Top Questions on Food Safety Answered by FoodSafetyHelpline

Queries from Food Safety Discussion Forums

FoodSafetyHelpline experts replied to the recent queries:

Q. I am planning to setup food cold storage warehouse of each 200 MT at three different states. Whether I have to take state license or central license? Pl clarify.

A. The criteria of licensing/registration for a Cold Storage Unit should be based on the turnover rather than the storage capacity (MT).

For Registration: You need to obtain a Registration Certificate, if your annual turnover is upto Rs. 12 lakhs.

For State Licensing: You need to obtain a license under the State Licensing Authority, if your annual turnover is more than Rs. 12 lakhs and upto Rs. 30 Crores.

For Central Licensing: You need to obtain a license under the Central Licensing Authority, if your annual turnover is more than Rs. 30 Crores.

If you have multiple units in more than one state then you have to obtain a state/central license for each of the food business unit as per the criteria discussed above Plus a Central License for your Head Office.

Q. Do I create a batch number for each of my products or do I have to buy batch numbers? How does the whole ‘Batch Number’ issue work? Where do I get it?

A. As per FSS (Packaging & Labelling) Regulations, 2011, a ‘Batch No’ means any number either in numerals or in alphabets or in the combination of both by which the food can be traced in manufacture and identified in distribution. You have to decide as how you would like to use it on the label. It will be easy to track & distinguish among the products if each product has different identification ‘Batch No’.

Q. We have closed down our Restaurant and now want to surrender the FSSAI license. Kindly confirm the procedure.

A. If you have obtained a license through an online procedure for licensing then you can surrender your license through the online procedure only. Please check this link for more details:

http://foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in/pdf/FLRS_Ver_2.1_UserReferenceManualforFBO.pdf

If you have obtained your license offline (Manual process) then you have to approach the respective district/state/central licensing food authority from where you have been issued a license.

Q. I am a manufacturer of Bakery Products, Jam Sauces, below 1 MT and exporting the products to other countries also I am distributing to the local dealers, so please suggest me whether to go for state license for central license?

A. As per the criteria of licensing & registration, if your production capacity is more than 100kg/ Itr and upto 2 MT /day, then you are eligible for the State License under Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006. If you have multiple units with the same production capacity in more than one state then you have to apply for the separate licenses for separate manufacturing units plus a Central License for your Head Office. You have to comply with the Indian Regulations on Food Products & Standards.

For Export: You need to apply for the food license for exports from the Central Licensing Authority.