Guidelines of FSSAI Registration to Open a Restaurant

Opening a restaurant with no menial task. Other than choosing the right location and getting the best chef and service boys on board, the owner/partners need to ensure that they obtain the FSSAI License from the Food Safety Standards and Authority of India. 

As per FSS Regulation, it is mandatory for the restaurant – whether a startup or an existing one to properly display the Food Safety Display Boards (FSDB) at the food premises. The FSDB needs to display:

• The FSSAI License or registration number visibility. The customers can verify the authenticity of the number on the FSSAI website.
• FSDBs are color coded for easy recognition by customers on the nature of business of the entity. The color code for restaurants is purple. 
• The board is an information unit that informs customers, food handlers and regulatory staff about necessary food safety and hygiene requirements.

The restaurant also needs to implement an effective customer feedback system so that customers can give their feedback through social media sites and Apps or SMS or via the FSSAI App. For restaurants, the golden rules pertaining to hygiene (of the place as well as personal hygiene) that need to be mentioned include:-

• Having regular pest control at the premises
• Use of potable water for food preparation
• Hot food is kept above 60 degrees centigrade and cold food below 5 degrees centigrade
• Storing vegetarian and non-vegetarian food in separate containers (raw or cooked)
• Storing of frozen foods below -18 degrees centigrade or below
• Use of separate chopping boards, knives etc. for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food (cooked or raw)
• Wearing clean clothes/uniforms
• Washing hands before and after handling food and after using toilets, coughing, sneezing etc.
• Using waterproof bandage to cover cuts and burn wounds
• Food not to be handled when unwell
• Using clean and separate dusters to clean surfaces and wipe utensils
• Keep covered dustbins for food waste and separate waste as per garbage dumping rules

The applicable FSSAI license for restaurants will either be the Central License or a conjunction of a Central License with separate State license for different locations.  While applying for new FSSAI license and FSSAI license renewal, the concerned authorities test the food. The FSSAI is tied up with a number of food testing labs in the public and private sector to instill confidence in people/consumers about the safety of the food that they eat.

Along with FSSAI registration for establishing a restaurant following will be additional requirements;

• Registration under Shop and Establishment Act
• Trade License
• NOC from the fire department
• Business registration
• MSME registration can also be applied for.

Source by: http://entersliceites.over-blog.com/guidelines-of-fssai-registration-to-open-a-restaurant.html