Quality standards are used in all industries to certify products. Regulations such as the Food Safety & Standards Act of 2006, among others, govern the licencing of food products. These ensure that the products we are ingesting are of the highest calibre. The FSSAI licence and AGMARK are the most recent food safety rules.

The country’s changing environment led to a number of revisions in food safety rules, and each act’s implementation required a considerable amount of time, effort, and resources. The Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 provided a remedy by bringing all previous food-related laws under one umbrella. Customers now find it much easier to monitor standards and protect the food safety of the nation thanks to this reorganisation.

What is FSSAI License?

The Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 required the creation of the independent government agency known as FSSAI, or The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India, in 2008. The main objective of this organisation is to oversee and monitor the quality of the Indian food sector in order to ensure the safety of food consumed within the nation. All food items are validated and given a basis or standard, ensuring their hygienic and nutritional safety.

The FSSAI certification works similarly to a checkpoint to guarantee that the food is safe for consumption. Every food or food processing business in India must adhere to FSSAI licencing regulations, including those for cold storage, production, distribution, and even packaging.

What is AGMARK?

AGMARK is a quality seal that identifies a product as being pure and meeting the standards set by a regulatory organisation for that product’s quality. In India, it serves as a guarantee for agricultural products. An agricultural product’s inherent value defines its quality, and these criteria were created with international laws and requirements in mind to guarantee WTO compliance.

Functions of FSSAI

·       Create guidelines for certifying organisations, and manage the certification process.

·       Establish guidelines for the accreditation of food testing facilities.

·       Offer the government technical support & guidance on food safety laws.

·       Compile data on food consumption, potential biological hazards, health risks, and contaminants.

·       Construct a system for educating people about these risks.

·       Give those who work in the food business training.

·       Raising awareness about food safety.

Eligible Products of AGMARK

Importance of FSSAI Licence Registration

• You can obediently follow the government’s rules and regulations by registering for an FSSAI licence.
• By signing up with the FSSAI, you can stay out of trouble and receive benefits.
• Getting an FSSAI Registration Certificate could aid in developing your credibility and reputation in the industry.
• The FSSAI Registration logo on your food products and the registration certificate displayed on your corporate property help to create a strong brand identity for your business.
• The FSSAI logo on food exports helps your business win over foreign customers’ trust.

Importance of AGMARK Registration

•         Being confident that your agricultural products are legal; 

•         Being able to export agricultural products to other countries.

•         There are several government programmes and incentives available to companies that sell AGMARK-certified goods.

·       Difference Between FSSAI Registration and AGMARK

There are some major differences between FSSAI Registration and AGMARK. The differences are as follows:

• An AGMARK licence and an FSSAI licence are fundamentally different from one another because the former is a certification, and the latter is issued by a government body. AGMARK is a quality-control stamp for agricultural products, whereas FSSAI Licensing covers all food products, whether they are agricultural or not. It includes all additional processes, including production, preservation, re-labelling, import or export, sales, and food safety, in addition to the Quality Standards of Food Products.
• AGMARK and FSSAI are each governed by a separate piece of legislation. While AGMARK is administered by the Agriculture Produce (Grading & Marking) Act of India, 1937, FSSAI was established by the Food Safety and Standard Act of 2006. (Amended in 1986).

• Agricultural products that have passed various testing, including chemical, microbiological, pesticide residual content, and aflatoxin analyses, are given the AGMARK certification (for products like Ghee, spices, Honey, etc.). Numerous state-owned laboratories conduct these testing and analyses. In 11 nodal cities, there are also regional laboratories. On the other side, Nagpur is home to the Central AGMARK Laboratory. AGMARK is only permitted for the Product, it should be kept in mind. 213 agricultural products are now covered by AGMARK accreditation.

• Allotment for an AGMARK Certification is determined by a number of analyses, whereas allocation for the FSSAI is determined by turnover and activity.

