What to Do If Your FSSAI License Gets Suspended?
How to Reactivate Your FSSAI License and Stay Compliant
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) plays a crucial role in maintaining food safety by regulating and supervising the food industry. Securing an FSSAI license is not just a legal formality but an assurance of delivering high-quality food products. However, challenges arise when businesses face FSSAI license suspension or even food license cancellation due to various non-compliance issues.
Filing an FSSAI application requires attention to detail, and many entrepreneurs face rejection due to errors or violations. Understanding the reasons behind FSSAI revoked licenses and the FSSAI appeal process is essential to rectify and restore the license successfully.
Common Reasons for FSSAI Application Rejection
Applications for FSSAI licenses can be rejected due to several reasons, leading to legal consequences such as FSSAI non-compliance penalties and FSSAI violation notices. Below are the most common reasons:
1. Incomplete or Inaccurate Information
Providing incomplete or misleading data in the application can lead to rejection. Ensure all business details, identity proofs, address proofs, and relevant documents are submitted accurately.
2. Non-Compliance with Food Safety Standards
Failure to meet FSSAI inspection criteria, such as using substandard ingredients or improper hygiene, can lead to FSSAI inspection failure and eventual rejection.
3. Lack of Adequate Infrastructure
Food businesses must maintain proper storage, refrigeration, and sanitary conditions. Inadequate infrastructure may result in FSSAI license suspension due to safety risks.
4. Failure to Comply with Licensing Regulations
Misclassification of license type—such as applying for a central license instead of a state license—can cause rejection.
5. Non-Payment of Fees
Applicants must adhere to the FSSAI reactivation process by ensuring timely payment of processing fees to avoid application rejection.
What to Do If Your FSSAI Application Gets Rejected?
A rejection notice doesn’t mean the end of your food business aspirations. The government provides avenues to rectify issues and appeal against the decision. Here’s how you can restore your FSSAI license after rejection:
Revival of Rejected Basic and State FSSAI License
Submit a reactivation request to the State Food Safety Commissioner within three months of rejection.
A designated officer will review the case and evaluate its merit.
Within 30 days, an email will be sent to the RC Division outlining findings.
If found valid, the proposal will be forwarded to the IT Division for reactivation.
Revival of Rejected Central License
Apply for reactivation within six months at the FSSAI Regional Office.
The Regional Office Director will assess the case.
If found valid, the request will be forwarded to enforcement1@fssai.gov.in for further evaluation.
The Regional Compliance Division (RCD) will conduct final scrutiny.
The Executive Director of RCD will provide the final decision.
If required, extreme cases can be escalated to FSSAI headquarters for CEO evaluation.
SOPs for Reactivating a Rejected FSSAI Application
On July 7, 2022, FSSAI introduced Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to streamline the FSSAI reactivation process. SOPs apply in these scenarios:
The application was inadvertently rejected during processing.
A technical error occurred in the system while processing the application.
The system automatically rejected the application due to missing documents.
Legal Actions for FSSAI Suspension
In cases where businesses fail to comply with regulations even after multiple warnings, FSSAI legal actions may be taken, including:
Food license cancellation for severe non-compliance.
FSSAI violation notices and hefty fines.
Permanent suspension for repeated FSSAI inspection failures.
How to Restore an FSSAI License After Suspension?
If your FSSAI license is suspended, you can:
File an appeal under the FSSAI appeal process.
Rectify the non-compliance issues and submit proof.
Undergo a reinspection to verify improvements.
Pay any pending FSSAI non-compliance penalties.
By understanding the FSSAI reactivation process, businesses can efficiently address rejections and stay compliant with food safety regulations. Proper adherence to FSSAI labeling rules, food packaging FSSAI guidelines, and FSSAI regulations for food labels will help prevent issues in the future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, FSSAI application rejections can stem from incomplete information, non-compliance with safety standards, inadequate infrastructure, or failure to pay fees. However, businesses can appeal or reactivate their licenses by following the prescribed procedures. Understanding the reactivation process and complying with FSSAI regulations can help avoid penalties, suspensions, and future rejections, ensuring smooth operations and continued adherence to food safety standards.