An act to combine the laws on food and to set up the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. It processes by laying down science-based standards for articles of food and regulates their manufacture, distribution, storage, import & sale, to make sure the availability of wholesome and safe food for human consumption. Also, concerning all those matters connected therewith or incidental.

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 

Section 3 of the Act provides with the relevant definitions otherwise requires– 

1. (j) food means any substance, whether processed, partly processed or unprocessed, which is meant for human consumption and includes primary food to the extent specified in the clause (zk), genetically modified/altered or engineered food or food containing such ingredients, infant food, packaged drinking water, alcoholic drink, chewing gum, and any substance, including water used into the food during its manufacture, preparation or treatment but does not include any animal feed, live animals unless they are prepared or processed for placing on the market for human consumption, plants, prior to harvesting, drugs and medicinal products, cosmetics, narcotic or psychotropic substances: Provided that the Central Government may declare, by notification in the Official Gazette, any other article as food for the purposes of this Act having regards to its use, nature, substance or quality; 
2. (n) food business means any project undertaking, whether for profit or not and whether public or private, carrying out any of the activities related to any step of manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution of food, import and involves food services, catering services, sale of food or food ingredients;
3. (o) food business operator in association to the food business, a person by whom the business is carried forward or owned and who is responsible for guaranteeing the compliance of this Act, rules, and regulations made thereunder.  

Why Registration Required? 

All the food business operators who are involved in the processing of food, manufacturing, storage, distribution, and sale of food must mandatory obtain FSSAI Registration or License. Depending upon the size and nature of the business FSSAI Registration is different from FSSAI License. FBO should obtain the necessary registration or license. The registration or license number is printed on all food packets.

Eligibility for Registration 

Registration Types

1. Basic Registration: Turnover that is below than 12 lakh/year 
2. State Registration: Turnover of 12 lakh – 20 Crore/year 
3. Central Registration: Turnover that is less than 20 Crore/year  

Fee for Registration

1. New registration certificate - INR 100/ year 
2. Renewal of registration certificate - INR 100/year 
3. Duplicate of registration certificate - 10% of the applicable certificate fee 

Registration System

Process: 

FSSAI enlistment is a required consistency used to guarantee the safety and security of nourishment items and food products and it basically is a Food Safety certificate that is issued by the Food Authority in India. This administering body, known as Food Safety and Sanitation Authority of India (FSSAI) marks organizations consistent with the guidelines of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. 

FSSAI consent is compulsory before beginning any sustenance business. Every one of the producers, dealers, cafés who are engaged with sustenance business must acquire a 14-digit enrollment or a permit number which must be imprinted on nourishment bundles. This progression is taken by the government's nourishment authorizing and enrollment framework to guarantee that sustenance items experience certain quality checks. In this way, decreasing the cases of debasement, instances of adulteration unsatisfactory items and improve the responsibility of producers by issuing nourishment administration permit. FSSAI Online Enlistment is done through Legalraasta (FSSAI permit specialists). 

FSSAI online enrollment is done through Legalraasta for the essential and focal level. For express, the FSSAI enrollment is done through Offline mode. FSSAI registration is initiated by submitting Form A (application) to the food and safety department. This application can be accepted or it may be rejected by the Department within 7 days from the application date and the fact has to be intimated to the applicant in writing. If the application is accepted, then the department will grant a registration certificate with the registration number and the photo of the applicant. 

FBO should prominently display the certificate of registration at the place of business during the business hours. 

Procedure: 

FSSAI registration is initiated by submitting Form A (application) to the food and safety department. 

1. This application can be acknowledged or it might be dismissed by the Office inside 7 days from the application date and the reality must be hinted to the candidate recorded as a hard copy. 
2. If the application is accepted, then the department will grant a registration certificate with the registration number and the photo of the applicant.
3. FBO should prominently display the certificate of registration at the place of business during the business hours. 

Required Documents for Registration

Form B should be Completed and Signed, Photo Identity of FBO, Proof of possession of premises (eg. Rental Agreement ), Partnership Deed / Certificate of Incorporation / Articles of Association, etc, List of food products to be dealt with Food safety management system plan. 

Need for FSSAI License

Every FBO apart from Small-Scale business has to be obtained from FSSAI License. FSSAI License can be classified into two categories i.e. State FSSAI License and Central FSSAI License based on the size of the business whether it is a medium scale or large scale business. 

Generally, FBOs which are large manufacturers, importers, exporters dealing in Large-scale food businesses need to obtain FSSAI registration from Central Government and FBO with small to medium-sized manufacturing units, transporters, marketers, traders, etc., need to take FSSAI registration from the State Government. 

The penalties for Non- Compliance