The Food Standards and Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) is the utmost authority that is responsible for regulating and administering food safety. It is obligatory for all Food Business Operators (FBOs) in order to obtain an FSSAI Registration or FSSAI State / Central license based on business requirements. A common doubt or misunderstanding which is among FBOs is that the license is only required by businessmen. The food safety and standards authority of India (FSSAI) lays down science-based standards and procedures for food articles and also controls their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import in order to make sure the availability of safe and also wholesome food to 1.3 Billion citizens of the country. The authority is thus also accountable for creating an information network across the country so that the public, consumers, etc. thus receive rapid, reliable and also exact information about food safety and also hygiene and related issues of concern.

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FSSAI issues three different types of food licenses which are as given below: 

• FSSAI Basic Registration
• FSSAI State License
• FSSAI Central License
• Konkan railway food Registration/license

The three licenses, however, differ on the basis of the scale of operation of the food business which is being carried out. The following is comprehensive information on the three food licenses.

FSSAI Basic Registration:

The Food business operators like petty food manufacturers and also the small-sized manufacturers, storage units, transporters, retailers, marketers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers etc. are required to obtain FSSAI Registration. The FSSAI Registration is however allotted by the State Government. Depending upon the size of operations, an FBO can thus fall under the State Registration or license. It is thus, especially for the business units having turnover of up to 12 lakhs per annum.

FSSAI State License:

FBOs like small or might be medium-sized manufacturers, storage businesses, transporters, retailers, marketers, distributors etc. are however required to obtain the FSSAI State License for operating their food business. The State License is issued by the State Government and it is important that you have your operations stick to one state only, multi-state operations will fall under Central License. It is thus mostly for the business having turnover of more than Rs.12 lakhs per annum but not exceeding Rs.3 Crore per annum.

FSSAI Central License:

Food business operators (FBOs) such as Importers, 100% Export Oriented Units/agencies, processing units, large manufacturers units, and operators in the Central Government agencies, airports, seaports etc. are however required to obtain a Central Food License to operate their food business legally. The FSSAI Central license is issued by the Central Government. Additionally, FBOs have to obtain the FSSAI Central License for their head office, and if they are operating in more than one state. It is thus mostly for the units who are having an annual turnover of more than 20 crores.

FSSAI Konkan railway food Registration / License:

The Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 (FSSA), Rules & Regulations 2011, According to this act, All Food Business Operators (FBO) in the country will be registered or licensed in accordance with the procedures laid down by the food department. The Petty Food Business Operators (FBOs) with an annual turnover not exceeding `12 lakhs will get register themselves with the respective Registering Authority and the Food Business Operators (FBOs) with an annual turnover exceeding `12 lakhs must obtain a license from the respective Licensing Authority.