S.

NO TYPE OF LICENSE REGULATION NAME

1 LICENSE Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

Directorate General of Foreign

2 Import Export Code Trade (DGFT)

Food Safety and Standards

License for Food Business (Licensing and Registration of Food
3 Operator Businesses) Regulations, 2011
 Food Safety and Standards
(Licensing and Registration of Food
Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
4 Food Import License

Food Safety and Standards (Import)

Regulations, 2017
5 Authority Letter
 Food Safety and Standards (Import)
6 Clearance of Consignment Regulations, 2017
 Food Safety and Standards (Import)
Food Import Clearance Regulations, 2017
7 Process
 Visual Inspection and Food Safety and Standards (Import)
8 Testing Fees Regulations, 2017
 Food Safety and Standards (Import)
Regulations, 2017
FSS(Labeling and Packaging
Regulations), 2011
9 Labelling
 Food Safety and Standards
(Laboratory and Sampling
Analysis) Regulation, 2011

10 Laboratory Analysis and NOC

 Food Safety and Standards (Import)
11 Provisional NOC Regulations, 2017

1 Personal Consumption FSS( Import) Regulations, 2017

Convention on Consular Relations,

1963 (Article 50 of the Vienna
Convention on Consular Relations.
1963).
2 Diplomatic Missions
 Quality Assurance,
Research and Development
3 Purposes FSS Import Regulation 2017

Exhibitions & Tasting

4 FSS Import Regulation 2017

Sports events
5 FSS Import Regulation 2017
SECTION/ RULE DESCRIPTION FORM/SCHEDULE

No person shall import into India ;

1. Any unsafe or misbranded or sub-
standard food or food containing extraneous
matter;
2. Any article of food for the import of
which a licence is required under any Act or
rules or regulations, except in accordance
with the conditions of the licence; and
3. Any article of food in contravention of
any other provision of this Act or of any rule
or regulation made thereunder or any other
Act.
Section 25 N.A.

For obtaining food import license, the

prospective Importer requires a valid
Import Export Code (IE code) issued by
DGFT.

Registration Form: Schedule 2,

Form B
Fees: Schedule 3

Documents to be Submitted:
A self-attested declaration in the
format provided in the
Annexure-1
An application for the grant of a license Documents mentioned in
shall be made in to the Central Licensing Annexure 2
2.1.2 Authority.
 STEPS:
1. Sign up/ Login in FLRS
2. Click on apply for new license
3. Accept the Declaration/undertaking
4. Select the state and then select kind of
Business (Imports)
5. Enter name of the company and address
of the premises
6. Enter IEC CODE and First three
Characters of importers name
7. In Form B furnish the details of the
Registered Office, Person in charge of
operations. Person complying with
condition of license (nominee) & contact
details
8. Upload scanned copy of relevant
documents
9. Pay Fee Online for the Central License
10. Upload duly signed copy of Form B

The Importing FBO has to submit an

Authority Letter in favour of a Customs
Handling Agent (CHA) to the FSSA
Authorised officer, if he chooses to handle
his imports through a CHA.
 ICE GATE. These HS Codes have been
subdivided into High Risk or Low-Risk food
items based on the risk of the food safety.

In case of high risk food items from the

same country of origin and same importer,
100% sampling and testing is done for first
five consecutive consignments. If all the
samples are in conformance to the
standards, then 25% sampling for next 20
consignments is done. If the samples are
cleared in all cases, 5% sampling in all
subsequent consignments is done. In case of
sample failure at any stage, the complete
history of the importer becomes zero and
the consignments are then again subject to
100% sampling and testing

