**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3436, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare clarifies the licensing requirements for manufacturing soft drinks in India. The government mandates that all Food Business Operators (FBOs) involved in the soft drink supply chain must obtain a license or registration certificate as per the Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR) before commencing operations. No entity is permitted to operate without a valid license or registration. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is responsible for licensing and registering FBOs that manufacture food products, including soft drinks. FSSAI has established standards for various beverages, including Carbonated Fruit Beverages or Fruit Drinks, Carbonated Water, Caffeinated Beverages, and Non-carbonated Water-Based Beverages (Non-Alcoholic), as outlined in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. These standardized products are categorized within the Food Safety and Compliance System (FoSCoS) portal for licensing and registration purposes.
Key Entities Referenced
MINISTRYOFHEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE: A ministry within the Government of India responsible for health and family welfare policies and programs.
LOK SABHA: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
DR. THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOLKAPPIYAN: A member of the Lok Sabha who posed a question regarding licenses for manufacturing soft drinks.
SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV: The Minister of State in the MINISTRYOFHEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE who provided the answer to the question.
Food Safety and Standards Regulation (FSSR): Regulations related to food safety and standards that Food business operator (FBO) must adhere to in India.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): An authority in India responsible for setting standards and regulating food safety.
Food Safety and Standards Food Products Standards and Food Additives Regulation, 2011: A specific regulation by FSSAI that specifies standards for various beverages.
Food Safety and Compliance System (FoSCoS portal): A portal used for licensing and registration purposes related to food safety and standards.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE
LOKSABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTIONNO.3436
TOBEANSWEREDON8TH AUGUST, 2025
LICENSEFORMANUFACTURINGOFSOFTDRINKS
3436.DR. THIRUMAAVALAVANTHOLKAPPIYAN:
Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a)whether license isgranted bythe Government for the manufactureof soft drinks;
(b) if so, the detailsof drinksclassified assoft drinks;
(c)whether separate licence isgrantedfor the manufacture of Aeratedwater; and
(d) if so, the detailsof waters classified asAeratedwaters?
ANSWER
THEMINISTEROFSTATEINTHEMINISTRYOFHEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a)to (d): Foodbusiness operator (FBO)across the supply chain are requiredto obtainlicense
or registration certificate, as per the eligibility criteria under the Food Safety and Standards
Regulation (FSSR) before commencing any food business. No person can operate without
holdinga validlicense/ Registration certificate.
FBOs manufacturing food products including soft drinks have to be
licensed/registered under Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). FSSAI has
specified standards for variousbeveragessuch asCarbonatedFruit BeveragesorFruitDrinks,
Carbonated Water, Caffeinated Beverage, Non-carbonated Water Based Beverages (Non-
Alcoholic) etc. under Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food
Additives) Regulation, 2011. All these standardized products are mapped accordingly with
the relevantfood categoryunderFoodSafetyandCompliance System(FoSCoS)portal which
isused for licensing andregistration purpose.
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