FSSAI permits instant renewal of License/Registration for FBOs under the FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011

With a view to streamline the process of licensing/ registration and renewal under the FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, Food Safety Standards Authority of India (“FSSAI”) has notified as follows:

1. All renewal of license/ registration will be granted instantly, upon submission of the application by the Food Business Operators (“FBO”) without requiring the scrutiny/approval of authority, subject to the following conditions:

a. No change in the existing details of the license/registration shall be allowed;

b. Validity of the Renewal:

• For License: Renewal of the license shall be for 1 year only;
• For Registration: Renewal shall continue as per existing provision i.e. for 1-5 years, based on the selection and payment made by the FBO in the application;

c. FBOs whose licenses/ registrations have been suspended/canceled, shall not be allowed to renew their license/registration;

d. Further, w.e.f 10^th  November 2022, the FoSCoS system ensures that FBO (Manufacturers and Importers) shall file annual returns with penalties (if any), before renewal, for FY 2021-22 onwards.

e. A declaration to be submitted by FBO (tick in the checkbox) needs to be added in FoSCoS as follows :

• l/We have complied with all the permissions/rules, which are applicable to my food business and the premises of the food business such as CGWA NOC etc.
• I/We do not possess more than one active license/ registration for any other food business(es) at the same premises.

2. Validity of the New License and Registration:

• For License: The validity of the new license is now restricted to only 1 year instead of the existing provision i.e. “Clause 2.1.7 of the FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, states that Registration or license granted shall be valid for a period of 1-5 years, as chosen by FBO, from the date of issue of the registration/license”.
•  For Registration: validity will be continued as per existing provision i.e., for 1-5 years, based on the selection and payment made by the FBO.

3. Now as the grant of renewal of license and registration is instant and without the scrutiny of licensing and registration authority, there shall be no late fee of Rs. 100 per day if the renewal application for the license is filed in the last 30 days prior to expiry. However, the penalties levied for applying renewal of expired license/ registration up to 180 days after the date of expiry shall continue.

4. Now FBOs are required to self-declare the compliance regarding the points in the inspection checklist at the time of the renewal.

5. The above-mentioned conditions is applicable for applications submitted on or after 12th January 2023.

A copy of the Order is linked below for ease of reference.

Source: Food Safety Standards Authority of India