FSSAI Licensing in Cross-Border Trade
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the regulatory body established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to enforce standards for food articles and regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, and cross-border trade.
While domestic food businesses can operate with basic registrations or state licenses depending on turnover, any commercial entity engaged in the import or export of edible goods is legally required to hold a Central FSSAI License issued through the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS).
Central License vs. State License
| License Category | Issuing Authority | Applicability |
|---|---|---|
| FSSAI Central License | Central Licensing Authority, FSSAI | Mandatory for 100% Exporters, Food Importers, EOU units, large-scale processing units, and businesses operating across multiple states. |
| FSSAI State License | State Food Safety Commissionerate | Medium food manufacturers, grain milling units, and distributors operating strictly within domestic state borders (turnover ₹12 Lakh to ₹20 Crore). |
Key Compliance Obligations for Exporters
Food exporters operating under a Central FSSAI license must maintain compliance with:
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IEC Linkage: The Central FSSAI license must be integrated with your DGFT Importer-Exporter Code.
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Product Category Endorsements: Specific product categories (e.g., spices, culinary pastes, grains, processed fruit products) must be explicitly listed on the license schedule.
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Packaging & Label Specifications: Adherence to FSSAI (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, including batch numbers, best before dates, and manufacturer address details.
Documentary Requirements
- Signed Form-B application dossier.
- Blueprint or layout plan of the processing or storage facility.
- List of plant machinery with installed capacity and horsepower (for manufacturers).
- Photo identity and address proofs of Directors, Partners, or Authorized Signatory.
- Water testing report from an accredited NABL/FSSAI-notified laboratory (confirming potability).
- NOC from the local municipality or gram panchayat.
Role of Ocean Technovative
Ocean Technovative prepares your complete documentation dossier on the FoSCoS portal, classifies food products under the correct regulatory categories, coordinates with testing laboratories, and tracks scrutiny with the designated Central Licensing Officer.
Official Licensing Notice: FSSAI licenses are issued by the Central Licensing Authority, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Ocean Technovative acts as an administrative documentation consultant.