Food Safety Compliance Declaration (FSSAI)

A Food Safety Compliance Declaration (FSSAI) in India provides a signed declaration of the matters it covers, creating a record the recipient can rely on.

The Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 is the primary legislation governing food safety in India, enacted to consolidate food safety laws previously scattered across nine different statutes. FSSAI, established under Section 4 of the FSSA, is the apex regulatory body responsible for laying down science-based standards for food articles and regulating manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food to confirm safe and wholesome food for human consumption. The FSSAI Chairperson is appointed by the Central Government, and the authority functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

FSSAI licensing operates on a three-tier system. Food businesses with annual turnover below ₹12 lakh require FSSAI Registration; those with turnover between ₹12 lakh and ₹20 crore (for manufacturers) or other applicable thresholds require a State Licence from the State Food Safety Commissioner; and businesses with turnover above ₹20 crore, multi-state operators, food importers, and businesses in Central Government-controlled premises require a Central Licence from FSSAI. All licences carry unique 14-digit FSSAI licence numbers that must appear on food labels and business documentation.

The FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards) (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations 2011, the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards) (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011, the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards) (Labelling and Display) Regulations 2020, and the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards) (Packaging) Regulations 2018 constitute the core regulatory framework that an FSSAI Compliance Declaration must address.

The FSSAI Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) programme — mandated for at least one food safety supervisor per food establishment — provides the trained workforce backbone for any credible compliance declaration. FoSTaC certificates are issued for specific food business categories (basic manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, catering, retail, transport, and storage) and have a defined validity period requiring periodic renewal.

For export-oriented FBOs, FSSAI compliance declarations are required for APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) supportd exports and are a prerequisite for certification under international food safety standards such as FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, BRC Global Standards, and SQF (Safe Quality Food) — all of which require documented evidence of compliance with applicable national food safety regulations.

A Food Safety Compliance Declaration is required in India whenever an FBO must formally demonstrate its FSSAI regulatory status and food safety management standards to an external party.

Institutional procurement processes at hospitals, hotel chains, airline catering services (IndiGo, Air India, Vistara), railway catering through IRCTC, defence canteens (CSD), and central government departments require food vendors and suppliers to submit annual FSSAI compliance declarations as part of the vendor empanelment process. Failure to maintain a valid declaration risks delisting and loss of institutional contracts.

Export certification for food products requires FSSAI compliance documentation. APEDA-registered exporters must maintain FSSAI licences current and provide compliance declarations to importing country authorities and certification bodies. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry requires FSSAI compliance as part of registration renewal.

Cold storage operators and food logistics companies accepting food products for storage require FBO compliance declarations from depositors to confirm that the products meet FSSAI standards for the specific food category, that storage temperature requirements comply with FSSAI cold chain guidelines, and that the depositor holds a valid FSSAI licence covering the products being stored.

B2B supply chain relationships — where an FMCG manufacturer supplies ingredients or finished goods to a larger food company — invariably require annual FSSAI compliance declarations as part of the larger company's supplier qualification and management programme, particularly for companies certified under FSSC 22000 or BRC, which mandate documented supplier assurance programmes.

Licence renewal and extension applications before FSSAI require the FBO to demonstrate sustained compliance. An internal compliance declaration prepared before the renewal application helps the FBO identify and address any gaps before the FSSAI inspection that accompanies the renewal process.

Post-recall or post-FSSAI-action declarations may be required from FBOs that have received improvement notices, suspension orders, or product recall orders under Sections 28 or 32 of the FSSA, to demonstrate to regulators and buyers that corrective actions are complete and compliance has been restored.

A thorough FSSAI Food Safety Compliance Declaration must cover all dimensions of food safety regulation and the FBO's specific operational context to be credible to institutional buyers, auditors, and regulatory authorities.

FBO identification and licence details state the full legal name of the food business, the FSSAI licence or registration number (14 digits), the licence category (registration, state licence, or central licence), the licence validity period (from and to), the name and address of all licensed premises covered by the declaration, and the name and designation of the authorised signatory issuing the declaration. The FSSAI licence number is verifiable on the FSSAI's public database at foscos.fssai.gov.in.

FSSAI licence compliance confirmation affirms that the FSSAI licence is valid and current, covers all food business activities being carried out (manufacturing, processing, storage, transport, retail, import, or catering as applicable), has not been suspended or cancelled, and has no outstanding FSSAI improvement notice or show-cause notice that remains unresolved. Any pending FSSAI proceedings must be disclosed.

Food Safety Management System (FSMS) documentation status confirms whether a documented FSMS — including HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) plan for manufacturers — is in place and current, when the last internal food safety audit was conducted, and the outcome. References to Schedule 4 GMP compliance (for manufacturers) or Schedule 3 GHyP compliance (for caterers and restaurants) under the Licensing and Registration Regulations 2011 should be included.

Labelling compliance declaration affirms that all products manufactured or sold by the FBO carry labels that comply with the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards) (Labelling and Display) Regulations 2020, including the FSSAI logo and licence number, net quantity, ingredient list with allergen declarations, nutritional information table (for specified categories), date of manufacture and best before date, storage instructions, and country of origin for imported products.

FoSTaC training records confirm that at least one food safety supervisor per food establishment has completed FoSTaC training in the applicable category and holds a valid, current FoSTaC certificate. The certificate number, issue date, and validity period should be stated. FSSAI may request copies of FoSTaC certificates during inspections.

Hygiene and sanitation standards confirmation covers pest control programme status (contractor name, last treatment date, treatment records availability), potable water testing results (last bacteriological analysis date, IS 10500 compliance), cleaning and sanitation schedule compliance, and staff health and hygiene practices (pre-employment medical examinations, health certificates, absence management for infectious disease cases).

Indemnity and liability clause: The declaration should include an indemnity from the FBO protecting the recipient (buyer, cold storage operator, logistics partner) against losses, penalties, or product withdrawal costs arising from the FBO's FSSAI non-compliance or any food safety incident attributable to the FBO's products. This indemnity is particularly important for institutional buyers who face product liability exposure under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 if a consumer is harmed by a non-compliant product supplied by the FBO. The forms-legal.com Food Safety Compliance Declaration (FSSAI) template covers the mandatory elements under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.