HOW TO FILE FSSAI ANNUAL RETURN: STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

INTRODUCTION

For all Food Business Operators (FBOs) licensed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), filing the FSSAI yearly return is a necessary compliance obligation. To avoid fines and preserve regulatory compliance, it is essential to timely file the FSSAI returns, Form D1 FSSAI for general food enterprises and Form D2 FSSAI for dairy businesses, regardless of whether you are engaged in the production, import, export, or handling of food items.

The FSSAI annual return filing procedure will be explained in this guide, along with particular instructions on how to fill FSSAI Form D1, what information must be recorded, and the dates which the FSSAI annual return is due date. Comprehending the detailed procedure will guarantee a seamless and precise filing of your returns, whether you’re submitting them online via the FoSCoS portal or offline by mail or email.

Do you need professional assistance? For complete compliance and peace of mind, TMWALA can assist you in precisely and promptly filing your FSSAI yearly filings.

After reading this article, you will understand all you need to know about  FSSAI annual return filing, including deadlines and data requirements to keep your company in compliance and avoid penalties.

TYPES OF FSSAI ANNUAL RETURN

Making sure all necessary information is correctly documented in Form D1, FSSAI is crucial when filing your FSSAI annual return. All Food Business Operators (FBOs) who manufacture, handle, import, or export food goods are required to fill out this form. A thorough explanation of the data that needs to be entered, while understanding how to fill outthe FSSAI Form D1, is provided below in case:

• FBO Name and Address: By the FSSAI license, clearly disclose the Food Business Operator’s full address and legal name.
• FSSAI Licence Number: Provide the 14-digit number that was assigned to your company. Make sure your licensing information is up to date and valid.
• Comprehensive Statement on Food Product Activity: During the fiscal year, you must provide a statement detailing the amounts of food products handled, produced, imported, and exported. This section ought to contain:

• Food Product Name: Enumerate every food item that your company has produced, handled, imported, or exported.
• Packaging Size: Indicate the dimensions and kind of each package, including bulk, can, bottle, and other packaging units.
• Quantity in Metric Tonnes: Indicate each product’s total quantity in metric tonnes.
• Monetary Value: Indicate the items’ worth for each item on the list, ideally in Indian Rupees (INR).
• Additional Information for Imports and Exports: Form D1 FSSAI must include the following extra information if your company imports or exports food products:

• Port or Importing/Exporting Country Name: Indicate the country engaged in the trade or the point of entrance or departure.
• Kilogram (kg) quantity: Indicate in clear terms how many kg of goods are being imported or exported.
• CIF/FOB rate per kilogram or unit of packing: Indicate the price per kilogram or unit of packing on a FOB (Free on Board) or CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) basis.
• Total Value: Indicate the entire trade value of the products that were imported or exported.

These specifics aid in guaranteeing food items’ traceability and transparency throughout the supply chain. To prevent inconsistencies, it’s crucial to consult your company’s records, sales invoices, import/export paperwork, and inventory logs know how to fill FSSAI Form D1. Since the data on Form D1 must match the information in your current FSSAI license, accuracy is crucial.

The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011 mandate that Food Business Operators (FBOs) engaged in the production, handling, or processing of milk and milk products file the half-yearly return Form D2 FSSAI. The following details provide you with a clear idea of how to fill Form D2 FSSAI if you’re preparing this return and want to know what information is required:

