FSSAI: Food Businesses To Mention License No. On Invoices W.E.F. 1st October, 2021
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on Thursday said that restaurants, food retailers, caterers and sweetmeat shops will have to mention their FSSAI license or registration number on cash receipts, purchase invoices, bills or cash memos from October 1.
Replying to emailed queries, an official spokesperson for FSSAI, said that this detail will help consumers to file complaints, if needed, and will also help the authority monitor such complaints and track unlicensed businesses.
Sources said this order will also ensure smaller and unorganized players get registered as required under the Food Safety Act. Also, when any operator issues two transaction documents such as in case of transporters issuing transport challan/ bill etc. and an invoice, then the FSSAI number needs to be mentioned on both documents. The only exemption will be the GST e-way bill and such other government documents which are system generated.
FSSAI in its order said that it also believes this move will create public pressure on non-licensed or non-registered players to seek licenses or registration. “Mentioning of FSSAI license or registration number (on bills and invoices) shall also improve the overall awareness of FSSAI. The requirement is expected to generate public demand and pressure for all Food Business Operators to seek FSSAI license/ registration,” the food safety authority stated.
Industry sources said that large organized retail chains and restaurant chains already mention their FSSAI license number on their invoices. “The smaller grocery stores, restaurants and mithai shops will now need to ensure that they have FSSAI license or registration number and it is mentioned on the invoices and bills,” an executive with a retail chain pointed out.
Thus, FSSAI seeks to maintain the minimum compliance cost and still have enhanced data dissemination and disclosure, it added in its order.