Food Safety Standard

Definition of Kind of Business

Manufacturing:

Food business operators manufacturing any article of food containing ingredients or substances or using technologies or processes or combination thereof whose safety has not been established through these regulations or which do not have a history of safe use or food containing ingredients which are being introduced for the first time into the country.(They need to apply for product approval at FSSAI(HQ) separately before applying for license).

Manufacturer means a person/entity who owns or operates an establishment that manufactures or process a food product. This term includes, but is not limited to contract manufacturers, contract packers and other entities that manufacture or process a food product.

In order to clarify the responsibilities of the entities engaged in different operations, the term manufacturer is defined and used separately from the terms relabeler & repacker.

Manufacturing or processing means each step in conversion of raw material derived from livestock and agricultural produce into products for intermediate or final consumption. The process includes procurement, receipt, preparation, manufacturing/processing, packaging, storage, distribution & transportation of food products.

Dairy processing means handling, processing, manufacturing, packing, storing, distribution & transportation of milk and milk products

Vegetable oil processing means processeing of vegetables to produce vegetable oils by the process of solvent extraction/expeller and refining including oil expeller units.

Slaughtering means a process of transporting, stunning, butchering, dressing, processing, storing & distribution of live animals/poultry birds.

Meat processing means further processing of slaughtered animals/poultry birds into meat & meat products, packaging, storing & transportation of meat & meat products.

Fish processing means handling, processing of fish, manufacturing of fish products, packing, storing, distribution & transportation of fish and fish products.

Repacking means packing of food product into different sizes with labelling after doing minimal processing as required like sorting, grading, sieving etc. from wholesale packages. The food product is not manipulated & the composition or formulation is not affected or changed.

Storage:

Storage is an activity where food products in packed or unpacked condition is stored for further distribution in storage facilities, also called warehouses, godowns etc..

Cold/refrigerated storage is an activity where refrigerated/frozen food products in packed or unpacked condition is stored for further distribution in refrigeration/freezing storage facilities.

Controlled Atmosphere storage is an activity where food products in packed or unpacked condition is stored for further distribution in controlled atmosphere storage facilities. A controlled atmosphere , generally used for storage of dry commodities & agricultural produce in which the concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen, as well as the temperature and humidity of a storage room are regulated.

Transport:

Transportation is an activity of transporting food products (both packed and bulk) from one location to another in vehicles/containers including specialized vehicles like insulated refrigerated van/ wagon, oil/milk tankers etc.

Trade:

Wholesale is an activity in the distribution channel where food product is procured in bulk and then sold to resellers/retailers rather than to consumers.

Distribution is an activity in the distribution channel where food product is distributed from the original place of manufacture to the person who makes the final delivery or sale of the food product to the ultimate consumer.

Supply is an activity in the distribution channel where food product is provided to the consumer as per the requirements raised by the consumer.

Marketing (self) means promoting food product of a brand in the market which is owned by the self.

Marketing (Third Party) means promoting food product of a brand in the market which is not owned by the self.

Retail:

Retail is an activity where food products is procured from a manufacturer, distributor or wholesaler and sold to the ultimate end user.

E-commerce:

E-commerce also known as electronic commerce or internet commerce, refers to the buying and selling of goods or services using the internet, and the transfer of money and data to execute these transactions. Ecommerce is often used to refer to the sale of physical products online, but it can also describe any kind of commercial transaction that is facilitated through the internet.

Food Service:

Food Vending Agencies-Sale of packaged/fresh food from a temporary or fixed stall/cart/ machine by an indivual or by automation.

Caterer-Food Service Establishment involved in preperation, storage, serving and /or transport of food for consumption of a group at a venue of ceremony/celebration/ritual/institution.

Dhaba-Food service establishment generally loacted near roadside/highway involved in processing, storing, packaging and selling of food to customers for consumption.

Boarding houses serving food-A building providing food and lodging for paying guest.

Banquet halls with food catering arrangements-A specified area such as hall which is used for the purpose of hosting parties/ceremonies involved in prepeartion and serving of food to customers for consumption.

Home Based Canteens/ Dabba Wallas-Dabba walas: An inividual or establishment involved in distribution of packed meals (usually packed lunch) from food service establishments such as home based caterer or restaurants to customers.

Permanent/ Temporary stall Holder-A stand/booth/compartment/small covered area being used for preparation and /or sale of freshly prepraed or packaged food for consumption. This structure maybe temporary or permanent (fixed).

Food stalls/ Arrangements in religious gatherings/ fairs etc-A stand/booth/compartment/small covered area being used for preperation and /or sale or distribution of of freshly prepraed or packaged food being offered as prasad in an religious institution

Club/ Canteen-Canteen or Cafeteria is a dining area in an institution/ establishment serving food (being prepared in the premises or procured from other location or source) to individuals associated with or visisting the instiution

Hotel-Hotel is a commercial establishment providing lodging, meals, and other guest services.

In general, to be called a hotel, an establishment must have a minimum of six letting bedrooms, at least three of which must have attached (ensuite) private bathroom facilities.

Restaurant-Restaurant is a type of food service operation which prepares, serves food and drinks to customers in exchange for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services, and some offer only take-out and delivery.

Hawker (Itinerant/ mobile food vendors)-Selling packaged or freshly prepared food by travelling (usually on foot or movable carts) from one location to other.

Petty retailer of snacks/ tea shops-Temporary or fixed stall or food premise involved in preperation, storage, distibution and sale of food products that can be served as a snacks/ tea/coffee and similar variants.

Food Catering/ Canteen Services in Central Govt. Agencies-Food Service Establishment involved in preperation and serving of food for consumption of a group of individuals working or visiting central government agencies.

Food Catering/ Canteen Services at airport/seaport-Food Service Establishment involved in preperation and serving of food for consumption of a group of individuals working or visiting offices at airports/seaports.

Food Catering/ Canteen Services at railways-Food Service Establishment involved in preperation and serving of food for consumption of a group of individuals working or visiting offices of railways.

Mid day meal – caterer-The Midday Meal Scheme is a school meal programme of the Government of India designed to better the nutritional standing of school-age children nationwide. The
programme supplies free lunches on working days for children in primary and upper primary classes in government, government aided, local body, Education Guarantee Scheme, and alternate innovative education centres, Madarsa and Maqtabs supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, and National Child Labour Project schools run by the ministry of labour. Caterer preparing and transporting food to institutions under Midday meal scheme.

Mid day meal – canteen-Canteens serving food under mid day meal scheme.

Food Service Operation:

The food service operation encompasses all of the activities and services involved in preparing and serving food to people eating away from home for an occasion or regular basis. This include restaurants, fast foods, institutional catering, food trucks, catering business, etc.
• Food operation can be carried out from a fixed premise where the food is prepared at a fixed premise and served there or transported/ delivered to a different venue for serving and consumption.
• Temporary premise includes market stall, food trucks, event caterers, etc. where premises are temporarily created for food preparation. Food Vending- Sale of packaged/fresh food from a temporary or fixed stall/cart/machine by an indivual or by automation. Street food vending is sale of ready-to-eat food or drink sold by a hawker, or vendor, in a street or other public place, such as at a market or fair. It is often sold from a
Includes:
1. Vendors selling raw/ semi prepared food for direct or indirect consumption
2. Vendors selling ready-to-eat food (packaged or un packaged food)
3. Vendors preparing food from raw ingredient for direct and immediate consumption