FSSAI License

Product Approval and Label Validation are two important parts of the Food Safety Management System, ensuring Compliance with FSSAI [Food Safety and Standards Authority of India].

Food Safety Management Plan with complete documentation and a standard operational process in line is essential for Business to be FSSAI Compliant.

KEY Factors for FSSAI Compliance

Review Your Basic Food Safety Knowledge

A food safety audit is not only about the state of your food safety management system standards. Having a deep understanding of the subject matter such as basic food safety topics displays your expertise and confidence in the practices that you employ to make your food products. You must be able to answer and justify any question posed by the auditor whether they may be basic or technical food safety questions. Not knowing how to answer simple questions such as "What are the food safety hazards of your day-to-day business operations?" shows your lack of preparedness and can be the basis to question the integrity of your system.

Ensure compliance with all prerequisite programs

Almost all food safety management systems stem from prerequisite programs. They are the foundation of the majority of food safety practices. Once you ensure that you have all prerequisite programs in the bag, then you have quite a big chance of impressing your food safety auditor. These prerequisite programs include current Good Manufacturing Practices, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures, and an allergen control system.

Review documentation files.

One of the first steps to a food safety audit is to present your documentation to the food safety auditor before an on-site inspection. Your monitoring forms, checklists, verification documents, and other progress report are proof that your food control system is working. Make sure that all documents are complete and accurate.

Use checklists to finish tasks

Preparing for a food safety audit involves several tasks that are concerned in almost all the various fields of your food operations. To stay on track and to be sure to remember all food safety tasks, use checklists. These tools allow you to identify urgent matters and focus on their completion.

Perform an internal audit

Unannounced audits can make anyone nervous because there is a lot at stake. Despite this, you can prevent human error from happening by adopting a strict auditing routine within your food business. Regular internal audits will allow your employees to imprint in their everyday routine the necessary proper food safety practices and will eventually do them even without supervision. This task will also serve as a practical experience and food safety training and promote continual improvement in your employees' performance.

Orient and train your team

During one of your regular in-house meetings or when new employees come on board of your food business, make sure to put in your agenda to orient everyone about food safety audits and what would be the course of action to satisfy their legal requirements. The first step to becoming well-prepared is to know what is about to happen. Properly orienting your team creates a strong food safety culture and improves their sense of ownership and accountability for tasks that are assigned to them.

FSSAI Label Validation is Essential For

Brand Owners

Quick Transactional Process.
Brand Equity & Credibility.
Accurate Display of Information.
Least damage to the Company.

Importers

Bringing a product with novel ingredient/additive into the Indian Food Market.
Easy and Streamlined entry of the Product.
Prevention of Product Recall
Understanding the Nature and Ingredients of the Food.

Food Manufactureres

Maintaining transparency between Vendors and Consumers.
Uniformity across Information on different products.
Ease in Import and Export.
Consumer Health and Safety.

Assumption & Realization

Misconception & Problems

1. FSSAI Product Approval is misconceived as a complicated and lengthy process involving sensitive documentation.

2. Food, which is exported, does not require FSSAI Label Validation.

The Facts

1. There is no specific timeline to get the FSSAI Product Approval.

2. Comparing items using the food label can help us choose the best value for our health.

Results & Solutions

1. Getting an FSSAI Produvt Approval helps smooth functioning process and easy imports.

2. FSSAI Label Validation displays complete product information, enabling transparency and Informed Purchase.

Product Approval Validation (PAV)

It is a process by which any novel ingredient(s) or additive(s) not prescribed in the act/regulation can be approved by FSSAI. An FBO needs to get his product approved before licensing procedure and release into the market.

Label Validation (LV)

Label Validation means ensuring the information and the format of the product’s label are accurate and complies with the FSSAI regulations. This maintains complete transparency with respect to the product information, helping consumers make the informed purchase.