What Is FoSCoS?

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has introduced a food safety compliance system to facilitate the way food companies do business. On May 28, 2020, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India announced in a notification that they are replacing the Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS) with FoSCoS. This amendment aims to provide a range of services to food business operators, including FBO (Food Business Operators) registration and licensing services and other regulatory compliance. Officials have launched an updated cloud-based digital website to improve food safety.

To replace the existing food licensing and registration system, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced a cloud-based advanced new food safety compliance platform called the Food Safety and Compliance System (FoSCoS).

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FoSCoS has been established as a single point of contact for all regulatory compliance interactions between food business operators and FSSAIs. A phased rollout of FoSCoS is planned and the first phase will begin on 01.06.2020 in the States/UTs of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Goa, Delhi, Odisha, Manipur, Chandigarh, Puducherry and Ladakh.

A new strategy, FoSCoS Food Safety, has been introduced for standardized food manufacturers. The method will continue to follow the food licensing and registration process for producers of unspecified foods, health or dietary supplements, individually packaged foods, or food chemical additives. Licensing or registration of many other food businesses including catering, transport, storage, etc. would depend on a comprehensive classification strategy.

FSSAI Notification Updates 

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has migrated from FLRS to FoSCoS to make food supply easier and better for food businesses.

• FoSCoS will replace the existing online licensing and registration system and users in these states/UTs will now have to visit the official FoSCos website and log in with the same usernames and passwords for all services
• Caterers having license/premises registered with Indian Railways and concerned authorities will operate under the Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS) till further notice
• Food industry players (pan-India) continue to receive complaints from consumers and respond within the time frame only in FLRS.
• Food business operators and authorities should regularly visit the FLRS for the Consumer Complaints Module until an updated version is developed in FoSCoS.

Read Our Blog: FoSCoS - Food License Registration Online On Portal (fssai.gov.in)

Why FoSCoS Was Introduced?

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has converted FLRS to FoSCoS to make assistance to the food sector easier and better. Customers in all jurisdictions and Union Territories where this system is already in operation should go to the Food Safety Compliance System's official website and sign up for an account with the same username and password for each service they want to buy. The Food Safety Compliance System will eventually replace the current online food licensing and registration system

FoSCoS, the Food Safety and Compliance System, was introduced by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for several reasons:

• Enhancing Food Safety: One of the primary objectives of introducing FoSCoS was to enhance food safety standards across India. By providing a centralized platform for food businesses to manage their compliance requirements, FoSCoS helps ensure that food products meet the necessary safety and quality standards before they reach consumers. 
• Streamlining Regulatory Processes: FoSCoS streamlines the registration, licensing, and approval processes for food businesses. It digitizes and automates various regulatory processes, reducing paperwork, eliminating manual errors, and improving efficiency in compliance management. 
• Transparency and Accountability: The introduction of FoSCoS aims to bring greater transparency and accountability to the food safety regulatory framework in India. By providing stakeholders with access to real-time information and data on food safety compliance, FoSCoS enhances transparency in the food supply chain and enables better monitoring and enforcement of regulations.
• Facilitating Compliance Monitoring: FoSCoS facilitates ongoing monitoring of food safety compliance by enabling food authorities to conduct inspections, audits, and compliance checks more efficiently. It provides a platform for businesses to submit compliance-related documents and reports, making it easier for regulators to track and verify compliance status. 
• Promoting Innovation: FoSCoS also plays a role in promoting innovation in the food industry by providing a platform for the approval of new food products and ingredients. By streamlining the product approval process, FoSCoS encourages food businesses to develop and introduce new products that meet safety and quality standards.

Read Our Blog: How to Get Online FSSAI Central License

Features Of Food Safety And Compliance Systems (FoSCoS)

The Food Safety and Compliance System has the following new and improved features:

• Improved processing performance with increased traffic management capability and a scalable system to support continuous deployment and improvement of modules.
• One Stop Portal FoScoS, Food Safety, and Compliance System has been designed to work with other FSSAI systems.
• Typical license change for certain standard product manufacturers. The main web page is simple, with smart search options for standard product license requirements.
• New element for online filing of annual reports.
• To ensure smooth operations, the FoSCoS audit report is now available on the Food Safety and Compliance Network.
• The type of company determines the necessary documents that it must send.
• In the food safety and compliance system, business types are divided. for example, raw foods and nutritional supplements belong to an independent category in production.
• With this new integrated technology, licensing, registration, and annual reporting are now possible on a common platform.

