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AMLEGALS / Services / Food Safety
Food Safety · FSSAI

Food safety and FSSAI compliance advisory

FSSAI licensing, food safety standards, labelling and packaging compliance, food recall management, import clearance and enforcement defence.

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Counsel that connects the technical, the commercial, and the legal, across ten offices in India.
FSS Act
2006
FSSAI
Licensing
Labelling
Compliance
10
Offices
01

FSSAI licensing and registration

  • Central licence (turnover above INR 20 crore or specified categories), State licence (INR 12 lakh to INR 20 crore) and Registration (below INR 12 lakh).
  • FOSCOS portal online application, documentation, inspection and licence issuance.
  • Import licence for food importers: FSSAI import provisions and port clearance.
  • Annual return filing, licence renewal and modification procedures.
02

Food safety standards and labelling

  • Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011: product standards, permitted additives and contaminant limits.
  • Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020: front of pack labelling, nutritional information, allergen declaration and claims.
  • Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018: packaging materials and migration limits.
  • FSSAI standards for organic food, fortified food, health supplements and nutraceuticals.
03

Enforcement, recall and defence

  • Food safety officer inspection, sampling and testing procedures.
  • Food recall: voluntary and mandatory recall framework under FSSAI Food Recall Procedure, 2017.
  • Commissioner (Food Safety) adjudication and penalty proceedings under Sections 50 to 67.
  • Criminal prosecution for unsafe or misbranded food: imprisonment up to life (for grievous injury) and monetary penalties.
04

How AMLEGALS assists

  • FSSAI licence application and compliance management.
  • Product labelling review and regulatory clearance for new food products.
  • Food recall management and enforcement defence.
  • Cross border food business: import compliance and international standard harmonisation.
Answers

What clients ask before they commit.

Short, direct, on the record.

01What are the penalties for operating without an FSSAI licence?

Operating a food business without a licence or registration can attract a penalty of up to INR 5 lakh under Section 63 of the FSS Act, 2006. Additionally, the food safety officer can issue an improvement notice, prohibition order or close the food business.

02Is FSSAI licence required for online food delivery platforms?

Yes. The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations require all food business operators, including e commerce platforms and cloud kitchens, to obtain an FSSAI licence. Aggregators must also display the FSSAI licence number of listed restaurants.

03What is the front of pack labelling requirement?

FSSAI has been working on front of pack labelling (FoPL) regulations requiring a health star rating or traffic light labelling on packaged foods to indicate nutritional quality. The final regulations have been under consultation and are expected to be implemented in phases.

04Can a food business import food products into India?

Yes, with a valid FSSAI import licence. Imported food products must comply with Indian food safety standards, labelling requirements (in English and Hindi/local language) and are subject to port inspection and testing by FSSAI authorised laboratories.

Pan India presence
AhmedabadBengaluruChennaiKolkataMumbaiNew DelhiPrayagrajPuneSuratVadodara
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