Regulation 15 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Regulation 15 gives a Food Importer a review route against three kinds of order by the Authorised Officer. The application goes to the Review Officer in Form 6 within fifteen working days, the Review Officer decides within ten working days of the filing and the Authorised Officer's reply, and a second appeal lies to the Chief Executive Officer within fifteen days of the review order.
This article reads the text as amended up to 27 October 2025 (FSSAI Compendium Version VII dated 06.11.2025). FSSAI compendia are reference consolidations and the Gazette text prevails. Later notifications should be checked on fssai.gov.in.
A Food Importer aggrieved by an order rejecting clearance for non-compliance with regulation 6, an order to rectify labelling, or an order of rejection on a non-conformance report may file a review application in Form 6 to the Review Officer. The application is presented within fifteen working days from the date of receipt of the report of rejection, the Review Officer may admit it after that period for an extended period of seven working days for sufficient cause, and the Review Officer disposes of it within ten working days, after which a second appeal lies to the CEO of FSSAI within fifteen days of receipt of the review order. Importers and Custom House Agents are affected. For help with a rejection see FSSAI notice reply support.
Reviewable orders: 15(1)
Any Food Importer aggrieved by one or more of the following orders of the Authorised Officer may file a review application to the Review Officer:
- (a) rejecting clearance of the imported food for non-compliance with the conditions in regulation 6;
- (b) any order directing the Food Importer to rectify the labelling of the food; and
- (c) an order of rejection issued on receipt of a non-conformance report from the Food Analyst.
"Review Officer" is defined in regulation 2 as an officer authorised by the CEO of the Food Authority for review of the Authorised Officer's orders. The labelling orders in (a) and (b) arise from the sticker procedure described in our article on regulation 6. Clause (c) follows the analysis in regulation 10.
Filing: 15(2)
| Clause | Rule as printed |
|---|---|
| (a) | the review application shall be in Form 6 and accompanied by such fee as may be specified by the Food Authority from time to time |
| (b) | it shall be presented to the Review Officer with the required documents within fifteen working days from the date of receipt of the report of rejection |
| (c) | the Review Officer may admit it after the expiry of that period for an extended period of seven working days, if satisfied the importer had sufficient cause for not presenting it within the period |
No fee amount is printed and none is stated here. The "review application fee" is defined in regulation 2 as the fee levied by the food authority for disposing of a review application.
The review: 15(3)
| Clause | Rule as printed (summary) |
|---|---|
| (a) | the Review Officer considers the facts and disposes of the application in accordance with the Act, rules and regulations and the Authority's orders or notifications |
| (b) | on receipt of the completed application with all documents, the Review Officer may, if he deems fit, fix the date, time and venue of a hearing |
| (c) | the Food Importer, in person or by a representative, and the Authorised Officer, in person or through a representative, have the right to be heard |
| (d) | if either fails to appear, the Review Officer may proceed to decide on merits |
| (e) | the Review Officer shall dispose of the application within a period of ten working days after the filing and the reply of the Authorised Officer; a proviso allows further evidence or material and forwarding a part of the sample to the referral laboratory |
| (f) | before disposing, he may make further enquiry or direct the Authorised Officer to make it and report |
| (g) | at the hearing he may go into any ground not specified in the grounds for review, if satisfied the omission was not wilful or unreasonable |
| (h) | the order shall be in writing and state the points for determination, the decision and the reasons |
| (i) | on disposal, the order is communicated to the importer, customs and the Authorised Officer |
| (j) | the importer may file a second appeal against the review order to the CEO of FSSAI within fifteen days from the date on which the review order is received |
The words "within a period of ten working days" in clause (e) carry footnote 2 (the notification of 20 October 2020). The compendium's wording sets the ten working days from "after filing of the review application ... and the reply of the Authorised Officer thereof".
Re-testing on review
Clause (e)'s proviso lets the Review Officer allow further evidence and forward a part of the sample to the referral laboratory. The Authorised Officer stores remaining sample parts for re-analysis on appeal under regulation 13(2)(t). The importer's separate appeal against a notified laboratory result, within fifteen days of the non-conformance report, is under regulation 10(6) and is a different step from this review.
The timeline from printed periods
| Step | Period as printed |
|---|---|
| Review application to the Review Officer | within fifteen working days from receipt of the report of rejection |
| Late admission | an extended period of seven working days, for sufficient cause |
| Disposal by the Review Officer | within ten working days after the filing and the Authorised Officer's reply |
| Second appeal to the CEO | within fifteen days from receipt of the review order |
An invented example: Coastal Gourmet's imported cheese is rejected because of a labelling non-compliance. It files Form 6 with the required documents within fifteen working days of receiving the report of rejection, with the fee the Food Authority specifies. If it misses the date by a short margin and has sufficient cause, the Review Officer may admit the application for an extended period of seven working days. If it loses, it may file a second appeal to the CEO within fifteen days of receiving the review order.
Where this fits
The orders under review come from regulation 14, covered in our article on the NOC and the non-conformance report. The Act's penalty for contravention in import is in section 67 of the FSS Act. What happens to a rejected consignment follows in our article on rejected, uncleared and unclaimed food. For a general overview of import clearance see importing food into India: FSSAI requirements.
Need help with an import rejection?
The review route has short, fixed periods, and a late or incomplete Form 6 can lose the consignment. Our FSSAI notice reply service helps importers prepare the review application and the documents behind it within the printed periods.
Key takeaways
- Three kinds of order can be reviewed: rejection for regulation 6 non-compliance, a labelling rectification order and a rejection on a non-conformance report.
- Form 6 goes to the Review Officer within fifteen working days of receipt of the report of rejection, with the fee the Food Authority specifies.
- A late application may be admitted for an extended period of seven working days for sufficient cause.
- The Review Officer disposes of the application within ten working days after the filing and the reply.
- A second appeal lies to the CEO within fifteen days of the review order.
Read next
- Regulations 13 and 14: authorised officers and the no objection certificate
- Regulations 16 and 17: rejected, uncleared and unclaimed food
- Section 67, FSS Act: penalty for contravention in import of food
- Importing food into India: FSSAI requirements
Disclaimer: Based on the FSSAI regulations named above as consolidated in FSSAI's compendium versions or as published in the Gazette, with the later notifications the article names (consulted on fssai.gov.in on 2-3 October 2026). Later notifications and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 provisions referred to should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.