Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) has been operational in 9 States/UTs viz. Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Gujarat, Odisha, Chandigarh, Goa, Manipur, Puducherry and Ladakh from June 1, 2020. FSSAI is now ready to extend FoSCoS to the entire country from November 1, 2020.
Since 2011, the FSSAI’s online licensing platform FLRS (Food Licensing and Registration System) is the core of the licensing ecosystem with 100% India (all State and UTs) coverage, 70 lakh licenses/ registrations issued till date, over 40 lakhs licensees/ registrants actively transacting on it.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is launching its cloud-based, upgraded new food safety compliance online platform called Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS). It will replace the existing FLRS. FoSCoS will provide one point stop for all engagement of an FBO with the department for any regulatory compliance transaction. FoSCoS has been integrated with FoSCoRIS mobile app and will soon integrate with present IT platforms of FSSAI such as INFOLNet, FoSTaC, FICS, etc. Sample management, improvement notices, adjudications, audit management system etc activities/ modules will be enabled in phased manner in future.
Technologies such as GPS location tagging, picture capture etc will be utilised in future to ensure transparent and accountable extension field services such inspections and sampling. In future, it will be integrated with other platforms of Government of India such as GST, PAN, MCA etc. to ensure a 360-degree profiling and validation of businesses. A single regulatory platform will enable pan India integrated response system to any food fraud and ensure an advanced risk-based, data-driven regulatory approach. For the start, FoSCoS will be offering licensing, registration, inspection and annual return modules.
FoSCoS essentially has flows similar to FLRS, so that users have convenience in migrating to FoSCoS. The paradigm change is the shift of methodology of licensing for manufacturers which now shall be based on standardised product list. This will help in the quicker grant of licences and eliminate any errors. The new approach is only for manufacturers of standardised food products. For manufacturers, in case of non-specified food, supplements/nutraceuticals, proprietary food and substances added to food- the approach continues to be as in FLRS. All other businesses such as catering, transport, storage etc the licensing/ registration shall be based on broad category approach, as earlier.
Along with FoSCoS, the module for filing online Annual Return shall also be available. The return for the financial year 2019-2020 may also be filed online. Delayed returns due to postal delays, need to preserve dispatch/receipt proofs and disputes regarding submission of returns resulting in harassment of food business operators will be eliminated. Mandatory documents have been rationalised and many paper-based declarations have been replaced with tick-based declaration. The central theme is to enhance the ease of doing business for the food business operators and enhances the user experience for users.
Once the FoSCoS is launched, all data related to licenses/ registrations will be available on FoSCoS and the FLRS data shall be disabled for taking any action. However, for initial days, users can access their issued licenses/registrations or applications under processing on FLRS for viewing purpose only. Users will not be required to immediately do anything upon migration to FoSCoS apart from verifying the correctness of details in issued licenses/registrations and applications under processing.
However, all manufacturers holding valid FSSAI license shall be needed to modify their license to choose from the available list of standardized products before a prescribed date. Steps to be taken upon migration from FLRS to FoSCoS, FAQs and other user-oriented material have been made available on the homepage of FLRS and FoSCoS both.
Some FAQs Related to FSSAI license
Are different Licenses required to conduct a different kinds of food business activities at the same premise?
FSSAI license is based on the premise. All kinds of food business activities that are being conducted at the same premise can be applied for in a single FSSAI license.
How to convert manually issued licenses/ registration to online during the renewal of license?
FBO can approach the Designated Officer [Licensing Authority] or Registering Authority of that area. Designated Officer/ Registering Authority will enter the details of the offline issued license/registration in the FoSCoS portal. Thereafter, the license/registration can be renewed through online process, whenever required.
My License/Registration is suspended or cancelled. Do I need to stop food business activities?
On the suspension or cancellation of his/her license or registration, a food business operator needs to stop food business activities immediately. Carrying out any food business activity on suspended or cancelled License/Registration is an unlawful activity and shall attract penal actions under FSS Act, 2006.
My License was cancelled. Can I apply for a fresh License?
After 3 months from the date of cancellation under Regulation 2.1.8 (3), the Food Business Operator may make a fresh application for Registration or license to the concerned authority if all observations made in the improvement notice have been complied with.
Whether NOC from FSSAI is required for export?
No, NOC is not required by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India for exporting food products from India however FSSAI License is required to be taken by the exporter.
