Through a circular dated 31 August 2020, the FSSAI has clarified that Food Business Operators (FBOs) are not required to submit any additional documents other than those already uploaded on the FLRS/FoSCoS website homepage, when applying for License/Registration.
Through its letter dated 22 November 2019 the FSSAI had already advised the Licensing Authorities (State/Central) to steer clear of seeking additional or irrelevant documents from the FBOs leading to their avoidable harassment and undue delay in processing of applications. Cases had arisen in the past when some additional documents sought had no relevance to the nature of business, like asking for in-house laboratory reports which are not mandatory.
This matter was also discussed in the 28th and 29th meetings of CAC held on 22 May, 2020 and 5 August, 2020 respectively wherein it was decided that kind of business (KOB) wise documents, as already uploaded on the homepage of FLRS/FoSCoS https://foscos.fssai.gov.in/assets/docs/KoBwiseDocumentsrequiredforLicense.pdf should be followed uniformly by respective Licensing Authorities in all States/UTs. Since the requirement of uploading of signed copy of Form A (Application for Registration) and Form B (Application for License) by applicants has been done away, so all applicants are now required to upload all documents mandatorily self-attested by the authorised signatory/ proprietor.
In view of the above, the FSSAI has requested Licensing/Registration Authorities to advise the concerned Designated Officers/Food Safety Officers to
- refrain from insisting on submission of additional documents beyond the standardised list issued by FSSAI.
- unnecessary insistence on submission of the same by Licensing/Registration Authority may attract strict action against them.
However, in case of pre-requisite condition of additional document requirement for grant of FSSAI License/Registration by a local body of a State/UT, the same shall be communicated to public through a public order issued by Competent Authority or Commissioner of Food Safety of concerned State/UT.
The FSSAI has also decided to initiate consultation regarding the requirement of NOC from CGWA as a precondition for FSSAI Licensing/Registration as it is not uniform across the country and is dependent on the category of areas on the level of ground- water. The requirement of NOC from CGWA reportedly hampers timely grant of FSSAI license/registration. The FSSAI has asked the Authorities to send their comments on this at the earliest.
The previous notification dated 22nd November 2019 of the Regulatory Compliance Division of the FSSAI sent to Licensing Authorities about non-insistence on submitting of other than relevant documents by the FBOs along with their Applications for Licensing and Registration, may be read at http://foodsafetyhelpline.com/fssais-letter-regarding-documents-required-under-licensing-and-registration/
Source : FSSAI
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