What is the difference between FPO & FSSAI?

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What is the difference between FPO & FSSAI?

India is the homeland for various cultures. Each culture has its own unique cuisine with some mouthwatering dishes. South India is famous for its idli sambar, while North India is famous for its parathas with pickles. The Indian food market is enormous, and due to this, it becomes necessary to have rules and regulations for this market. 

The food that is enjoyed and loved by the masses has to be safe for consumption. To ensure the same, the Government of India has made it an obligation for the businesses dealing in food to supply and serve only the food which is safe and does not cause any harm to the general public upon consumption.

Now, the question is ‘How does the Government of India ensure that the food consumed by the general public is safe?’. To ensure this, the Government of India has taken initiatives to prevent any harmful food products from being traded in the food market. FSSAI and FPO are two such initiatives. 

In this article, we will discuss the difference between FPO and FSSAI.

What are FPO and FSSAI?

FSSAI is short for ‘Food Safety and Standards Association of India’. It is an autonomous statutory body which is responsible for maintaining the food safety and standards in India. FSSAI is administered by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. FSSAI functions as per the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006. FSSAI regulates the manufacture, storage, sale, distribution and import of food products and establishes standards for ensuring food safety.

FPO is short for Fruit Products Order (FPO). The Fruit Products Order, 1955 was promulgated under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. FPO mark is applied to the fruit products which are sold in India. FPO mark is a mandatory certification mark which has to be applied to all the processed fruits products sold in India, including pickles, fruit syrups, squashes, fruit jams and dehydrated fruits products. The FPO mark was followed by the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006. This mark is issued by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, which is an authority for developing safety hygiene standards. This mark is issued to the processed food manufacturers and ensures that their food products are manufactured in an environment which is hygienic and safe for food.

What is the distinction between FSSAI AND FPO?

FSSAI AND FPO both have the same goal i.e. to ensure food safety and hygiene. But what are the differences between the two of them? Let’s find out with the help of the table given below:

Scope of Regulation of FPO & FSSAI

The scope of regulation in regards to FPO is limited to the fruit-based products only. FPO ensures the quality and safety of such products. FPO focuses on the manufacturing, packaging, labeling and storage processes which are specifically concerned with the fruit-based products.

As opposed to FPO, FSSAI covers a wide range of food products which includes dairy, meat, vegetables, beverages, pulses, grains and more. FSSAI sets regulations for the whole food supply chain in the country and covers and controls the foods’ hygiene, labeling, packaging, additives, contaminations and nutritional standards.

Who requires FSSAI Certification/FPO Mark?

FSSAI issues three different types of certificates based on the annual turnover of businesses. These are the 3 FSSAI certificate types:

• Basic registration: For businesses with turnover less Rs. 12 Lakh
• State FSSAI License: For businesses with turnover between Rs. 12 Lakh to ₹20 Crore.
• Central FSSAI License: For businesses with turnover more than Rs. 20 Crore.

The FSSAI certification is required to be obtained by the businesses mentioned below:

• Wholesalers/ traders
• Food products transporters
• Food storage units
• All kinds of food producers
• Importers or Exporters of food products
• Online FBOs (Food Business Operators)
• Raw food materials suppliers
• Food products distributors.

The FPO mark is necessary to be obtained by the manufacturers that deal in the manufacturing of the following products:

• Synthetic beverages, syrups and sharbat
• Vinegar whether brewed or Synthetic
• Pickles
• Dehydrated fruits and vegetables
• Squashes, barley water, barrelled juice, fruit crushes, cordials, and any other beverage which contains fruit juice/pulp/nectar
• Jam
• Jellies
• Marmalades
• Tomato products, ketchup and sauces
• Preserved, candied and crystallized fruits and peels
• Chutneys
• Canned and bottled fruits, juices, pulps and vegetables
• Frozen Fruit and vegetables 
• Sweetened sparkling water with or without fruit juices and pulp
• Fruit cereal Flakes
• Any other item of fruit and vegetables which is not specified here

Certification for FPO and FSSAI

The FPO mark certification is issued by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, which develops the food safety and hygiene standards to be followed at the time of food processing. The FPO mark certification is required for the manufacturers involved in the manufacture of fruit-based products. To apply for this certification, the manufacturer has to submit Form-A to the Ministry.

The FSSAI certification is required for the food businesses and the certificates are provided to such businesses based on their scale of operation. FSSAI License helps to ensure that the businesses are in compliance with the food safety standards and quality regulations set by FSSAI. The food business operators can obtain FSSAI certification by filling FSSAI registration form i.e., Form A for application for Basic Registration or Form B for application for State and Central License and submit it on the FoSCoS portal of FSSAI, under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Conclusion

FPO and FSSAI are both important initiatives taken by the Government of India for ensuring food safety and quality. While FPO only deals with the food-based manufactured products, FSSAI deals with the entire food industry and regulates the manufacturing, storage, distribution, sale, etc. of meat, dairy, fruits, grains, vegetables and so on. Understanding the distinction between FPO and FSSAI is really important for the businesses in the Indian food market to ensure their compliance with the appropriate standards and regulations and obtain the necessary licenses for their businesses.

Businesses who have FSSAI certificate or FPO mark are considered to have safe and healthy products due to which they gain consumer trust. Need assistance in obtaining an FPO mark or FSSAI certificate for your business? Get in touch with the Registrationwala team now, for a smooth and hassle-free process.

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