FSSAI Proposes Change in the Methodology of Applying for Licenses under FSS Act 2006

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on 17^th December 2019, has issued a consultation paper which explains the proposed changes in the method of licensing where a standardized product list approach is adopted under the provision of  Food safety and standards Act 2006.

Key Highlights from the consultation paper:

FSSAI has proposed to change the methodology for applying for licenses under the provisions of the Act, Rules and Regulations.

The applicant will have to select the food category system up to 2 levels which are simpler to understand and navigate,then once the category is selected a menu of standardized products will be displayed from that the applicant has to choose the item for which he desires a license.

The new standardized product list are based on Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2010 (“FSSR”) which contains the detailed description of the standard for food products.

Mapping of food category system with standardized food products have been attempted as per the FSSR. The license obtained by the applicant will display the name of the food product along with the corresponding food category at best level.

When a Food Business Operator (“FBO”) opts and selects a standardized product for which he obtains the license, it becomes obligated to manufacture only those products which are standardized as per the description of the FSSR. In case if any product is found to be manufactured by FBO which doesn’t conform to the standards as per the license, it shall be liable to penal provision under the FSS Act.

Further, the change in methodology of licensing does not require any legislative change. It will only require a change in online licensing system to display the mapped standardized product list. However, a new food category system has been created only for the purpose of licensing and is not statutory in nature.

FSSAI invites comments and suggestions from stakeholders with respect to the following:

• Concordance of food category system and standardized product.
• Whether any standardized product needs to be dis-aggregated and captured in detail.
• Any standard that could be clubbed and licensed as a whole
• Transition provisions

  The suggestions are to be sent to ed-office@gov.in before 6^th January 2020.

Click here to read the Notification.