Who are exempted from FSSAI Registration? Explained

The Food Safety and Standards also known as the Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses Regulation was launched in 2011 and is responsible for the governance of certification of food businesses in India. An FSSAI License or an FSSAI Registration is mandated for all the food business administrators in India who are involved in producing, collecting, conveying, and distributing food products in the country. But some of the Food Business Operators get an exemption from FSSAI registration under the FSS regulation act that was passed in 2011. In this blog, we will look at those Food Business Operators who are eligible for an exemption from the FSSAI Registration.

Synopsis for Exemptions

The Food Business Operators who can enjoy an exemption from acquiring an FSSAI Registration also known as a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Registration or License are listed as follows:

1. The individual members who are involved in the manufacture and conduction of food business activities from home for either a Co-operative Society or a Mahila Udyog or Gruh Udyog or a Self-Help Group or any other similar society that is registered with the government.
2. An entity that is involved in Direct selling and is willing to take full responsibility fro all its Direct Sellers and has already given written authorization for the same.
3. A vendor or milkman who has been registered with a Co-operative Society and sells his whole production of milk to the concerned Society.
4. A Delivery Person
5. A Direct selling agent
6. The owner of vending machines for food and water
7. A food ATM
8. A food cart.

Exemption from FSSAI Registration for Home Food Business

As per the FSSAI Vide Order 03-01/2012/Enf-I/FSSAI which was released on January 21, 2015, the following entities are permitted to avail of an exemption from FSSAI Registration if they are individual members who are performing manufacturing and conducting activities of food business from home:

• A registered Co-operative Society
• A Mahila Udyog
• A Gruh Udyog
• A Self-Help Group
• Any other similar society that has been registered with the government

Exemption from FSSAI Registration for Direct Selling Entities

A direct seller does not need an FSSAI Registration certificate until and unless the particular direct selling entity is willing to take up responsibility for their direct sellers and has also provided them a written authorization in order to handle the respective responsibilities. Other than this, in all other situations, a direct seller will have to acquire an FSSAI Registration.

Exemption from FSSAI Registration for a Milkman

A milkman or a vendor who has registered himself with a cooperative society and sells all of his milk to the concerned society will be provided an exemption from acquiring an FSSAI Registration. In such a case, only the FSSAI registration or License of the cooperative society will be needed.

Who else is exempted from FSSAI Registration?

As per the FSSAI Letter 15(6), 2018/FLRS/RCD/FSSAI which is dated 8 July 2019 and 19 September 2019, the food businesses listed below will be provided an exemption from acquiring an FSSAI Registration:

1. A last-mile delivery individual
2. A direct selling agent
3. A food vending machine
4. A water vending machine
5. A Food ATM that is owned by a single entity
6. A food cart owner.

There is also no requirement for an FSSAI registration for utensils or packaging material that is meant to serve or pack food. This is because these items are not considered to be a part of the definition of food that is mentioned under Section 3(n) of the FSS Act, 2006.

Conclusion

In this blog, we discussed the entities that are exempted from the need of obtaining an FSSAI Registration. We also came to know about the exemptions that are awarded to direct sellers and to milkmen and vendors and home food businesses.