With a view to implement Ease of Doing Business and create a national level database, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (“FSSAI”) has, through an Order dated 18th December, 2020 mandated online submission of annual return on Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS- https://foscos.fssai.gov.in) for food businesses involved in manufacturing and import of food products w.e.f 2020-2021 (window for return filing for FY 2020-21 will open from 1st April, 2021 onwards).
All licensing authorities have been refrained from insisting physical submission of returns and ensure that food business operators are well informed and facilitated to file the returns online on FoSCos.
Background:
Under the provisions of the FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2020, manufacturer and importer of food business have to file returns.
The food business operators are currently filing the returns physically in the absence of any online return. In the COVID phase, the same has been facilitated and the time for filing the return has been extended till 31st December, 2020 through an Order dated 31st July, 2020. However, food business operators are also required to maintain record of submission of returns.
The revised format of annual return has been incorporated in the FoSCoS system and the utility for online submission is being used by the food business operators on a voluntary basis.
Therefore, the provision of mandatory submission of returns online is being introduced which will also lead to many benefits some which are mentioned below:
1. The Food Business Operators need not maintain receipts and records of physical nature
2. The Food Business Operators will be saved from inadvertent penalties
3. Reminders for submission of annual returns would be sent digitally
4. For food businesses involved in manufacturing of milk and milk products , half yearly return in Form D2 will be discontinued. They will be required to file annual return for manufacturers as per revised format online.
Source: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