In case of low risk food items from the same

country of origin and same importer, 100%
sampling and testing is done for first five
consecutive consignments. If all the samples
are in conformance to the standards laid
down under FSS Regulations, then 5%
sampling for all subsequent consignments is
done. In case of sample failure at any stage,
the complete history of the importer
becomes zero and the consignments are
then again subject to 100% sampling and
testing.
CHA/Importer has to be registered on FICS
After the application forwarded by Mandatory Documents:
ICEGATE and it is thereafter accepted by
Authorised Officer (AO). Ingredient List
After acceptance by the AO, the application Specimen copy of label
is visible in the Importer's/CHA's login in End Use Declaration
FICS. Bill of Entry
The importer has to file the required Country of Origin Certificate
supporting documents in FICS. FSSAI License
 If the documents are found to be in order,
the AO asks Importer/CHA to deposit the
following fees online through the payment
gateway system in FICS.
Visual Inspection Fees: Rs 2000/-and
Lab analysis fees for imported food sample:
Rs 12000/- plus taxes as applicable per
sample of food for infant nutrition, infant
milk food, infant formula, mik cereal based
complementary foods: processed cereal
based complementary foods and packaged
drinking water and mineral water,
Rs 5000/-plus taxes as applicable for all
other categories.
 The AO or his authorized representative
(TO) inspects the consignment to ensure
that the food items have been transported or
stored in optimal storage conditions of
temperature and hygiene. The visual
inspection of the consignment will include:

Visual inspection is provided in Form 1 of

the FSS (Import) Regulations 2017

Special dispensation on labeling is allowed

for the following rectifiable labeling
deficiencies at the custom bound warehouse
by affixing a single non detachable sticker or
by any other non-detachable method net to
the principal display panel without altering
or masking the original tabel information in
any manner namely

Name and address of the importer

Food Safety and Standards Authority of
india's Logo
license number,
Non-Veg or Veg Logo
Category or subcategory along with generic
name, nature and composition for
proprietary food
 Two samples are drawn.
The quantity of samples to be sent for lab
analysis.
The Importer participates and facilitates in
visual inspection, assists in drawing of
samples and witness proceedings, sealing of
samples and affixes his counter signatures
on the sealed samples.
The sample of the imported food product is
forwarded to the notified laboratory that is
auto selected randomly in the Food Import
Clearance System (FICS);
The samples of imported Food sent by the
Authorised Officer are analyzed by the
laboratory as per parameters defined in the
FSS Act and the Regulations thereunder.
The laboratory must complete the analysis
and upload the test report within five days
of receipt of the sample with conclusive
opinion about the product tested as
conforming or non conforming
If the samples are found conforming then
No Objection Certificate (NOC) is generated
in Form 3 of the FSS (Import) Regulations
2017 and it not conforming then Non-
Conforming Report (NCR) is generated in
Form of the FSS (Import) Regulations 2017 Lab Report: FICS in Form 2 of
rejecting the dearance of food consignments. the FSS(Import) Regulations,
The same is communicated to CustomsICE 2017; No Objection Certificate:
GATE through FICS. Form 3 of the FSS (Import)
Regulations 2017
 Provisional NOC is issued in respect of the
following articles of imported food:
Consignments of fresh fruits & Vegetables,
which are perishable in nature with shell life
of less than 7 days.
Consignments of food which require special
storage conditions (refrigerated conditions
like frozen or chilled foods products).
Consignment of pre-packaged retails food
products.

Importers are required to declare as per

Form 12 and Form-13 regarding the
conditions of storage of the food products/
nature of the food products, requesting to be
issued a PNOC.
The importer is also required to give an
undertaking in Form 13A that no part of the
consignment will be released into the
domestic market prior to issue of the NOC
by AO.
Sction 9(3) Form 12, Form-13, Form 13A

FOOD IMPORT FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Any person bringing in any article of food

for his personal use, value as allowed by
customs from time to time, shall have to
only submit the declaration Form 7

The clearance of Food Imports imported by

diplomatic missions shall be dealt in
accordance with provisions of Vienna
Convention
 The clearance of food import for quality
assurance, research and development
purposes will be subject to furnishing of
undertaking that the imported food will be
utilized for that purposes only and not to be
utilized or released into the domestic
market or used for test marketing or market Form 9

The clearance of food import exclusively for

this purposes is exempted from the normal
clearance procedures of the Food Authority
subject to the submission of an undertaking Form 10

