How to Check FSSAI License Status Online Step-by-Step?

If you own a food-related company of any size, you know how important it is to have your Food and Safety Standards Assessing Authority (FSSAI) Licences. You've probably had your FSSAI Licences requested several times before. You may have had them requested by delivery services while being set up with them. 

You may have had them requested by suppliers, distributors, grocery stores, or supermarkets before they would provide you with service. And, on many occasions, you may have been asked by customers and consumers for your FSSAI number that is imprinted on your product's packaging because they wanted to feel comfortable purchasing from your brand.

The ability to perform a FSSAI licence status verification online will make your life much easier. It saves you time, less your confusion, and improves your chances of remaining compliant with regulatory guidelines. The good news is that you do not need any kind of software or an agent in order to validate your license.

If you own your 14-digit License number, you can validate it online in four or five minutes?

Before you start, understand what you are checking

A lot of different types of searchers are looking for the status of their food safety license and half the time they don't even know it. Some users are looking for a license number; others applied weeks ago and would like to see how far along their application is.

FSSAI uses FoSCoS to manage the licensing and registration process. FoSCoS was released for the first time on June 1, 2020, and replaced the previous process of electronically processing applications for licensing and registration.

Step-by-step: How to check FSSAI license status using the license number

Step 1: Launch FoSCoS Website 

FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System) is the online system for FSSAI Licensing and Registering. This is the system used by most individuals when they discuss FSSAI licenses (or their verification). The FoSCoS website can be opened on either a desktop, laptop, or other mobile apps. 

Step 2: Click On 'FBO Search' 

When using FoSCoS, FBO Search is the 'public search' where you can view your license information using the 14-digit FSSAI license number. Then, many times, when they land on the FoSCoS portal, they just click on every menu option thinking they are going to get to the same place as they will find when going to the 'FBO Search' option. 

Step 3: Enter 14-Digit FSSAI License Number  (carefully) 

This step has the highest potential for error because users often copy & paste to quickly & provide a space, possibly mistyping a digit. Errors in entering a single digit could mean that the user will receive a 'no record found' within FoSCoS, even if they have the valid FSSAI License. You should enter your license number carefully and confirm the last 3-4 digits, prior to submitting it for verification. This step is essentially why licenses can be validated through FSSAI.

Step 4: Captcha and submit. 

The portal typically requests a captcha. Enter it carefully and click submit. If the captcha fails, reattempt. A failed captcha does not mean that your license is invalid, only that either the captcha was entered incorrectly or your session has timed out.

Step 5: Compare result to your business information. 

Once you get a result, do not stop there; the screen tells you “record found.” Confirm that the information shown on the screen corresponds to your business name and business location. Also verify the validity dates that are reflected in the search results. 

What details should match during FSSAI license verification?

1. Business Name: Your business name should match the name listed when originally registering. There may be small spelling differences, but the name must clearly indicate that it is the same entity.

2. Address/Location: Your address should match your business registration document. At a minimum, it must be in the same area, city & state.

3. Valid Dates: It is extremely important that you have an active license,se as many of the platforms and partners you may work with will not accept expired licenses.

4. Type of License/Registration: Many confuse "registration" with either a "state" or "central" licensed business. Your license will generally identify its type.

This section is important because many Google users do not use only "how to check status" but also “how to verify license number" and “how to confirm valid." The above checks provide an answer to those searches naturally.

Step-by-step: FSSAI registration status online for pending applications

Until your license is issued, you are not verifying but only tracking! There is a slightly different flow for tracking vs verifying.

Step 1: Log into the FSSAI FoSCoS Applications Portal and select “Track Application” from the menu.

This section is for people who have submitted an application to see if their application is progressing. As such, this is essentially what searching using the ‘FSSAI registration status online’ search term will pull up.

Step 2: Enter the details from your application reference.

You must enter exactly the same reference details as when you submitted the application. If you do not have your application reference details, you can find the details in the email/SMS that was sent to you when the application was submitted or in the saved acknowledgement you received.

Step 3: Check where your application is currently located in the process.

The FSSAI FoSCoS Applications website provides you with greater insight into whether you are waiting for a licence to be issued or whether you will need to provide any additional documents in order to finalise your application.

What do common status messages mean?

1. Receiving or Known Limitations: We received and completed your application.In the Processing Stage: The department will verify your information and submission.

2. Need More Information: Most of the time you will be able to correct one or two things you submitted wrong by providing the correct document or providing the correct answer for the information that was requested in your application.

3. Inspections (If Required): Some applications (the type of application determines) may require inspection.

4. Approved: Your license is approved and the certificate will be provided.

5. Declined: Your application is declined. The reason typically is included in the comments or notes of the application.

This section provides "real meaning" to someone performing a search based on seeing some of the status words from the portal. 

Also because people perform searches using that word after seeing them on the portal it provides a unique value relative to search ranking.

Step-by-step: FSSAI certificate status check and download

Many people searching for their FSSAI certificate status are looking for a PDF copy of the certificate, rather than just having the number verified.

1. Log in to FoSCoS: The certificate will usually be available on your FoSCoS dashboard if your license has been approved. Go to the 'issued' section and you should see the certificate available to download/view. 

2. Go to the 'issued' section: Within the 'issued' section, once you locate the record you will see the link to view/download the certificate.

3. Wait some time: Portal updates can sometimes take a while to actually show up on the portal. Re-login, do a refresh and check to see if the certificate is now showing. This is not a virus problem with your application, this is the nature of the portal. 

Customer-side check: How to verify a restaurant or brand?

This practice may also be performed by customers, especially individuals who purchase packaged foods. When you as a customer check this way, use the same ‘FBO Search’ method with your 14-digit code printed on the label or facility something that has been employed at the facility where food was purchased. 

If the business name & address do not match the printed or claimed name & address for the same business, this is a potential issue and you should proceed with caution.

Common problems and easy fixes

• No Records Found: Verify Digits; Only Type Manually Once; Do Not Copy with Spaces; When Typing Manually, Use Same Format.

• Portal is Slow: Refresh the Page, Change Your Browser or Wait to Check Back Later.

• Clarification Needed: See Remarks & Provide Updated Correct Document.

• Certificate Not Showing After Approval: Log out of Your Account, Log Back & Attempt to verify the certificate is issued.

Conclusion

Using the Internet to check your FSSAI license is a very simple habit that can prevent larger problems down the road. If you already have an existing FSSAI license number, the easiest option for checking your FSSAI license status is through FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System) and performing an FBO Search.

 If you are tracking your FSSAI application, the best way to track the status of your application would be to check FoSCoS and use the “Track Application” function. Once you receive approval, you can simply check your FSSAI certificate status online by looking up the FSSAI certificate status by FSSAI license number.