Eligibility, Types, Due Date and Importance
Depending on the nature of the business and license category, all food industry operators are required to submit quarterly FSSAI returns. As per the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, clause 2.1.13 (1), filing FSSAI returns indicates regulatory compliance.
You will get you know about the FSSAI returns that, according on the type of license and business activity, must be filed. It is essential to remember that an FBO is required to file separate filings for each FSSAI license he holds.
- Types of FSSAI Returns
- Eligibility for FSSAI Returns
- Importance of FSSAI Returns
- How to File FSSAI Returns
- Penalty for Non-Compliance
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Types of FSSAI Returns
For food business operators, there are 3 types of FSSAI returns:
- Annual Return
- Half Yearly Return
- Quarterly Return
Annual Return
Owners of food businesses that engage in manufacturing, processing, relabeling, repackaging, and importing are required to file an annual return. It is filed within two months from the end of the previous fiscal year (April 1- March 31). The May 31st is the deadline for submitting annual returns.
Half Yearly Return
Operators of food businesses that manufacture or process milk and milk products are required to file a half-yearly return. It is submitted for the months of April 1 to September 30 and October 1 to March 31. It is necessary to file half-yearly returns within one month from the end of the periods.
Quarterly Return
It is required for food business operators who export food items to file a quarterly return. During a financial year, it is filed on a quarterly basis.
Eligibility for FSSAI Returns
Filing FSSAI returns is open to all FBOs with Central and State food licenses. Any company that manufactures, distributes, imports, exports, stores, handles, or transports food products is required to file an annual return. The food industry that produces and distributes milk is required to submit half-yearly reports.
| Return Type | Eligibility | Due Date |
| Annual Return | FBOs involved in Manufacturing, Processing, Relabellers, Repackers and Importers | By 31st May (For Financial Year of the preceding year) |
| Half Yearly Return | FBOs involved in Manufacturing and Processing of Milk & Milk Products | To be filed within one month from the end of the periods – 1st April to 30th September and 1st October to 31st March |
| Quarterly Return | For Exporters | To be filed Quarterly |
Exemptions from Annual Return Filing
FBOs that are not listed in the Annual Return’s Eligibility Column are not required to file an FSSAI Return.
Importance of FSSAI Returns
Regulation compliance is achieved by FBOs filing periodic FSSAI returns. Also, FBOs must keep a record of the returns they have submitted. FBOs are subject to severe penalties for unintentional non-submission or loss of submission proof.
Encouraging food industry owners to submit returns online would simplify doing business easier and contribute to the creation of national databases.
The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011 state in clause 2.1.13 (1):
Every licensee shall on or before 31st May of each year, submit a return electronically or in physical form as may be prescribed by the concerned Food Safety Commissioner, in ‘Form D-1’ provided in Schedule 2 of these Regulations to the Licensing Authority in respect of each class of food products handled by him during the previous financial year.
Provided however that every licensee engaged in manufacturing of milk and/or milk products shall file half yearly returns for the periods 1st April to 30th September and 1st October to 31st March of every financial year in the form D-2, as provided in Schedule-2 of these regulations. Such returns will be filed within a month from the end of the period.
How to File FSSAI Returns
FSSAI returns must be submitted by the due date in the prescribed format.
Annual and Half Yearly Return
Annual and Half Yearly Return are needed to submit physically or by the email. Form D-1 is required for the annual FSSAI return and Form D-2 is required for the half yearly return.
Quarterly Return
FBOs can use the FoSCo website to file this return online. The required details must be filled out by eligible FBOs, and file the returns online.
FSSAI Returns Fees
Every FSSAI return must be filed for a fee of Rs. 1,999.
Penalty for Non-Compliance
There is a penalty of Rs 100/- per day, if the return is not filed in the due time on the FBOs from the expiry date.
FSSAI Registration for FBO's
| Relabeller | Hotel Businesses | Importers | Exporters |
| Food Manufacturing | Zomato | Swiggy | Airport-Premises |
FSSAI Registration in Cities and States
| Delhi | Gurgaon | Noida | Ghaziabad |
| Lucknow | Chennai | Kolkata | Chandigarh |
| Mumbai | Kochi | Goa | Varanasi |
Related FSSAI Articles
| FSSAI Registration | FSSAI State License | FSSAI Central License |
| FSSAI Returns | FSSAI License Renewal | Documents required for FSSAI registration |
| FSSAI registration process | FSSAI registration vs license | How to get FSSAI license |