The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has received feedback from Food Business Operators (FBOs) operating from shared workspaces, rather than traditional dedicated premises, regarding challenges faced during the licensing application process through the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS). These FBOs typically provide documents such as Work Orders/Work Contracts with the shared Workspace Provider when filing licensing applications.
In response to these challenges and recognizing the evolving nature of workspaces, FSSAI has decided to address the issue by considering relevant proof of premises for shared workspaces. If an FBO can provide valid proof of premise, such as a lease, rent, or contractual agreement between the FBO and the Workspace Provider, it may be considered acceptable. However, the FBO must also provide the permanent address of the Authorized signatory within any Indian State/UT. Additionally, if the FBO already possesses certificates from other Government Agencies, such as GST, PAN/TAN, or CIN, they must be enclosed along with the application.
This provision for proof of premises for shared workspaces applies to specific Kind of Businesses (KoBs) where activities are limited to office-related functions or record-keeping tasks and do not involve storage of food items. These include
- Re-labeller
- e-Commerce
- Importer (if Import Export code is issued on the same location)
- Trader/Merchant – Exporter (if Import Export code is issued in the same location)
- Food Vending Agencies
- Transportation
- Head Office/Registered Office
During the scrutiny of applications, Licensing Authorities will verify if there is any storage of food inventory in the premises. If so, clarification will be requested from the FBO before allowing the premises to be used for the specified purposes.
FBOs are reminded of their responsibility to acquire Permissions/No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from other government bodies when necessary. This responsibility must be acknowledged through a tick-based self-declaration when applying for a license/registration.
This directive has been issued with the approval of the CEO, of FSSAI, to ensure clarity and compliance in the licensing process for FBOs operating from shared workspaces.
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