Keeping an Eye on these Legal Requirements Could Ensure Success in your Organic Food-Related Business

Businesses related to organic food is being considered as new-age, which is both interesting and profitable at the same time. This is why the organic food industry is usually penetrated by unique business ideas coming directly from the minds of young entrepreneurs. Since staying healthy and fit is the new trend globally, the popularity and demand for organic food will boom in the upcoming time.

The organic food industry is emerging as a massive pool of opportunities that might hold great and fruitful results for budding entrepreneurs. Though being at a nascent stage, an early investment in this sector could help you grow as a renowned player in the near future.

However, starting a business in such a competitive environment is not an easy task, especially when it's about starting an organic food-related business. As an entrepreneur, you need to have proper and full knowledge about different organic food along with latest and emerging trends like how to grow them to meet demands.

Further, you need to acquire proper licenses as the segment is governed by Section 22 of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Any organic food-related business first needs to get registered, labeled, licensed, and certified before initiating with their product and services.

Incorporation

You need to finalise an exclusive name for your organic food-related business in order to incorporate the food business in India. After you are done with the brand’s name, it’s time to register the trademark for the business, which will prevent other people from copying your business idea, assuring you with a smooth and effective entrepreneurial journey.

Register your business as a private limited company, and a partnership firm. In fact, you could also run this business single-handedly. All you need to do is to register under UdyogAadhar through MSME Online Registration.

Certification is Mandatory

Before getting a green light for your business, you need to acquire an Indian Organic Certificate that can certify that all the products have been produced keeping the national standards for organic products in mind.

You further need to acquire a third-party certification by The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) for exporting organic products.

Permits and Licenses

The licenses and permits associated with the organic food industry are valid for 5 years. Business owners need to approach FSSAI for food licenses and permits. Also, owners need to apply for any state government license for operating their organic business followed by permission from health departments as well.

• FSSAI Registration License: Could be acquired if the turnover is less than 12 lakhs.
• FSSAI State License: Could be acquired if the turnover is more than 12 lakhs.
• FSSAI Central License: Could be acquired if the turnover is more than 20 crores.

Labeling

After getting done with the FSSAI license, you need to assure that the entire organic food-related products under your brand contain the Indian Organic Certificate. Soon after getting the license, FSSAI will provide you with a voluntary logo.

Mentioned below are some particulars that should be labeled in the packet according to the Food Safety and Standards Regulation 2011:

• Instructions to use the product
• Manufacturing and expiry dates
• Batch no./ Code no./ Lot no.
• Net quantity
• Details of manufacturer
• Food’s name, ingredients, and nutritional information