Food Safety Reforms, Benefit, Key Reforms, FSSAI

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has approved a set of major regulatory and procedural reforms aimed at improving ease of doing business while maintaining strong food safety standards in the country.

The reforms were finalised after extensive consultations with state governments, union territories, and industry stakeholders, and they follow the suggestions of the High-Level Committee on Non-Financial Regulatory Reforms set up by NITI Aayog.

Key Food Safety Reforms

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has introduced several important reforms in the food regulatory framework.

Perpetual Validity of Licences and Registrations

A major reform is the introduction of perpetual validity for FSSAI licences and registrations.

• Earlier, food business operators were required to renew licences periodically, leading to administrative burden.
• Now, licences will remain valid indefinitely, subject to compliance and periodic updates.
• This reduces paperwork, compliance costs, and bureaucratic delays.
• It will also allow regulatory agencies to focus more on monitoring, enforcement and capacity-building activities.

Rationalisation of Turnover Thresholds

The government has also increased the turnover threshold for registration and licensing.

• From April 1, 2026, businesses with an annual turnover of up to Rs 1.5 crore will only need basic registration, compared to the earlier limit of Rs 12 lakh.
• Businesses with a turnover of up to Rs 50 crore will fall under state licensing, while those above this limit will require central licensing.
• It will simplify compliance for micro and small food businesses by reducing paperwork, fees and pre-inspection requirements.
• At the same time, it will strengthen the role of state authorities in overseeing food safety regulations within their jurisdictions.

Deemed Registration for Street Vendors

Another key reform aims to reduce duplicate registrations for street food vendors. 

• Street vendors registered under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 will now be automatically considered registered under FSSAI.
• It will benefit more than 10 lakh street food vendors by removing the need to obtain multiple registrations from different authorities.
• It is expected to reduce the compliance burden and allow vendors to focus more on their livelihoods and maintaining hygiene standards.

Risk-Based Inspection Framework

The government has introduced a technology-driven, risk-based inspection system to make food safety checks smarter and more efficient. 

• Inspections will be based on factors such as the type of food, past compliance records, audit performance, and surveillance inputs.
• Compliant businesses will face fewer inspections, while high-risk or non-compliant operators will be checked more closely. 
• This ensures focused, transparent, and efficient regulation, reduces unnecessary burden on honest businesses, and allows FSSAI to use resources effectively for enforcement and monitoring.

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