Read Our Blog: FoSCoS FSSAI License - Online Registration Process in India

Services Offered Under Food Safety And Compliance Systems (FoSCoS)

The new framework of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India provides the following features to food business owners:

• Acceptance of highly guarded foods under permit or registration
• Obtaining approval for natural foods
• Permission from corporate headquarters
• E-commerce, mid-day meal, and airport permits
• Food Importer and Exporter Licenses
• Renewal and Amendment of Food Producers' Licenses
• Exclusive Food License
• Restaurant License
• Regular Exporter Returns
• Registration of Small Food Traders
• Procedures Canceled Applications
• License Reinstatement
• License Transfer.

Documents Required For Food Safety And Compliance Systems (FoSCoS)

In India, several documents are required to ensure food safety and compliance. These include:

• Food Management Plan: This document describes the procedures and practices followed to ensure food safety throughout the supply chain. It must be adapted to the specific needs of the company and approved by the board.
• Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Plan: This plan identifies potential hazards that may affect food safety and describes specific control measures to prevent or mitigate those risks. It must be approved by the government before implementation.
• Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP): GMP is a set of guidelines that cover all aspects of food production from raw materials to packaging of the final product. Businesses must follow these guidelines to ensure food safety and quality.
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOP): SOPs are detailed instructions for performing specific tasks related to food safety and quality control. They must be followed carefully to avoid mistakes that could lead to contamination or other problems.
• Training programs: Food handlers must be properly trained in food safety and hygiene procedures. These programs continue to keep employees informed of best practices.

Documents Required For Food Safety And Compliance System Renewal

To renew your food safety and compliance system in India, you must submit the following documents:

The Indian food safety and compliance system must be renewed every three years. The following documents are required for renewal:

• Food safety certificate from a recognized laboratory, which confirms that the food produced or processed in the company is safe for human consumption.
• Certificate of compliance issued by the local food safety government certifying that the company complies with all applicable food safety laws and regulations.
• Financial statements show that the company is financially able to implement and maintain a food safety management system.
• A statement from the company's management confirming its commitment to food safety and compliance.
• An audit report from a recognized third-party auditor confirming that the company's food safety management system meets all applicable requirements. 

Procedure To Use FoSCoS

FoSCoS streamlines various regulatory processes related to food safety management. It digitizes and automates processes such as registration, licensing, product approval, inspections, audits, and compliance monitoring. This reduces paperwork, eliminates manual errors, and improves efficiency in compliance management for both food businesses and regulatory authorities.

A food processor can either create a login with a unique mobile ID and email ID or use the same logins used in the FLRS application to access the FoSCoS application. Food businesses can follow the steps below to register with FoSCoS and use the new services provided by FSSAI.

Registration Of User

• A Food Business Operator (FBO) must access the official website of the Food Safety and Compliance System (FoSCoS) and click on the login option at the top right corner of the portal on the home page.

• Clicking on registration will take you to the FOB login page; enter all the details like name, email address, mobile number, login, and password, and click "Register".

• A verification code will be sent to your registered mail and mobile number. Enter the verification code in the given box and click on the "Submit" button to confirm the details.
• After successful login, FOB can access the system by entering a username and password.

Petty Food Business Operators Registration

After logging into the portal, click on 'Apply Registration Certificate (Petty Food Business Operators)'. After confirming the OTP, select an application for the New Registration option. A new application page will open, enter all Petty FBO registration details and submit the application.

New Application (Registration/ License) Procedure

The food registration/license application process is similar to FLRS but there are a few changes in general operations After logging into the portal, the panel will appear; click License/Registration in the left menu and select Apply New License/Registration.

Select the headquarters according to the KoB information and select the appropriate business applications according to the food business you are doing. The user must provide information on form B and request registration.

Renewal Procedure Of An Application

Food business operators can submit an application for renewal of currently issued licenses/registrations under the Renewal tab. The request for an extension must be submitted 120 days to 30 days before the expiration of the license.

Conclusion

The Food Safety and Compliance System, known as FoSCoS, is a complete application developed on an open-source platform. It offers advanced features, is highly customizable, and has the architectural features required to perform the intended functions and accommodate various modules. The main goal is to increase the business capacity of food industry entrepreneurs and improve the customer experience. To ensure a smooth transition from the food licensing and registration system to FoSCoS, states and union territories have issued guidelines for capacity building of officials and food business owners. 

This application has been carefully designed to facilitate interoperability, enabling it to seamlessly integrate with other FSSAI applications. Thanks to this integration, FoSCoS can offer unified solutions to multiple food companies on one platform.