The clearance of Food import exclusively for

this purposes will be subject to furnishing of
Undertaking. Form 11
 LINK

https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/FOOD-ACT.pdf

https://www.dgft.gov.in/CP/

https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Licensing_Regulations.pdf
https://foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in/index.aspx Documents for Central License: https://foodlicensi
https://fics.fssal.gov.in/AOLogin.aspx
https://old.fssai.gov.in/Portals/0/Pdf/guidelines_related_to_imported_food_clearance_process(05-04-2012).pdf
URPOSES
 REMARKS

1. Every Food Business Operator is required to take

License/Registration to commence Food Business. 2.FSSAI has its own
Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS) which is an online
system developed based on the requirements laid down under Food
Safety and Standards (Licensing tid Registration of Food Business)
Regulations, 2011. 3.FLRS facilitates FBOs across the country to apply
for license/registration certificate online and allows them to track their
application through various stages of processing.

2 (o) of FSSAI Act: food business operator in relation to food business

means a person by whom the business is carried on or owned and is
responsible for ensuring the compliance of this Act, rules and
regulations made thereunder;
1.2.1 of Regulations: Central Licensing Authority means Designated
Officer appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India in his capacity of Food Safety
Commissioner
 The applicant fills in the required information online and documents
Importers are required to scan the documents and upload them in pdf
format in FLRS.
The annual fee payable for import license is Rs.7500 presently.
The importer can apply for a license for a period of one year and upto a
maximum of five years. The detailed structure of fees applicable for
new license/duplicate/renewal of license etc. is available at
https://foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in

A license shall be issued within a period of 60 days from the date of

issue of an application ID number which is generated after successful
completion of the application and uploading the required documents
by the importer.

The importer must file Annual Return in Form D-1 as per conditions of
license mentioned in FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food
Businesses) Regulation, 2011 and submit it to the concerned Regional
Office of FSSAI (Designated Officer) on or before 31st May of each year
for each class of food handled during the previous financial year.

Custom House Agent shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (c)
of section 2 of the Custom House Agent Regulations, 2004;

Customs House Agent means a person licensed under these

regulations to act as agent for the transaction of any business relating to
the entry or departure of conveyances or the import or export of goods
at any Customs Station;
Conditional Documents: These are dependent upon a case to case basis.

Product Approval from FSSAI

In case of Non-Specified Food:Form-ll of Food Safety and Standards
(Approval for Non-Specified Food and Food Ingredients) Regulations,
2017
In case of Proprietary Food: Certificate of Analysis From Country of
Origin
In case of consignment of food or multiple goods falling under
different categories packed in a single container: Commercial invoice
cum packing list and Stuffing list (required)Conditional
Declaration and undertaking from importers imported food
consignment meant for the following proposes:
Personal Use (Form 7
100% Export and Re-export (Form 8)
Research & Development purposes (Form 9)
Display Purpose Trade Fair/Exhibition (Form 10) Sports Events (Form
11)
Provisional NOC for frozen and chilled imported food Consignment
(Form 12
Provisional NOC for imported food consignment with less than 07
days' shelf life (Form 13)
Provisional NOC for imported pre-packaged retail food consignment
(Form 13A)
Imported food consignment containing bulk packages and having
representative samples (Form 14)
Importers imported food consignment containing bulk packages but
not having representative samples (Form 15)
 The Authorized Officer (AO) of FSSAI scrutinizes the submitted
documents to ensure that the consignments/food articles comply with
the standards.
If the documents are found to be in order, the AO asks Importer/CHA
to deposit the fees online

After confirmation of payment, the Authorized Officer (AC) fixes

appointments with the importer for the inspection of the consignment
at the port. In normal course two opportunities are provided to the
Importer to confirm the appointment. After two opportunities,
Authorised Officer can draw the sample ex parte,

If the importer is not able to confirm the appointment in two

opportunities then the future opportunity is granted by the CEO or his
authorized representative with a penal fee of Rs 2000.