In a major move for Indian food consumers, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced that all food businesses must display their FSSAI licence or registration number on bills, cash receipts and purchase invoices. The FSSAI initially planned to enforce the requirement from October 1, 2021, but extended the deadline to January 1, 2022, after receiving representations from industry associations and other stakeholders. The mandate aims to make it easier for consumers to file complaints against food businesses when they have grievances.

In June, the FSSAI acknowledged that although it had made FSSAI licence and registration numbers mandatory on packaged food products, restaurants and retail stores still faced challenges in complying with the requirement. The regulator noted that India’s food business ecosystem is vast, and consumers could not easily access the FSSAI number of a food business operator.

Without the FSSAI number, consumers would find it difficult to file complaints with all the relevant details. The FSSAI also pointed out that even regulators often struggled to trace the source of a complaint and address grievances promptly. The regulator said authorities could not create an effective database without a unique identification code. In the food safety sector, the FSSAI number serves as that unique identifier.

The FSSAI also highlighted gaps in existing track-and-trace mechanisms, which make it difficult to trace a food package from the manufacturer to the consumer. Requiring food businesses to display their registration number could therefore improve traceability across the food supply chain.

Public Pressure

The FSSAI said the regulatory move would encourage unlicensed and unregistered food businesses to obtain the required licences and registrations. Displaying the FSSAI licence or registration number on bills and invoices would also increase public awareness of the regulator. The requirement is expected to encourage consumers to demand compliance and push food business operators to obtain their FSSAI licence or registration promptly. Industry experts also confirmed that this mandate will push smaller and unorganised players to ensure they have an FSSAI license and registration.

Benefits for the Consumer

With the FSSAI number, consumers can access publicly available information about a food business operator (FBO) through the FSSAI portal. Consumers can visit the FSSAI portal or use the Food Safety Connect app to access this information. They can enter the 14-digit FSSAI licence or registration number to view the relevant details.

Consumers can also use the FSSAI number to lodge an online complaint against an FBO. The number helps regulatory authorities identify the business and address the complaint more efficiently. Consumers already recognise GST numbers because businesses display them on invoices. Similarly, displaying FSSAI numbers on bills, receipts and invoices can increase awareness about food-safety regulations. If a food business fails to display the number, consumers may also identify it as a potential compliance issue.

The new requirement aims to address the difficulties consumers face when locating and tracking the FSSAI number of a particular food business. It can also help regulators trace the source of complaints and respond to them more promptly. The changes are expected to make it easier for consumers to file complaints and help authorities take timely action against food businesses.