FSSAI Registration for Fine Dining Restaurant
A fine dining restaurant is characterized by high-quality food with a choice of Indian and Western cuisines and
attractive dishes to choose from, it is a sit-down or a formal type of lunch
and dinner, caters to premium and niche clientele and employs some of the best
chefs and employees from the industry. Opening a fine dining restaurant
involves investing in the best of everything and hence requires a handsome
investment.
One of the primary registrations as a food operator, the promoters/owners of the restaurant need to apply and procure the food license under the Food Safety Standards Act, 2006. The FSSAI that works under the Ministry of Health and Welfare is responsible for ensuring that each and every Food Business Operator (FBO) in the country follows norms related to food safety and hygiene. It also ensures that consumers and other stakeholders in the country are informed from time to time on the safety and hygiene standards so that they can make informed decisions while choosing food for consumption. The FSSAI license is a way of communicating to the customers that the food has been prepared and handled in a safe and hygienic manner.
The Food Safety Standards and Authority of
India have set down rules clearly
demarcating between the three different types of FSSAI licenses
that apply to different FBOs in India.
A.
The basic FSSAI license or registration is
applicable for small-time food operators
with annual returns less than Rs. 12 lakh annually.
B. The
State FSSAI license is needed to be procured by FBOs whose turnover falls
between Rs. 12 lakh to Rs. 20 crores.
C.
The FSSAI Central license
is applicable for business units that are earning more than Rs. 20 crore
annually.
For business units, involved in dairy products,
vegetable oil processing and other food processing units, normal storage units,
cold storage units, atmosphere controlled storage facilities, wholesalers, food
vending agencies, transporters and hotels have production/storage/turnover/number
of vehicles related parameters to determine their eligibility for procuring
either the State or the Central license.
A fine-dining restaurant will invariably fall
under the state or the central license categories. For issuing both these types
of license, the concerned authorities will first physically inspect the
premises of the FBO and accordingly grant the license. The food is also tested
on a routine basis at FSSAI Notified food
testing laboratories that are accredited by NABL (National Accreditation Board
for Testing and Calibration Laboratories).
In establishing a Fine dining restaurant many
other formal registrations are required. Following is a list of few such
requirements;
1. Initially, the
business is required to be registered. If you are operating alone then sole
proprietorship or one person company are the obvious choices. However, if you are planning it with your
partners then an LLP or private company
can be set up.
2. GST
registration is to be applied for. if you are not planning to serve liquor in
the restaurant then you can also register as a composition dealer under GST.
3. Trade
license along with NOC from fire and other concerned departments is required to
be applied for.
4. Registration
under Shop and Establishment Act is also mandatory.
5.
You can also apply for MSME registration as it
ensures added benefits.