food and nutraceuticals product are explained in the section 22 of the Act.

Whether there will be a single or different license for the same premises having more than one product line like milk, dairy and meat products?

Under FSSAI Act, the compliance for each product has been dined separately keeping in mind of the safety of the community. You would be requiring separate license for each product category.

What is the maximum penalty for breach of regulations related to the labeling of food items?

As per FSSAI Act a penalty up to Rs. 10 lac may be levied.