The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the body which governs and monitors the food business in India. It ensures that all food products undergo the required quality checks, thus curtailing the sale of sub-standard products and food adulteration.
Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, lays down rules for running a food business. All Food Business Operators (FBOs) in India should obtain FSSAI registration or license for running their businesses. As per the Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011, all FBOs involved in the manufacturing, transportation, storage or distribution of food products must mandatorily have an FSSAI Registration or License.
Kerala Government aims to permit the selling of food and beverage products that are fit and healthy for human consumption. Food Safety Kerala works under the FSS Act, 2006. It issues FSSAI State Licenses and FSSAI Registration to people involved in selling beverages and food products.
A Commissionerate of Food Safety is constituted under the FSS Act in all Indian states for efficient implementation of food safety, standards and other requirements under the FSS Act. Accordingly, the Commissionerate of Food Safety was constituted in Kerala in July 2009.
There are three types of FSSAI registration depending on the nature and size of the business, which is as follows:
FSSAI Basic Registration: Small startups and food businesses with an annual turnover below Rs.12 lakh should apply for FSSAI Basic Registration. Small FBOs operating in Kerala can get FSSAI Basic Registration from the designated officer notified by the Commissioner of Food Safety in Kerala.
FSSAI State License: Food businesses having an annual turnover between Rs.12 lakh to 20 crore should apply for an FSSAI State License. FBOs like small to medium-sized storage units, manufacturers, retailers, transporters, distributors, marketers, etc., can apply for the FSSAI State License. FBOs can obtain Kerala FSSAI State License from the Office of the Commissioner of Food Safety in Kerala.
FSSAI Central License: Food businesses having an annual turnover above 20 crore should apply for the FSSAI Central License. Large FBOs like manufacturers, importers, operators in central government, airports, railways, seaports, etc., can apply for the Central FSSAI License from the Central FSSAI authority.
In Kerala, the Food Safety Kerala is responsible for issuing the FSSAI Basic Registration and State FSSAI License. The registering authority grants the FSSAI Basic Registration. Registering authority means the designated officer, food safety officer or any official in the municipal corporation, Panchayat, or any other local body as notified by the Commissionerate of Food Safety Kerala.
The following FBOs operating in Kerala state should apply for an FSSAI Basic Registration:
The state licensing authority issues the State FSSAI License. State licensing authority means designated officers appointed under the FSS Act by the Commissionerate of Food Safety Kerala. The following FBOs operating in Kerala state should apply for a State FSSAI License:
The process to apply for FSSAI Basic Registration or FSSAI State License is as follows:
Below are the documents required to be submitted for obtaining FSSAI Basic Registration:
Below are the documents required to be submitted for obtaining FSSAI State License:
The fee to obtain FSSAI Basic Registration is Rs.100.
The fees for obtaining a State FSSAI License vary depending on the size of the business, which is as follows:
The Kerala Government aims to allow FBOs to sell food products that do not contain harmful substances or foods that can be categorised as substandard. The Kerala food safety officials found certain food products to be contaminated upon analysis of their samples and banned these products for sale within the state.
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