BakeryBiz, Mar-Apr, 2021
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is doing exemplary work in regard to ensuring food safety in the country. Among the various initiatives by the Authority in recent times is FoSCoS that aims at easing the licensing and registration procedure for Food Business Operators (FBO). The Authority is also making relentless efforts to update the standards to international levels, improve food testing by setting up new labs and upgrading manpower and other resources with focus on ease of doing business for FBOs. In its latest initiative, FSSAI is set to regulate exports of food in the country, making the export-import scenario at par with developed countries, informed Arun Singhal, CEO, FSSAI.
The Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) was launched pan-India with effect from November 1, 2020, replacing an ageing and outdated Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS). FoSCoS functions on a cloud-based server with upgraded software and hardware, which has improved the speed and efficiency of licensing. It is envisaged to be a one-stop ‘Compliance Portal’ for food safety and in future will incorporate modules for functional needs such as advanced MIS, integration with InFolNet and FICS; Hygiene Rating and Audits etc.
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.
