FSSAI Relaxations For Food Business Operators & Manufacturers During The Current COVID-19 Conditions

To enable uninterrupted food supply during the CoVID-19 pandemic, FSSAI has provided relaxations to the Food Business Operators (FBOs). The goal of FSSAI is to ensure ease of doing food business. Thus, these new guidelines have been released on 20th April, 2021 under section 16 (5) of FSS Act 2006.

a. Permission to Temporarily operate food business based on 17-digits Application reference number

All FBOs, except manufacturers, can temporarily operate their food business by applying for a new license, registration of existing license, modification of existing license, or registration to add a kind of business on the basis of 17 digit Application Reference number This relaxation is only applicable to applicants having permission from the local authorities to operate in the lockdown.

Process for making an application:

• The FBOs need to make an online application and pay the registration fees on Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS).
• After this process, the FBOs will get a valid receipt of the application containing a 17-digits application reference number.
• The FBOs should email the concerned licensing/registration authority or Commissioner of Food Safety about their food business along with a scanned copy of Form M signed by the proprietor/director/partners or a senior employee of the applicant.

Visit https://www.fssai.gov.in/cms/commissioners-of-food-safety.php and https://foscos.fssai.gov.in for getting the contact details for Commissioner of Food Safety and Licensing and Registering Authorities, respectively.

b. Relaxations for manufacturers for operating a food business

The manufacturers can operate their food business at a higher capacity by applying for the modification of the FSSAI license. The process for applying is as follows:

1. The manufacturers need to apply for an online application and pay the registration fees on FoSCoS.
2. After this process, the FBOs will get a valid receipt of the application containing a 17-digits application reference number.

c. Limited Inspections for issuing FSSAI license/registration.

No pre-inspection or routine inspection is required for issuing a new FSSAI license/registration except for the foods mentioned in the table 1. E-inspections can be carried out in case of any emergencies, complaints, and the foods listed in the table 1 below.

Sr. No.	Food products
1	Milk and Milk Products
2	Slaughter houses
3	Meat and Meat products

Table 1: List of food products that will require a pre-inspection and routine e-inspection.

d. Extension in submission of online annual yearly returns.

The submission of online annual yearly returns for 2020-21, which is due for submission on or before 31st May 2021, has been extended to 30th June 2021.

e. Waiver from the late fee for License Renewal

• The FSSAI has decided to wave off the late license renewal fee if the license renewal has not been applied within 30 days before the license expiry. The license fee would be waived off for the license renewal application filed on or before 30th June 2021.
• Renewal of license filed after 30th June 2021 will be charged with late fees ranging from 100 to 3000 rupees as per the provision of FSS Regulations 2011.
• FBOs can apply for license renewal and registration via the online process as early as 180 days before the license expiry.
• The relaxations will end on 30th June 2021 irrespective of the lockdown, restrictions, or curfew at any place.

 

Summary

• The FBOs can operate their food business by 17 digits Application Reference number.
• The manufacturers can operate their food business at a higher capacity by applying to the modification of the FSSAI license.
• No inspections will be required except for animal products and in case of any complaint or emergency. 
• The license renewal fee would be waived off for applications filed on or before 30th June 2021.

 

References

1. Directions under section 16 (5) of FSs Act 2006 regarding giving relaxations to the FBOs during the prevailing COVID-19 conditions- reg. Available at: https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/advisories/2021/04/607ec888b2a10Order_Directions_FBO_Relaxations_COVID_20_04_2021.pdf. Accessed on May 17, 2021.