The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is working on streamlining the licensing and registration system in the country. New forms would be made available to food business operators (FBOs), particularly restaurateurs. The sampling-, search- and seizure-related regulations would be reviewed, and the process would be made simple and hassle-free.

FSSAI streamlining licensing & registration systems for FBOs in India

During the recent Centre Advisory Council (CAC ) meeting, there were discussions about streamlining the procedures and forms of licensing and requirements thereunder. Pawan Kumar Agarwal, chief executive officer, FSSAI, said, “This is to incentivise the FBOs and encourage them to get licenses and adhere to the requirement terms.”

He said, “The CAC is a forum where we meet state food safety commissioners and other officials from the state governments. We deliberated on the further simplification of the licensing and registration process and have decided to have some changes in the forms.”

These would be helpful particularly to restaurateurs, as they have to file multiple forms and licenses. He added, “After consultations, it was decided that the forms for the restaurants would be simplified, and unnecessary requirements would be done away with. The reviewed forms would be out soon.”

“FSSAI has also introduced several initiatives in the central licensing system,” said Agarwal, adding that they were targeted at ensuring the timely disposal of the applications of FBOs. The country’s apex regulator has also introduced a mechanism that would restrict too many applications with a licensing authority.

The chief executive officer said, “We have already instructed the state food safety officials not to hold the licensing applications. At a time, not more than 20 applications can be reviewed by an official, and the disposal of the application is a time-bound process. In 45 days’ time, the application needs to be disposed of.”