FSSAI warns FBOs furnishing false information will attract penalty

It said licensing authorities which includes States must verify the credibility of the information filed in the return and take necessary action if discrepancies are found
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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has warned food business operators (FBOs) that furnishing false or misleading information in annual returns will attract penalty. It said licensing authorities which includes States must verify the credibility of the information filed in the return and take necessary action if discrepancies are found.

From the perspective of the food safety compliance, the annual returns filed by food business operators are critical in capturing key information about them holding FSSAI licenses including mandatory production information.

In its latest advisory, the Food Safety Authority noted that in December, 2020 it had mandated the filing of annual returns from FY21 onwards exclusively through the online FoSCoS portal (Food Safety Compliance System)/

“Since then, the submission rate has significantly improved. These returns capture key information, including mandatory production details and currently non-mandatory compliance-related data. To verify the credibility of the information, all licensing authorities must scrutinise the annual returns submitted by eligible FBOs under their respective jurisdictions,” the advisory added.

“Further, in case of detection of any discrepancies, inconsistencies, or false declarations upon scrutiny, necessary actions shall be initiated as per the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and applicable regulations,” the advisory noted.

The FSSAI noted that a provision has also been introduced on the portal enabling food business operators to revise and update information submitted in annual returns if they want to rectify inadvertent mistakes.

“It is further reiterated that furnishing false or misleading information shall attract penalty under Section 61 of the FSS Act, 2006, therefore, timely correction of errors is essential to avoid penal action,” the advisory added.

“All FBOs eligible for filing annual return are hereby reminded that submission of accurate and complete information in the annual return is mandatory,” the advisory stressed.

“In cases where any correction or update is required, FBOs are advised to avail the revision/update facility at the earliest as per the timelines and fee structure prescribed in the said order,” FSSAI’s advisory added.

Published on July 12, 2025