The short answer
FSSAI regulates food safety: it sets food standards and licenses or registers food businesses. BIS is the national standards body: it certifies products against Indian Standards, and certification is compulsory for some products, including packaged drinking water and natural mineral water. Most food and beverage manufacturers deal with FSSAI. Makers of BIS-notified products deal with both.
Key takeaways
- FSSAI licenses or registers the food business; BIS certifies the product against a standard.
- Most manufacturers need FSSAI; BIS certification is needed only for notified products.
- Packaged drinking water and natural mineral water need both.
- Pre-packaged goods also have to meet Legal Metrology requirements for their labels.
Two bodies, two different jobs
Manufacturers often hear "FSSAI and BIS" together and assume they are two versions of the same approval. They are not. One looks at your business and the safety of your food. The other looks at whether a specific product meets a published standard.
What FSSAI covers
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the national food safety regulator. It sets standards for food products, lays down rules on hygiene, labelling and additives, and registers or licenses food businesses.
Almost every food business, from a small unit to a large manufacturer, needs an FSSAI registration or licence. Which one depends on the size and nature of the business. The licence or registration number then appears on your labels.
What BIS covers
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is India's national standards body. It publishes Indian Standards and runs product certification, which allows a product that meets its standard to carry the standard mark.
For most products, BIS certification is voluntary. For products the government has notified, it is compulsory, and they cannot be sold without it. Packaged drinking water and natural mineral water are among them.
Certification involves an application, an assessment of the factory and its testing facilities, and testing of product samples. Once certified, the manufacturer has to keep up the testing and quality controls the certification requires.
Side by side
| FSSAI | BIS | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | National food safety regulator | National standards body |
| What it looks at | The food business and the safety of its food | Whether a product meets a published Indian Standard |
| Who needs it | Almost every food business | Makers of products where certification is compulsory, and those who choose it |
| What you get | A registration or licence for the business | Certification for the product and the right to use the standard mark |
| Ongoing duties | Hygiene, labelling and product standards, renewals and inspections | Testing, quality control and surveillance to keep the certification |
When both apply
For packaged drinking water and natural mineral water, both apply. The business needs FSSAI licensing, and the product needs BIS certification. In practice, the two processes have to be planned together, because both depend on a plant, laboratory and documentation that are ready for inspection.
Do not forget Legal Metrology
Pre-packaged products must also meet Legal Metrology requirements. These cover the declarations on the pack, such as net quantity, maximum retail price and manufacturer details, and the registration that packers and manufacturers may need. Getting them wrong can mean relabelling stock that is already printed.
How compliance shapes the plant
Compliance reaches well beyond the paperwork. It affects:
- the layout, with hygienic zones and controlled movement of people and materials;
- the QC laboratory, its equipment and its staff;
- raw material and finished product specifications;
- the label, its declarations and its artwork; and
- the records your team keeps every day.
FOBICA provides expert advice and coordination support. Licences, registrations and certifications are granted by the relevant authorities at their discretion.
Please note: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. Regulations and standards change; please verify current requirements with the relevant authority or speak to our team for guidance specific to your project.
