Overview
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued an important update regarding the Food Import Clearance System (FICS), introducing flexibility in the timing of fee payment for imported food consignments.
This change is aimed at streamlining the import clearance process, reducing delays, and improving ease of doing business.
Regulatory Background
Food imports in India are governed under the following:
- Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
- Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017
As per Regulation 5(2)(b):
- Importers are required to pay fees for
- Document scrutiny
- Visual inspection
- Drawing of samples
Additionally:
- FSSAI Order dated 19 January 2023 prescribes testing fees for import samples
Earlier Process Before Update
Under the existing FICS workflow:
- Application scrutiny is completed by the Authorized Officer
- A payment link is generated
- Fee payment was mandatory before
- Visual inspection
- Sample collection
This resulted in:
- Delays in inspection
- Increased dwell time at ports
Key Change Introduced by FSSAI
FSSAI has introduced flexibility in fee payment timing under SWIFT and FICS.
What has changed
- Importers can now
- Pay fees after visual inspection
- Pay before final clearance decision
Final clearance includes
- P-NOC
- NOC
- NCR
Important point:
- Final clearance will be issued only after payment of all applicable fees
Benefits of This Update
This procedural change is expected to:
- Reduce delays in inspection and sampling
- Enable parallel processing of activities
- Lower dwell time for imported consignments
- Improve operational efficiency
- Enhance ease of doing business
Official FSSAI Notice
You can access the official notification here:
Click here for extended information
This update clarifies that inspection and payment processes can now run simultaneously, improving overall clearance timelines
How This Impacts Importers
This update is relevant for:
- Food importers
- Customs Brokers
- CHA and logistics service providers
- Compliance teams
Businesses can now optimize cash flow and speed up clearance timelines.
Need Help with FSSAI Import Compliance
If you are dealing with FSSAI import clearance, documentation, or regulatory approvals, our experts can assist you.
Review the Import Services for FSSAI products and Nutraceutical & Supplement Import Services in India
Contact Regacats Solutions
Email contact@regacats.in
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About Regacats Solutions
Regacats Solutions is an India-based regulatory consulting firm specializing in CDSCO cosmetic import licensing, medical device import registration, and FSSAI regulatory compliance. With extensive experience supporting Indian importers and global cosmetic brands, we assist with COS-1 and COS-2 registration, labeling compliance, Legal Metrology requirements, and post-approval regulatory obligations. Our team focuses on India-specific compliance frameworks to ensure faster approvals, accurate documentation, and long-term regulatory compliance.
Content Reviewed by
Regulatory Experts at Regacats Solutions
Specialists in CDSCO cosmetic import licensing, Legal Metrology compliance, EPR authorization, medical device import registration, and FSSAI regulatory consulting in India.
Conclusion
The latest FSSAI update on fee payment flexibility under FICS is a positive step toward faster and more efficient import clearance.
By allowing fee payment after visual inspection but before final clearance, FSSAI has reduced bottlenecks and enabled smoother processing of imported food consignments.
Businesses involved in food imports should take note of this change and align their compliance processes accordingly.
To understand how these changes apply to your products and to ensure full compliance, explore our FSSAI Regulatory Services for food, Nutraceuticals & Dietary Supplements and get expert support tailored to your business needs.
