What are the changes being made by the FSSAI in the country?

People interested in publically selling food in India have to register under the FSSAI. This is a mandatory requirement for the maintenance of basic rules and hygiene for the healthy consumption of these eatables. This is done through various Ministries and Departments across Government.

What is the FSSAI?

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India abbreviated as the FSSAI is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It was established by the Indian Government under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation, with a head office in Delhi. All rules put down by the FSSAI follow science-based standards and are connected to the manufacturing, storing, distributing, selling and importing of food to ensure its safe and wholesome human consumption.

What are the main roles of the FSSAI?

It is responsible for a giant chunk of the rules and laws governing the sale of food. Some of the tasks handled by this autonomous body are mentioned below:

• Protecting and promoting public health through regulations and supervision of food safety
• Laying down standards and guidelines concerning articles of food and specifying the appropriate systems for their enforcement
• Laying down mechanisms for the accreditation of certification bodies concerning food safety systems for food businesses
• Laying down procedures and guidelines for laboratories
• Providing scientific advice and technical support to Central and State Governments in matters of framing policies and rules in areas with a direct or indirect bearing on food safety and nutrition

• Collecting and collating data regarding food consumption, incidence and prevalence of biological risk, contaminants in food, residues of contaminants in foods products, identification of emerging risks and introduction of rapid alert
• Creating an information network across the country so the public, consumers, Panchayats etc receive quick, reliable, and objective knowledge about food safety
• Providing training programmes for people engaged or getting involved in food businesses
• Contributing to the development of international technical standards for food, sanitary, and phytosanitary standards
• Promoting general awareness about food safety and standards

What are some rules to be followed when applying for an FSSAI registration?

Depending on the type of registration being applied for and scale of the establishment, the rules vary slightly. However, here are a few documents needed when applying for a basic FSSAI food licence

• Latest passport-sized photograph of the applicant
• Identification proof
  • Election card
  • Aadhaar Card
• PAN Card
• Address Proof
  • Telephone or Mobile Bill
  • Electricity bill
  • Gas Bill
• Copy of Property papers (if owned)
  • Copy of Rent Agreement
  • NOC letter from the Landlord (if rented)

All this information can be submitted at the FSSAI office or the nearest state-level branch. Additionally, there is a website where applicants can upload all the information to save time. The basic Fssai registration is  meant  for petty food manufacturers including retailers, hawkers, itinerant vendor, temporary stallholders, or small cottage scale industries with an annual turnover of up to 12 lacs. As these establishments get larger, either by turnover or if they are planning to expand to other locations (across the country), they have to get a different FSSAI registration