Who requires FSSAI license ?

A simple answer to this question is, any person involved in food business needs to have FSSAI License/ registration.

Now question arises about definition of food business.

As per Section 3 of FSS Act 2006, “Food business” means any undertaking, whether for profit or not and whether public or private, carrying out any of the activities related to any stage of manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution of food, import and includes food services, catering services, sale of food or food ingredients.

Now another question arises about definition of food,

As per Section 3 (j) of FSS Act 2006,

“Food” means any substance, whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed, which is intended for human consumption and includes primary food to the extent defined in clause (zk), genetically modified or engineered food or food containing such ingredients, infant food, packaged drinking water, alcoholic drink, chewing gum, and any substance, including water used into the food during its manufacture, preparation or treatment,

but does not include,

Any animal feed, live animals unless they are prepared or processed for placing on the market for human consumption, plants prior to harvesting, drugs and medicinal products, cosmetics,narcotic or psychotropic substances.

Provided that the Central Government may declare, by notification in the Official Gazette, any other article as food for the purposes of this Act having regards to its use, nature, substance or quality;

So in nutshell, if you are doing a business involving article of food intended for human consumption, then you definitely require FSSAI licence/registration.