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Kerala FSSAI Licensing or Registration Process

By Mayashree Acharya

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Updated on: Jun 24th, 2022

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8 min read

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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.

Types of FSSAI Registration

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. 

Kerala FSSAI License or Registration

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: 

  • Every petty FBO.
  • FBOs who procure, handle and collect milk of up to 500 litres per day.
  • Slaughtering units with up to two large animals, ten small animals or 50 poultry birds per day.
  • Meat processing units having a turnover up to Rs.12 lakh per annum.
  • Wholesalers, retailers and distributors having a turnover of up to 12 lakh per annum.
  • All other food processing units with up to 100 kg or litre per day.

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:

  • FBOs who procure, handle and collect milk between 501 to 50,000 litres of milk per day.
  • Slaughtering units with three to 50 large animals, 11 to 150 small animals or 51 to 1,000 poultry birds per day.
  • Meat processing units with up to 500 kg meat per day or 150 MT meat per annum.
  • Wholesalers, retailers and distributors having a turnover of up to 20 crore per annum.
  • All other food processing units with 101-2 MT kg or litre per day.

Kerala FSSAI License or Registration Process

The process to apply for FSSAI Basic Registration or FSSAI State License is as follows:

  • Go to the FoSCoS portal.
  • Click on the ‘Apply License/Registration’ option on the home page.
  • Select the state as ‘Kerala’ from the dropdown list.
  • Click on the ‘Manufacturer’, ‘Trade/Retail’, or ‘Food Services’ option as per the nature of the food business.
  • Next, click on the appropriate option from the dropdown list below.
  • Select the turnover or production capacity option and click on the ‘Proceed’ button.
  • Click on the ‘Click here to apply for Registration for all businesses’ or the ‘Click here to apply for State License for all businesses’ option.
  • Fill the Form-A or Form-B, upload the required documents, make payment and click on the ‘Submit’ button.
  • The registration application form will be submitted, and the respective authorities will inspect the application and food premises. They will grant the FSSAI Basic Registration or FSSAI State License when all the requirements of the FSS Act are met.

Documents Required for Kerala FSSAI License or Registration

Below are the documents required to be submitted for obtaining FSSAI Basic Registration:

  • Address proof of business.
  • Photo identity proof of the FBO.
  • Business constitution certificate.
  • Proof of possession of business premises.
  • List of food products manufactured or processed.
  • Nature of business details.

Below are the documents required to be submitted for obtaining FSSAI State License:

  • Form B filled and signed by the applicant.
  • Layout of the processing unit.
  • Address proof of business.
  • Business constitution certificate.
  • Proof of possession of business premises.
  • List of directors, partners or executive members of society/trust with contact details and full address.
  • Name and record of machinery and equipment with the number, horsepower used and installed capacity.
  • Identity and address proof of the proprietor, partners, directors or authorised signatory.
  • List of food types desired to be processed or manufactured.
  • Analysis report of water to be used in food from a recognised or public health laboratory.
  • Authority letter from the manufacturer nominated a responsible person with name and address details.
  • NOC from the manufacturer.
  • Food safety management system plan or certificate.

Fees for Kerala FSSAI License and Registration

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 fees for a manufacturer having a production capacity of 1MT-2 MT per day or 10,001 to 50,000 litres of milk per day is Rs.5000.
  • The fees for a manufacturer having a production capacity of 101 kgs or litres to 1 MT per day or 501 to 10,000 litres of milk per day is Rs.3000.
  • The fees for three and four-star hotels are Rs.5000.
  • The fees for one, two or three-star hotels or hotels without a star rating by the Ministry of Tourism (HRACC) is Rs.2000.
  • The fees for food service providers, including clubs, restaurants/boarding houses, canteens (schools, offices, colleges, institutions), banquet halls with food catering arrangements, caterers, food vendors like Dabba wallas, etc. is Rs.2000.
  • The fees for other food business operators are Rs.2000.
  • The fees for wholesalers, retailers and distributors – Rs.2000.

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.

Disclaimer: The materials provided herein are solely for information purposes. No attorney-client relationship is created when you access or use the site or the materials. The information presented on this site does not constitute legal or professional advice and should not be relied upon for such purposes or used as a substitute for legal advice from an attorney licensed in your state.

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