FSSAI Registration Across Chennai

Section 3(1)(j) defines a food business as any undertaking, whether for profit or not, carrying out activities related to manufacturing, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution or import of food. The definition further extends to food services, catering services and the sale of food or food ingredients. This statutory definition determines whether a person must obtain registration or a license under the Act. Section 3(1)(n) supplements this by defining the food business operator (FBO) as the person responsible for ensuring compliance. Together these provisions form the threshold trigger for licensing tiers prescribed by Schedule 1 of the 2011 Regulations.

Section 22 prohibits manufacture, distribution, sale or import of novel foods, genetically modified articles, irradiated foods, organic foods or foods for special dietary uses without prior approval of the Food Authority. The provision is significant during licensing scrutiny because Form B applicants declaring such categories must furnish supporting product approvals. Any false declaration attracts penalties under Sections 48 to 65. The restriction operates concurrently with the licensing condition, meaning a central license alone does not legitimise unapproved novel categories. Operators are advised to align product dossiers with this section before lodging applications on the FoSCoS portal.

Section 23 mandates that no person shall manufacture, distribute, sell or expose for sale any packaged food article unless it bears the prescribed labelling and complies with packaging norms. This section operates with the Packaging and Labelling Regulations 2011 and the Labelling and Display Regulations 2020. During inspection and renewal, designated officers verify compliance with FSSAI logo placement, license number printing, manufacturing date, expiry markings and nutritional declarations. Non-compliance triggers penalties under Section 52 ranging up to three lakh rupees. The labelling obligation is independent of the licensing tier obtained.

Section 26 casts a primary statutory duty on every food business operator to ensure that articles satisfy the requirements of the Act at all stages of production, processing, import, distribution and sale. The section bars unsafe, misbranded, sub-standard or adulterated articles from commerce. It also requires FBOs to provide assistance to enforcement officials. This responsibility persists irrespective of whether the operator holds a registration certificate or a license. Sub-section (2)(ii) is the principal hook for prosecutions filed under Sections 59 and 63, making this provision central to compliance training for new licensees.

Section 31 is the substantive licensing provision. It declares that no person shall commence or carry on any food business except under a license granted under the Act, with the exception of petty food manufacturers and tiny operators who only require registration. Sub-section (2) empowers the Authority to lay down procedure, fees, validity and renewal. Sub-section (4) prohibits any designated officer from refusing registration without recording reasons in writing. This section is the parent provision under which the Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses Regulations 2011 were notified, including the turnover-based tier structure.

Regulation 1.2 specifies that the licensing and registration regulations apply to every food business operator engaged in any of the activities listed in Schedule 1, except those at the household level for self-consumption. The regulation operationalises Section 31 by drawing the boundary between commercial and non-commercial activity. It also clarifies that an operator engaged in multiple kinds of food businesses on the same premises must obtain a single license covering all kinds. This single-premises principle simplifies compliance for composite units operating manufacturing, retail and storage on one address.

Regulation 2.1.1 governs the basic FSSAI registration tier intended for petty food manufacturers whose annual turnover does not exceed twelve lakh rupees. The registration is obtained by filing Form A with the local registering authority, generally the Designated Officer at the district level. Petty FBOs include hawkers, itinerant vendors, small retailers, temporary stallholders and home-based food businesses. The certificate is granted in Form C and is valid for one to five years at the option of the applicant. The fee prescribed is one hundred rupees per year.

Regulation 2.1.2 prescribes the state licence tier for FBOs whose annual turnover exceeds twelve lakh rupees but does not cross twenty crore rupees. Application is made in Form B to the state licensing authority on the FoSCoS portal. Manufacturers with capacity beyond petty thresholds but within Schedule 1 Part III limits, hotels rated up to four stars, storage units handling less than fifty thousand metric tonnes and most restaurants and caterers fall within this tier. The licence fee ranges from two thousand to five thousand rupees per year depending on category and the document is issued in Form C.