India is a populous and vast country where people often travel to different cities, areas for education, employment, and other reasons. But when it comes down to meals, most Indians prefer homemade food. In these cases, tiffin services come to their rescue.

Tiffin service is where home-like food is provided to the customers at often affordable prices. Due to the fast pace of life, students and working people usually prefer tiffin services as it is a convenient and healthier option. 

For this reason, the tiffin services business is on a considerable rise. It is a very customer-friendly option for those who can’t/ don’t have time to cook meals at their homes.

Need for a License in Tiffin Services 

Earlier, these tiffin services were run by local ladies unorganized due to a lack of clear directions. But, now, the business is gaining momentum, and many educated young professionals are joining the industry. There are numerous tiffin services available pan India. 

Working on a large scale or a smaller scale, every food business must obtain a mandatory license from the FSSAI ( Food Safety and Standards Authority of India). The FSSAI Act under which the authority is formed has mandated all the businesses involved in either manufacturing, selling, storage, distribution to acquire a State or Central FSSAI License depending upon the eligibility criteria for each type of license.

Tiffin services provide food to the customers daily, and thus, making sure that the food is safe and of standard quality is crucial. Obtaining a license will help the FSSAI^[1] check the quality of food being served to the consumers. A permit will also be beneficial for the business owner to avoid any penalty or punishment. 

Therefore, a license from FSSAI is needed for a tiffin service in India.

Types of Licenses required for Tiffin Services

There are various types of licenses mandatory for tiffin services depending upon the place of business pan India. Following are the six types of license required by a tiffin service :

1. FSSAI license
2. Trade license
3. License from the police department
4.  Society’s No objection certificate
5.  Fire No objection Certificate
6. Shop and Establishment license

Apart from this license, a license from the food and health department of the area where the business is operating is mandatory. The business must contact the local authorities to get accurate area/state-specific information about licenses as are necessary for establishing a tiffin service business.

Documents required for a License for Tiffin Services

Following are the documents required by  tiffin services to register their business under FSSAI: 

● Certificate of incorporation of the business.

● List of manufacturing equipment and machinery in the processing units and food production.

● Form B signed, and self-attested blueprint or layout of the processing unit

● List of directors or owners of the business.

● Residential proof of all the members/directors of the business.

●Contact details of all the members/directors of the business.

● Proof of place of business in the form of rent agreement/ electricity bill

● Detailed report of food safety techniques undertaken by the business.

● No objection certificate from Municipal bodies and other authorities as may be required.

● List of food items being served

● List of surveyors appointed for sample testing

● Lab report of the raw materials to be used in the product.

● Government-issued certificates

● Any other document may be prescribed by the registering officer.

Registration Procedure for Tiffin Services 

Following are the steps required for the establishment of a tiffin service in India:

Step1: Submit an application for registration 

Step 2: Obtain a unique application reference number.

Step 3: The registrar investigates the application. Based on the investigation, the registrar accepts or rejects the application and records reasons for it.

Step 4: After investigation, a notice of inspection is given to the Food Business operators

Step 5: The inspection takes place by the registrar.

Step 6: If no faults are found upon inspection, the license is issued, and the business is free to operate within India.

Starting a Tiffin Service in India

Some basic steps need to be followed by any business, including tiffin services, to start a business. They are as follows:

Step 1: Good market research: A good research of the market where the business is to take place, and the targeted audience is an excellent start. 

Step 2: Create a menu/ service list: This step will clarify the business owners. According to the research, a menu of items should be created to fulfil the requirements of the targeted customers. An inclusive menu should be made as per the majority of customers’ needs and preferences. 

Step 3: Planning of business: Planning a business includes management of staff, marketing plans, a list of items, a vision board of the company, selection of preferable locations etc.

Step 4: Marketing: In today’s world of media, marketing strategy is very important. Businesses use various methods like influencer marketing, advertising to increase the visibility of their business.

Step 5: The business is ready for operation in the market.

Rules by FSSAI applicable on Tiffin Services in India

Following are some of the rules necessary for every tiffin service business to comply with:

• The Registrar will inspect the working units once every year.

• Every food business, significantly, small business should register its business by applying along with Form A and the fees as prescribed for such application.

• A self-attested declaration regarding the basic hygiene and safety measures taken in the premises is to be provided.

• The Registering Officer shall accept or reject the application and give a recorded reason in writing.

• Upon acceptance of the application, a registration certificate is published by the registrar.

• Such a certificate has to be displayed on the premises of the central business unit.

Conclusion

It is a well-established fact that people value health and safety very much. They need home-like food as they stay away from their homes. So,  tiffin services, which provide food to them daily, should obtain an FSSAI license to ensure that safe and healthy food is being served to the consumers.

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