While all businesses or companies who are hiring people have to work on registering under the Shops and Establishments Act so that they can receive a shop licence, not all of them have to apply for an FSSAI registration. An FSSAI registration is a process that companies have to get through if they need a Food licence. A food licence is mandatory for some companies working under specific guidelines and handling a certain amount of work.
If a company falls under the following criteria, they should register with the FSSAI for their food licence.
● Any FBO with an annual turnover of not more than Rs. 12 lakh should apply for a basic FSSAI licence.
Since there are three primary categories of registration, the primary factor determining which one people apply for is dependent on the turnover of the company.
● Petty retailer dealing in food products
● Any person who manufactures or sells any food article by himself or through a distribution network
● Food sales by a temporary stallholder. These shops and stores could include kiosks selling food alongside a road, to make sure that the food that they are selling match standards and guidelines
● Any individual who distributes food in any religious or social gathering except a caterer
FSSAI Registration is a basic license required by all food business operators involved in the small-scale food business. Depending on how companies see themselves projected to grow in the following year, they have to apply for a different type of licence.
The documentation needed for the registration is quite simple, and almost all businesses would have them. The challenge is to get the inspections to go smoothly and to follow all the rules.
What is the procedure to get through the application process?
Applicants can begin the FSSAI registration process by submitting Form A (application) made to the Food and Safety Department. The form that applicants submit changes depending on the type of registration they need, with some businesses applying through for a state licence or central licence depending on their turnover.
The Department accepts or declines the application within seven days from the date of receipt of the application.
However, if they are rejecting it, they have to provide a written reason, and the applicant can work with that and try to get through the process again if they managed to rectify the issue.
If the application is accepted, the Department grants a registration certificate with the registration number and picture of the applicant.
They have to display the certificate at the FBO premises during the business hours.
The primary documents required for Basic, State and Central Registration are a passport photo and a photo ID proof.
A completed and signed Form B (depending on the type of registration)
- Address proof
- List of food category and products
- Layout plan of the proposed location
- List of equipment
- NOC from municipality
- Incorporation certificate
- List of directors/partners
- MOA and AOA
- Water test report
- Import Export Code
When it comes to registering a business, since they would be working with employees, they have to get through the registration for the Shops and Establishments Act. Applying for shop licence is a requirement for all companies, including FBOs, if they are planning on hiring people working there. The purpose of the Shops and Establishments Act is to make sure they follow the rules, so employees are not overworked, underpaid or exploited in any way.
To create a smoother application process, the Government put together a business eGovernance platform where they have all their registration forms. People can download these forms and register their company. They can also read up on the rules so they know the processes that they would have to follow to be safe and have their paperwork in place.
All businesses could have random inspections, and depending on the nature of the business and level of grievance, the department can shut them down if they do not meet the requirements. Some people prefer applying for a licence without the online registration process. They can also refer to the website and download the forms there and refer to the list of documents needed. They can submit all of them at the office after booking an appointment and would have to wait a couple of weeks to get an answer.
