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How to Get FSSAI License for Home Kitchen?

Updated on: 27 May, 2024 11:45 AM

While many want dining out at restaurants occasionally with family and friends, it's a common practice for most to prefer homemade food for their daily meals. This preference for home-cooked meals stems from the trust associated with them. Food from home kitchens is often perceived as pure, devoid of adulterants and unnecessary additives. Given its direct origin from households, it's generally considered safer and more wholesome compared to many street food options available.

However, as people look to share their cooking skills more thoroughly, particularly through online platforms or small-scale businesses, they are mandated to comply with FSSAI rules and regulations. Registering themselves for FSSAI basic registration or obtaining a state or central license ensures that food, whether from a large food industry or home kitchen, meets certain safety and quality standards.

Contents

What is a Home Kitchen in FSSAI?

A home Kitchen offers a platform for customers to order homemade food from local chefs through a website or an app. Home kitchens are popular among people who want authentic, healthy, and affordable meals the need to cook. These services connect customers with verified home chefs who cook a variety of cuisines and dishes with fresh ingredients. Customers can browse menus either on the website, apps like Zomato, and Swiggy, or even on apps like WhatsApp, place orders, and get delicious food delivered to their doorstep. Online Home Kitchens offers customers a replacement for street and restaurant food.

However, when operating an online home kitchen, it's essential to comply with FSSAI regulations to ensure food safety and hygiene. Here's what you need to know:

FSSAI Registration:

  • Mandatory: All online home kitchens, regardless of their annual turnover, require FSSAI registration. This helps ensure adherence to food safety standards and builds consumer trust.

Types of Registration:

  • Basic FSSAI License: Applicable for businesses with an annual turnover below ₹12 lakhs. Requires Form A on the FSSAI website.
  • State FSSAI License: Applies if the turnover exceeds ₹12 lakhs but is less than ₹20 crores. Form B needs to be filled.
  • Central FSSAI License: Mandatory for nationwide chains or businesses generating revenue above ₹20 crores. Requires Form B submission.

Importance of FSSAI Registration or license for Home Kitchens

FSSAI license or registration is a mandatory document for any food business operator, including online home kitchens, to ensure compliance with the food safety standards and regulations.

FSSAI license or registration is important for online home kitchens for the following reasons:

  • It enhances the authenticity and reliability of the food venture, allowing consumers to authenticate the FSSAI license or registration number and FSSAI logo on food packaging or their online platform.
  • It protects them from potential legal consequences or penalties associated with running operations without a legitimate license or registration, which could be anywhere between ₹25,000 and ₹10 lakh.
  • It streamlines the supervision and inspection of food hygiene and quality by the FSSAI regulators, protecting against food adulteration and pollutants.
  • It authorizes these online home kitchens to seek financial support, be it in the form of loans, subsidies, or grants, from governmental bodies or banking institutions, as the FSSAI license or registration serves as evidence of their business authenticity and standing.

The procedure to acquire an FSSAI license or registration for digital home kitchens is straightforward and can be executed online via the FoSCoS portal. The specific type of license or registration is contingent upon the yearly revenue of the food enterprise, which could be categorized as basic, state, or central. The required documents and fees vary according to the type of license or registration.

FSSAI Registration Application Process for Home Kitchens

  • Go to the FoSCoS Portal.
  • On the homepage, locate and click on the ‘Apply/License Registration’ tab.
  • From the drop-down menu, choose the state where your home kitchen business operates.
  • Below, opt for the ‘Food Services’ category.
  • Continue scrolling and pick the ‘Restaurants’ category from the provided options.
  • Based on your turnover, make a selection and then hit the ‘Proceed’ button.
  • Choose either ‘Click here to apply for Registration for all businesses’ or ‘Click here to apply for State License for all businesses’.
  • Complete the details in either Form-A or Form-B, and then select ‘Save & Next’.
  • Attach the required documents as prompted.
  • Finalize your FSSAI registration payment and submit the form.
  • Subsequent to your submission, FSSAI officials will review the application and documents. They might conduct an on-site inspection of your food establishment if deemed necessary.
  • Once they are content that all prerequisites are met, FSSAI will issue the Registration Certificate. You can retrieve this certificate from the FoSCoS portal after logging in.

Alternatively, home kitchens have the option to apply for FSSAI registration in person. They can approach the local food safety commissioner or the designated food safety officer. After obtaining either Form-A or Form-B, they should duly complete it and provide the relevant documentation. Post-application, upon verification, FSSAI registration will be granted.

Documents Required for the FSSAI Home Kitchen Registration or License

For obtaining the FSSAI basic registration, home kitchen businesses need to submit:

  • Evidence of their home kitchen location, like a rental agreement or sale deed. A home address suffices for registration. However, if they operate from a distinct workspace, such as a studio, that location should be designated as the business address.
  • A catalog detailing the foods they offer.

To secure the FSSAI state license, home kitchens should provide:

  • Verification of their business or home baking venue.
  • A comprehensive list of the foods they offer.
  • Evidence of anticipated yearly earnings.
  • A food safety management system certificate or strategy.
  • Government-issued address and photo ID of the authorized representative.
  • A water analysis report from a reputable health laboratory to verify water quality.

For the FSSAI central license, home kitchens are required to furnish:

  • Identification documents such as ration card, PAN card, passport, driver's license, Aadhaar card, or voter ID.
  • A food safety management system certificate or strategy.
  • An Import/Export Code (IEC).
  • Proof of their baking premises, like an electricity bill or rental agreement.
  • Relevant documentation based on their business structure: partnership deed for partnerships, a self-declaration for proprietorship, or Articles of Association for companies.
  • Licenses from local governing bodies like panchayats, trade licenses, or municipality permits.
  • A product approval certificate.
  • Approval from the Animal Husbandry Ministry.
  • A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from FSSAI, ensuring food quality and compliance adherence.
CA Abhishek Soni
CA Abhishek Soni

Abhishek Soni is a Chartered Accountant by profession & entrepreneur by passion. He is the co-founder & CEO of Tax2Win.in. Tax2win is amongst the top 25 emerging startups of Asia and authorized ERI by the Income Tax Department. In the past, he worked in EY and comes with wide industry experience from telecom, retail to manufacturing to entertainment where he has handled various national and international assignments.