Who are exempted from FSSAI registration?

Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation 2011 governs food business certification in India. FSSAI registration or license is required for all food business administrators in India engaged in producing, depository, conveyance, and distributing food products. However, some FBOs are exempted from FSSAI registration under FSS Regulation 2011. In this article, we will look at Who are exempted from FSSAI registration?

Synopsis of Exemption from FSSAI Registration

The following food business operators are exempted from obtaining Registration/ Incense from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India:

Individual members manufacturing or conducting food business activities from home for a registered Cooperative Society or Mahila Udyog or Self Help Group or Gruh Udyog, or any similar government-registered society
The Direct Selling entity is willing to take responsibility for its Direct Sellers and has given them written authorization to do so
A milkman/vendor registers with a Cooperative Society and sells his whole milk production to that society.
The delivery person, direct selling agent, or owner of food vending machines, water vending machines, food ATMs, or food carts.

The home food business is exempted from FSSAI registration?

FSSAI vide order 03-01/2012/Enf-I/FSSAI dated January 21st, 2015, exempted individual members manufacturing or conducting food business activities from home for the following entities to obtain FSSAI registration:

A registered Cooperative Society
Mahila Udyog
Gruh Udyog
Self Help Group
Any similar government-registered society

Note: He/she must be a registered member of the society licensed with FSSAI and subject to all conditions as laid down in the FSSAI order.

Exemption for Direct Selling Entities

Direct Seller is not required to obtain FSSAI registration certificates unless Direct Selling entities are willing to assume responsibility for their Direct Sellers and have given them written authorization to handle such responsibilities. Under all other circumstances, direct sellers need to obtain an FSSAI license. Refer to the article on How to get FSSAI Food Product Approval to know more.

Exemption for the milkman

A milkman or vendor who sells all his milk to a cooperative society is exempt from obtaining FSSAI registration if he is a registered vendor of that society. In that case, the Cooperative Society has to be licensed or registered with FSSAI.

Who are others exempted from FSSAI registration?

According to FSSAI letter 15(6), 2018/FLRS/RCD/FSSAI dated July 8th, 2019, and September 19th, 2019, the following food businesses are exempt from obtaining registration.

Last-mile delivery person
Direct Selling Agent
Food Vending Machines
Water vending machines
Food ATMs (owned by a single entity)
Food Cart owners

FSSAI License/Registration is also not required for utensils or packaging material meant for serving or packaging food as these are not covered under the definition of food as per Section 3(n) of the FSS Act, 2006. IndiaFilings can help other FBOs to obtain an FSSAI registration throughout the country very quickly. Our experts will guide you in selecting the proper food category and license.

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