Restaurant India News: Food Businesses on Notice as FSSAI Targets False Declarations in Annual Returns

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has tightened oversight of annual returns filed by food business operators (FBOs), warning of penalties for inaccurate or incomplete submissions.

In an order dated 6 July, reviewed by Mint, the food regulator underscored the importance of accurate and complete data in these mandatory filings. The directive follows observations that many returns included discrepancies, inconsistencies, or false declarations.

The order, issued by Dr. Satyen Kumar Panda, Executive Director (Compliance Strategy), instructs all licensing authorities to carry out rigorous scrutiny of annual returns submitted by FBOs within their respective jurisdictions. According to the regulator, this step is aimed at ensuring data accuracy for effective regulation, strengthening accountability, addressing misleading declarations, and better utilizing the online system.

Since FY 2020-21, the FSSAI has required annual returns to be filed exclusively online through the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS), as mandated in an earlier order dated 18 December 2020. FoSCoS, developed by FSSAI, is the online platform that replaced the older Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS) and manages licensing, registration, and compliance for food businesses.

While the submission rate of returns has improved significantly since the introduction of FoSCoS, the latest order signals a move towards stricter verification of the information provided by businesses.

An important amendment effective 8 January 2024 introduces a feature in FoSCoS allowing FBOs to revise or update their already-submitted annual returns to correct unintentional mistakes. The FSSAI reiterated that “submission of accurate and complete information in the Annual Return is mandatory.”