FoSCoS stands for Food Safety and Compliance System. It’s a cloud-based online platform envisioned as a comprehensive system, seamlessly integrated with FSSAI’s other IT platforms to serve as a single point of access for all regulatory compliance transactions involving food business operators (FBOs). FoSCoS was launched on June 1, 2020, across nine states and UTs as an initial rollout to assess its functionality and address any potential issues.
It replaced the FLRS system, which had served as FSSAI’s primary registration and licensing platform for the previous 11 years.
Services Offered
The FSSAI’s newly developed platform provides the following services to Food Business Operators:
– Registration for Small-Scale Food Business Operators
– Licensing for Restaurants
– Licensing for Food Manufacturing, including Renewal and Modifications
– Addition of Fortified Food Products to License/Registration
– Submission of Quarterly Returns for Exporters
– License Transfer
– Licensing for Proprietary Food Products
– Responding to Reverted Applications
– Addition of Organic Food Products Endorsement
– License Surrender
– Licensing for Mid-Day Meal Programs, E-Commerce, and Airport & Seaport Facilities
– Assistance for Food Product Exporters and Importers
– Support for Business Headquarters
Transition from FLRS to FoSCoS?
With the launch of the Food Safety Compliance System (FOSCOS) in various states and union territories, all Food Business Operators (FBOs) were tasked with the important process of migration. This transition marked a significant shift from the former Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS) to the more advanced and efficient FOSCOS platform. To support this change, FBOs could access their current licenses or registrations on FLRS, allowing them to compare these details with those entered in FOSCOS. For Online Sole Proprietorship Registration contact us at Super Ca
During migration, essential information such as license/registration numbers, business names, addresses, validity, and categories underwent thorough examination. FBOs involved in non-manufacturing activities went through a verification process to confirm the accuracy of these details, ensuring alignment between FLRS and FOSCOS. Manufacturers of standardized products experienced a post-login modification process, where they could quickly adjust their licenses, free of additional charges, by choosing products from FOSCOS’s standardized list.
This process aimed to speed up licensing and minimize potential errors. For FBOs who chose not to use the modification option during license renewal, a one-year renewal was issued, incentivizing timely updates and supporting consistent alignment of licensing information between FLRS and FOSCOS. In cases where differences or inconsistencies were found in the licensing details between FLRS and FOSCOS, FBOs were encouraged to report these to FSSAI. This collaborative approach helped to uphold accuracy and integrity within the regulatory database.
Objective of FoSCoS
The main objectives of the Food Safety and Compliance System (FoSCoS) include:
– Establishing a food safety compliance matrix organized by district and state across the country.
– Developing a platform dedicated to verifying food safety compliance.
– Minimizing the time taken for inspection processes and subsequent actions.
– Launching this platform to promote transparency within the inspection system.
– Creating a reliable platform for authenticating and validating inspection reports.
– Ensuring inspections are conducted thoroughly and without any deviations.
– Enabling a rapid response mechanism for food safety emergencies through the processes outlined in FoSCoS.
Key Features of FoSCoS:
– Faster processing speed with the ability to handle higher user traffic, backed by a scalable system architecture that supports future upgrades and additional modules.
– FoSCoS is envisioned as a comprehensive Food Safety Compliance Portal, with seamless integration to other FSSAI applications.
– A new approach to licensing for manufacturers, allowing them to select standardized products directly rather than manually entering details in text fields.
– A user-friendly, intuitive homepage with smart search options to help users determine license eligibility criteria and locate standardized products.
– An online module for filing annual returns, eliminating the need for physical submission. Additionally, inspection reports (from FoSCoRIS) are now accessible in FoSCoS for smooth operations.
– Specific documentation requirements based on the KOB (Kind of Business) are provided, reducing the list from 29 documents previously shown. With tick-box online declarations, there is no longer a need to upload signed documents.
– Distinct separation of KOBs within FoSCoS, with categories like Nutraceuticals and Novel Foods now listed separately under Manufacturing.
– The FoSCoS application form captures essential details like PAN, CIN, and GST numbers, allowing for future authentication and comprehensive profiling of FBOs.
– Enhanced menu lists and dashboards for Licensing and Registration Authorities, organized by application stages and associated pending items.
Types of FSSAI Registration
In India, FSSAI registration is a must for all food business operators involved in producing, storing, distributing, transporting, or, selling food items. The type of registration legitimatized by FSSAI may be left on the type and scale of the food trade:
– Basic FSSAI Registration: Designed for small-scale food businesses with an annual turnover of less than 12 lakhs.
– State FSSAI Registration: Applicable to food businesses with an annual turnover between 12 lakhs and 20 crores.
– Central FSSAI Registration: Required for food businesses with an annual turnover exceeding 20 crores and for specific categories such as imported foods, milk and dairy products, slaughterhouses, and meat processing units.
How to Decide Which FSSAI License to Apply for as a FBO:
1. Calculate Your Annual Turnover:
– Essential Registration: Required for businesses with an annual turnover up to ₹12 lakhs.
– State License: For businesses generating between ₹12 lakhs and ₹20 crores annually.
– Central License: Mandatory for businesses with annual revenue exceeding ₹20 crores.
2. Identify Your Business Type: Determine if your company functions as a distributor, retailer, marketer, manufacturer, trader, or transporter.
– Importers and firms with a 100% export focus require a **Central License**.
3. Company Size and Scale:
– Small-scale businesses, like small food establishments, typically need **Essential Registration
– Medium-sized businesses are required to have a State License.
– Large-scale units are required to obtain a Central License.
4. Business Location:
– If operating in multiple locations within a single state, a State License is needed.
– For operations across multiple states, a Central License is required.
How to get registered on FOSCOS:
To log in to the FOSCOS, users need to create an account for the first time. Here are simple steps to follow:
Step 1-Access the FOSCOS Portal
– Visit the official FOSCOS portal via [https://foscos.fssai.gov.in](https://foscos.fssai.gov.in).
Step 2-Choose “New Registration”
– On the homepage, look for the option “Apply for New License / Registration” and click on it.
Step 3-Provide Business Information
– Fill in required details like business name, address, contact information, and other related information.
Step 4-You Will Receive a License Number or Registration Number
– After the application is submitted, FSSAI will provide you with a registration number or license number.
Step 5-Log in Using Your Credentials
– You may now log in using the License or Registration Number to access FOSCOS services. You will be able to operate on a variety of services on the platform through this login.
Conclusion
FOSCOS is a major accomplishment in promoting the idea of greater transparency, efficiency, and standard operating procedures within the Indian food industry. By simplifying processes, FOSCOS encourages adaptability, helping businesses align smoothly with changing industry trends. Adopting this system goes beyond regulatory requirements—it’s a transformative step toward embedding food safety and compliance into the core of every conscientious food business. In the FOSCOS era, compliance transcends being a mere checkbox and becomes a dedicated commitment to building a safer, more robust food sector.