•         The present AGMARK standard offers quality recommendations for 205 different commodities, whereas FSSAI has some criteria in place and covers all food items.

•         The FSSAI licence is given depending on the establishment’s activities & turnover. For instance, although using the same brand name, each X Canteen branch is required to get a separate FSSAI Licence. The FSSAI offers three different licence types: basic, state, and central.

Understanding the Concept of FSSAI Licence & AGMARK Certification

• 
  Agricultural Mark, often known as AGMARK, is a certification given to all agricultural products by The Directorate of Marketing & Inspection. AGMARK is a certification mark given to agricultural products that pass the necessary grading and certification tests by The Directorate of Marketing & Inspection. People frequently believe that FSSAI Licence and AGMARK are interchangeable (FSSAI Licence vs. AGMARK). However, there is a difference between them and they are not the same.

•         The FSSAI Authority carries out a number of tasks, such as setting policies and guidelines for laboratory accreditation and rules governing food standards. The Directorate of Marketing & Inspection for Agricultural Produce sets agricultural commodity quality standards and ensures the product’s quality and purity.

AGMARK Registration Process

To get the relevant application form, the individual/company may visit the website https://dmi.gov.in or the nearest office of the Directorate of Marketing & Inspection (DMI). Form A is used to apply for a Certificate of Authorisation for Grading & Marking of Commodities for the Domestic Market.

The appropriate documentation, as well as the prescribed application fee, must be affixed to & have with the concerned application form, depending on the type of commodity for which the application is being made. The registration cost must be given in the form of a demand draught and will vary based on numerous independent variable criteria as indicated in the forms and annexures, such as grading charges, processing fees, and so on.

• To be eligible for Agmark grading and certification of a notified commodity:
• The individual must have the required infrastructure in place to process the item.
• The individual must have access to or own a laboratory that is approved for grading.
• Only if these prerequisites are satisfied may the individual apply to the DMI office for a Certificate of Authorisation, which will be provided once the verification procedure is completed, which usually takes thirty-forty days (approx).
• If the individual is permitted access to an Agmark-approved laboratory, the consent letter from the laboratory must also be provided in Form A-3.
• A certified Chemist will test the raw material & the processed commodity prior to putting the commodity in containers.
• The DMI’s field officers will perform regular inspections on the product graded & certified by correlating samples from the packer’s premises with those in the market.
• Form A-4 can be used to renew the Certificate of Authorisation for Rs. 5000.

FSSAI Licence Registration Process

The FSSAI Licence process involves the following steps:

• By filling out and submitting Form A (application for basic Registration) or Form B (application for Central and State Licence) on the FoSCoS website, FBOs can obtain FSSAI registration online. FBOs can also register offline by sending Form A or Form B to the Food & Safety Department.
• The FSSAI registration form must be submitted along with the appropriate papers. The papers must be physically sent to the Food & Safety Department along with the application, or they must be posted electronically on the FoSCos website at the time of submission.
• The Department must approve or reject the FSSAI registration form within seven days of receiving it, whether physically or electronically via the FoSCoS website. The applicant must receive written notice if their application is denied.
• The Department will evaluate the submitted papers.Before issuing the FSSAI registration certificate, the Department may, if necessary, inspect the food facilities.
• An FSSAI certificate with the registration number and the applicant’s email ID photo will be issued by the Department if it determines that the FBO satisfies all of the required requirements. The applicant can obtain the FSSAI registration certificate by connecting to the FoSCoS portal.
• During business hours, the FSSAI registration certificate shall be conspicuously displayed at the FBO.

Conclusion

In our nation, certifications are in plentiful supply. AGMARK and FSSAI are two of the most significant laws dealing to food that are legally required of business owners. Regulations pertaining to food are very important since they control two of the most important areas: sanitation and health. Governmental organisations must, however, ensure that laws are applied correctly. By now, you should be able to infer that both of these requirements are meant to guarantee optimum health and hygiene.