The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated steps to streamline the licensing application process, emphasizing adherence to prescribed timelines. Addressing concerns regarding the delay in processing licensing applications, the FSSAI has directed Commissioners of Food Safety of States and Directors of Regional Offices to closely monitor the status of pending licensing applications within their respective jurisdictions.
The directive highlights the utilization of the FoSCoS Dashboard for monitoring and urges strict compliance with the timelines outlined in the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. Additionally, FSSAI has emphasized the importance of adhering to orders issued by the authority.
In an advisory issued by the FSSAI, Designated Officers are instructed not to conduct pre-licence inspections except in cases explicitly mentioned in the order for risk-based inspection. Any deviation from this guideline necessitates clear justification in writing. Furthermore, applications marked for inspection in non-mandatory categories should undergo scrutiny within 15 days.
Failure to conduct inspections within the stipulated timeframe prompts Designated Officers to recall the application for document scrutiny, facilitating the timely grant of licenses. However, if an inspection is deemed necessary, immediate action is encouraged without further delay.
This initiative builds upon previous directives issued by the FSSAI in May 2022, mandating pre-licence inspections for specific categories such as Manufacturer/Processor, Milk & Milk Products, Meat & Meat Products, Fish & Fish Products, Fortified Rice Kernels (FRKs), and Slaughter Houses. Notably, certain categories of food businesses are exempt from pre-licensing inspections, with licenses granted based solely on the submission of mandatory documents.
The FSSAI underscores the urgency of addressing the issue of frequent pre-licensing inspections in non-mandatory cases, which significantly hampers the processing of applications. Instances have been noted where inspections are delayed beyond the prescribed timeframe, contributing to further delays in licensing procedures.
With these measures in place, FSSAI aims to streamline the licensing application process, ensuring efficiency and adherence to regulatory timelines in the interest of food safety and standards across India.