Getting the right type of Food Licence under
the FSSAI in Jharkhand
While the Government stated that Food Business Operators must register under the FSSAI, the
FBOs have to follow a lot of rules to make this happen. Completing a registration process under
the FSSAI implies that an establishment owner has to register for a food licence. However, the
Food licence depends on the details of the establishment.
Food Business Operators include establishments or companies involved in the manufacturing,
storage, transportation or distribution of food products. Additionally, these FBOs could also be
involved in the processing, manufacture, storage distribution and sale of food products and their
registration process to obtain their FSSAI Registration or License varies slightly. Other factors that
played a role in the type of licence received are the nature and size of the business.
The main reasons for these rules were the protection of the customers from receiving adulterated
foods, sub-standard or spoiled foods. It was also for the creation of some standardisation within
the industry.
Different categories of FSSAI, Food licences
There are three main types of registrations that various FBOs across the country, would have to
register for, and these are:
- FSSAI Basic License - If the annual turnover of the business is less than 12 lakhs, the food business operators have to
register themselves using Registration Form A.
- FSSAI State License - If the annual turnover of the business is between 12 to 20 crores, the food business operators
have to register themselves using a State license Form B
- FSSAI Central License - If the annual turnover of the business is above 20 crores, then the food business operators have
to register themselves using Central License Form B.
Some pointers to keep in mind while going through the
process
- While most of the documents needed for these process are quite similar, they might vary
to an extent. The higher the turnover, the more paperwork about the type of work has to
be submitted.
- State licences are applied for and registered through the State offices, while National
level registrations, through the head office in New Delhi.
- Furthermore, if a company is planning on having multiple branches across the country,
they have to complete their application process through the National office.
- The fees to be paid, vary based on the details of the registration of the company. The
higher the turnover, or the more branches that the company is planning on opening up,
the higher the fee amounts.
- Licences are not a one-time process and have an annual renewal period. Some Indian
states allow for the renewal, every three or five years.
- Multiple inspections are conducted by the FSSAI to make sure that the establishment
meets all the necessary criteria. Post receiving the licence, they also conduct these
inspections to make sure that the criteria are met regularly. Having an FSSAI licence
number opens a lot of doors for any establishment since it is assumed that the vetting
process, has already been handled by a different reputed Government-assisted body.
