Every Food Business working under a State or Central FSSAI License needs to file its FSSAI Annual Return in FOSCOS before 31st May for the financial year 2023-24.
As per regulations of Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) obtaining a food license is one of the most crucial steps for starting a food business. Once you have acquired the food/FSSAI license, you can start your business freely and without any legal complication.
But that’s not all. As per FSSAI (Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2011, it is equally important to comply with FSSAI compliances and filing of annual returns.
All the food business operators (FBOs) who possess food license and have an annual turnover of Rs. 12 lakh should file the annual return mandatorily and within the due time.
If anybody fails to file the returns within the stipulated time period, he may have to face grim penalties at Rs100 Per day..
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) requires all food business operators to file an Annual Return to provide details of their business activities, turnover, and the quality of food products handled. This report is essential for maintaining transparency and accountability in the food industry, ensuring that all businesses adhere to the necessary regulations and guidelines.
Unlike other businesses, Food Businesses consist of filing only two kinds of returns every year. They are as follows:
FSSAI Returns | Due Dates | To be filed by |
|---|---|---|
Form D1 | 31st May 2024 | Every food manufacturer, importer etc. |
Form D2 | 30th September/30th March | Manufacturer of milk/milk products |
All the food manufacturers, importers, labellers, re-labellers, packers, and re-packers, etc. need to file FSSAI Form D1 mandatorily, either online or in physical form as prescribed by the Food Safety Commissioner.
Furthermore, this is mandatory irrespective of whatever is the production of the FBO in the previous year.
The FSSAI annual return, Form D1 should be filed on or before 31st May of every financial year to the Licensing Authority depending on the types of food products sold by the FBO in the preceding financial year.
The Form D2 is a half-yearly return and isn’t for every food business operator. Instead, this needs to be filed by every FSSAI license holder who is involved in the business of manufacturing or importing of milk and/or milk products.
FSSAI annual return, Form D2 must be filed on a half yearly basis. The time period for filing this return is from 1st April to 30th September and from 1st October to 31st March of every financial year.
All the licensed FBOs engaged in the manufacturing and importing of food products need to file an annual return. The manufacturer includes the processor, repacker or relabelled being involved in any stage of food production. The process of filing returns is online. The format of Annual Return has already been incorporated in the Food Safety Compliance System (FOSCOS). The below information is required at the time of filing the returns:
Thus Restaurants, grocery stores, canteens, fast food corners etc., are not required to file annual returns under this act.
As per Section 2.1.13 (3) of FSS (Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2011, if the food business operators don’t file the returns within the stipulated time, then a fine of Rs 100 will be imposed on them every day and will keep on increasing if the default continues.
Annual Compliance by an entity which is registered as per the requirements of the FSSAI would increase the overall reputation of the company or entity. The public will trust an entity that complies with the requirements related to annual compliance.
A company that has FSSAI license would be more reputed in the eyes of consumers. Apart from this, the value derived by the entity would be more.
Another benefit from this form of annual compliance is more government support for the entities that comply with the requirements.
