Top Questions From Discussion Forums Answered By FoodSafetyHelpline Experts

FoodSafetyHelpline experts replied to the recent queries:

Q. What is difference between FSSAI/State FDA Registration & License?

A. FSSAI is the apex food regulator in India for the manufacture, sale, distribution, import of the food article. FSSAI is the central licensing authority for regulating & implementing the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006. The state food authorities work under the FSSAI regulations. The criteria for state/central license & registration will depend upon various factors like production capacity, annual turnover etc.

Please go through the below links for your better understanding:

Criteria for Registration

Criteria for Central License

Criteria for State License

Q. I want to know that for sale of Nutritional Health Supplement, which license should I take?

A. You have to obtain a license under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006. If you are not a manufacturer or the brand owner of the Nutritional Health Supplement, then you can apply online for the license as now there is an online procedure for the same. If you are the brand owner of the product then first you have to apply for the Food Product Approval as per Section 22 of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 and then you can apply for the license.

Q. As per notification 4/15015/30/2011 Dt 23.06.14 – time to comply with license logo display on label is up to 1st Jan’2015.

But if one FBO is issued the license number by FSSAI on 1st Jan’2015, by when he has to display it on Label. Is there any notification in this regard giving timelines. Draft amendment issued on 29.12.2011 specified a provision of 6 months from date of issue of license which in is not there in Gazatte notification – PL PROVIDE CLARITY.

A. As on date, the latest advisory has superseded the earlier communications by the food authority in this regard and every food business operator has to abide by the contents of the latest advisory which says that from January 1, 2015, FSSAI logo and License number should be mentioned on the label of a food product. Also, we would like to add here that the specified provision of 6 months was ‘from the date of issue of the notification’ and not ‘from date of issue of licensee’, that period too has expired.

Q. Want to know what is the last amended date to put licence no. on prepackaged foods?

A. As per the latest advisory issued by the food authority, from January 1, 2015, every prepackaged food article should bear FSSAI logo and License number on the label.