Under the Food Safety Laws all the food business owners need FSSAI License. This license is a kind of permission which is mandatory to be obtained by the food business owners to do food business in the market. The key motive of this license is to maintain food safety in the food business. As far as this question is concerned, which products need FSSAI License, all the food products which have been supplied in the market for the consumption of people at large need to obtain this license as per the Food Safety and Stantandard Act which came into force in 2006. Some of the products need FSSAI license include petty food business owners, packaged and unpackaged food etc. If you are in the food industry or want to enter this industry, you must read the present blog in order to acquire knowledge about the food industry.
What is FSSAI License?
For the food business owners in India it is mandatory to obtain permission from the government in the form of registration to do business in the food market. This registration is known as FSSAI License registration. No food business can be run in India without this license. If in any case it was found that some business is running without this license then a hefty or high fine or penalty can be imposed on the same business. Hence one must obtain this license specially for the products need FSSAI License as per the food safety law of India that is FSS Act of 2006.
For obtaining the FSSAI License one needs to first figure out which license out of the three types will be applicable on one’s business. After that with all the necessary documents an application will be submitted before the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. This is the authorized agency set up under the food safety laws. This is established to take care of the things which need to be followed as per the FSS Act. Once the application for the registration of FSSAI license is submitted before it, it will scrutinize the same. If everything is up to the date, a license will be issued to the food business owner. The process to obtain this license is the same for all the products need FSSAI License.
Types of FSSAI License in India
The FSSAI License types under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 are divided into three categories: General FSSAI Registration, State FSSAI Registration, and Central FSSAI License. The General FSSAI License is for small food enterprises with low revenue, typically below Rs. 12 lakhs, and has a simple online application process. State FSSAI Registration applies to businesses whose revenue surpasses Rs. 12 lakhs, covering various food-related enterprises based on several considerations. The Central FSSAI License, the highest level, is for specific categories like importers, exporters, e-commerce, and health supplements, without a set turnover limit, and is the most comprehensive license based on food safety laws.
List of Products Need FSSAI License
If we talk about the products need FSSAI License, the number is too high to discuss. There are hundreds of products need FSSAI License in India. Hence instead of discussing all of them will discuss some of the key products which are mentioned below in the list:
- Dairy products and similar items
- Fats, oils, and emulsions
- Edible ice, including sherbet and sorbet
- Fruits and vegetables, such as mushrooms, roots, nuts, seeds, and seaweed
- Confectionery items
- Fish and related products, including crustaceans and mollusks
- Bakery products
- Sweeteners, including honey
- Cereals and cereal-based products (excluding bakery items)
- Meat and meat-based products
- Eggs and egg-related products
- Salts and spices
- Soups and sauces
- Salads, and protein products
- Specialized foodstuffs for infants and medical purposes
- Beverages, excluding dairy products
- Food Additives: permitted and standardized under food regulations
- Nutrients and their preparations
- Micro-nutrients and preparations as specified
- Microorganisms and their preparations
- Functional Ingredients
- Standardized Food Products (excluding categories 1-14)
- Indian Sweets and Snacks & Savouries
- Hemp Seeds and their products
Who Needs FSSAI License in India?
Some of the key businesses and products need FSSAI License are mentioned below for the reference of those who are in this industry or who are thinking about to enter in this industry of food:
- All businesses involved in manufacturing food products, including small and large-scale food production units.
- Entities that are responsible for packing food items before they reach the market for sale or consumption.
- Outlets or stores where food items are sold, including grocery stores, supermarkets, and local vendors.
- Entities engaged in the transportation of food items from one place to another, ensuring proper handling and safety of food.
- Businesses involved in the wholesale trade of food products, supplying food items to retailers and other businesses.
- Entities engaged in the export or import of food items into or out of the country.
- Companies or individuals that provide food services for events, functions, parties, or institutional catering.
- Establishments serving food, including small food stalls, restaurants, food outlets, and fast-food chains.
- Street food vendors, food carts, and mobile food units selling food items to the public.
- New food businesses and startups entering the industry that need to comply with food safety regulations.
Conclusion
The FSSAI License, a vital legal requirement for food businesses in India, ensures food safety and quality. All food products need FSSAI License if they are supplied in the market for consumption. It’s a government approved registration that no food business can operate without. Broadly it has been divided into three types, General, State, and Central. The license is tailored to different enterprise sizes and operations. Specific products, from dairy to spices, meat to specialized food items, need this license. From manufacturers to sellers, packers to caterers, transporters to new startups, a wide range of food businesses, big and small, necessitate the FSSAI License for legal operation and adherence to India’s food safety laws.