• FBO Name and Address: Exactly as stated in your FSSAI license, provide the food business’s entire legal name and registered address.
• Number of FSSAI Licence: Enter your current 14-digit FSSAI license number to guarantee proper identification and police tracking.
• Specifics of the Purchase of Milk: Complete details regarding the milk that was sourced throughout the reporting period are needed for this section:
  • Type of Milk (cow, buffalo, mixed, etc.).
  • Total Quantity Procured (in MT).
  • Total Fat Content (in MT).
  • Total SNF (Solids-Not-Fat) Content (in MT).
  • Price per Kg of Milk, along with specific fat and SNF percentages.
• Information Regarding Purchases of Milk Products: Provide the following information with every purchase of items made from milk:
  • The milk product’s name, such as cheese, butter, or cream.
  • Purchase Source (dairy or supplier).
  • The total amount bought.
  • Average Fat and SNF percentages.
  • The closing stock balance and the quantity used throughout the period.
• Reconstitution Information: The amounts and procedures used to reconstitute any milk productssuch as milk powder combined with water to create liquid milkmust be properly recorded.
• Milk Products Sold, Manufactured, and Stock Position: Provide details on:
• Sales, Production, and Stock Status of Milk Products: Give information about:
  • The quantity of each milk product produced.
  • The quantity that was sold.
  • Opening and closing holdings in stocks.
• Outsourcing Details: Indicate whether any portion of the processing of milk or its transformation into other products was contracted out to other dairy companies. Give specifics about those arrangements.
• Milk Marketing Information: Describe the marketing strategies used for milk, including distribution data and channels (retail, wholesale, direct to consumer, etc.).
• Manufacturing and Export declaration: Provide a thorough declaration that details.
  • The quantities of milk products produced and exported (in tons).
  • The half-yearly reporting period’s sale value

FBOs contribute to maintaining adherence to food safety regulations and guaranteeing data transparency throughout dairy operations by making sure these details are accurately filled out on Form D2 FSSAI. Avoiding inconsistencies and possible fines requires careful preparation of this return.

FSSAI ANNUAL RETURN FILING PROCEDURE

The FBOs can file the FSSAI returns, i.e. form D1 and D2 either online or offline. To file the FSSAI returns online, FBOs can log into the FoSCoS portal, fill out the respective form and submit them.

TMWALA provides expert help for submitting FSSAI yearly returns both online and offline. We guarantee that your forms are accurate and completed on time, regardless of whether you’re working with large volumes of data or intricate import/export records.

The following is the offline procedure for filing the annual returns:

• Download and print the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011 (the “Regulations”), including forms D1 and D2.
• Complete the form with your information.
• The food business owners can email or mail the completed form to the relevant food licensing authorities in their jurisdiction after filling it out.

The information included on FSSAI returns must be consistent with the information stated and supported by the FSSAI license. If there are any differences in the specifics, the FBOs should adjust the FSSAI license accordingly.

DUE DATE FOR FILING RETURNS

The deadline for filing Form D1 of the FSSAI annual return is May 31 of each financial year. Form D2 must be submitted by October 31 for April–September and by April 30 for October–March for dairy operations. Penalties are avoided and compliance is ensured by timely filing.

PENALTY FOR NON-COMPLIANCE

According to the Regulations, when FBOs do not file the FSSAI returns within the prescribed due date, a fine of Rs. 100 will be imposed on them every day the default continues, starting from the next day of the due date.

CONCLUSION

In addition to being required by law, FSSAI annual return filing on time and accurately is essential to preserving openness and confidence in the operations of your food business. FBOs may make sure they adhere to compliance requirements and stay out of needless trouble by being aware of the FSSAI annual return filing procedure. It’s critical to remain up to date on the appropriate data to report and the FSSAI annual return due date for each form, whether you’re filing Form D1 FSSAI annually for general food enterprises or Form D2 FSSAI half-yearly for dairy operations.

You have been guided through the entire process by this guide, which includes information on how to fill FSSAI Form D1, paperwork requirements, and online and offline filing alternatives. In addition to safeguarding your license, adhering to FSSAI annual return standards enhances your company’s reputation over time.

Always verify your entries, make sure they match the information on your FSSAI license, and FSSAI annual return filing on time.

Let TMWALA take care of your FSSAI filings from beginning to end. Your company remains audit-ready all year long with professional assistance, prompt notifications, and documentation supported by compliance.