BakeryBiz, Nov-Dec, 2020:

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI ’s) Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) has become operational in the entire country effective 1st November this year. FoSCoS replaces the existing Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS).

FoSCoS is a cloud-based, upgraded new food safety compliance online platform. It is a one-point platform that will enable the across the country data-driven regulatory approach. The platform offers licensing, registration, inspection, and annual return modules.

The introduction of FoSCoS is to enhance the ease of doing business for the food business operators and enhance the user experience for users. It is mandatory for every food business operator(FBO) is to migrate to FoSCoS. The system was initially operational in nine States/ UTs — Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Gujarat, Odisha, Chandigarh, Goa, Manipur, Puducherry and Ladakh since 1st June 2020.

The FBO User ids and Passwords will remain the same in FoSCoS, as were in FLRS. They need to visit the FoSCoS website for login (https:// foscos.fssai.gov.in) Further; the registered FBOs are divided into two categories for the migration to FoSCoS:

1. Food Businesses (Non-Manufacturing Kind of Business), or Registered Food Businesses (all kind of Businesses except manufacturing)

2. Valid FSSAI Licensed Food Businesses (Manufacturing Kind of Business)

Advantages of FoSCoS

1. It is similar in the scheme as to FLRS so that users have convenience in migrating to FoSCoS.

2. It is one point stop for all engagement of an FBO with the department as it is offering licensing, registration, inspection, and annual return modules at one platform.

3. The major change is the shift of methodology of licensing for manufacturers which now shall be based on the standardised product list. This will help in a quicker grant of licenses and eliminate the errors. The FoSCoS product selection based methodology is only for manufacturers of standardised food products.

4. FoSCoS, provides the module for filing online Annual Return. Now the FBO can file the online returns which rule out postal delays, need to preserve dispatch/receipt proofs and disputes regarding the submission of returns resulting in harassment of food business operators.

5. Mandatory documents have been rationalised and many paper-based declarations have been replaced with tick-based declarations.