General Business Terms

These General Business Terms govern the professional relationship between Food Safety Works and clients who engage our consulting, regulatory, auditing, training, and technology services. By signing an engagement letter, service order, or proposal, or by making payment for any service, you agree to be bound by these terms.

1. Definitions

• Client: the individual, company, or entity engaging Food Safety Works for services.
• Services: the consulting, regulatory compliance, auditing, training, product development, and/or SaaS services agreed between the parties.
• Engagement Letter / Proposal: the document that specifies the scope, fees, and timelines of a specific project.
• Deliverables: any reports, documentation, certificates of completion, or other outputs produced by Food Safety Works as part of the Services.

2. Scope of Services

The scope, timeline, and deliverables for each engagement are defined in the Engagement Letter or Proposal accepted by the Client. Any changes to the agreed scope must be documented in a written change request and may result in revised fees and timelines. Food Safety Works will not be held responsible for delays caused by changes in regulatory requirements, delayed client inputs, or circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

3. Client Obligations

The Client agrees to:

• Provide accurate, complete, and timely information, access, and cooperation necessary for the delivery of Services
• Designate a key point of contact for each engagement
• Review and provide feedback on drafts and deliverables within agreed timelines
• Ensure that all internal stakeholders are available and cooperative as required

Delays arising from the Client’s failure to meet these obligations will not be attributed to Food Safety Works and may result in revised timelines or additional charges.

4. Fees and Payment

4.1 Fee Structure

Fees are as specified in the Engagement Letter or Proposal. Fees may be structured as fixed project fees, monthly retainers, per-session charges (for training), or subscription fees.

4.2 Invoicing and Payment

Invoices are raised as per the payment schedule agreed in the Engagement Letter. Payment is due within 15 days of the invoice date unless otherwise agreed in writing. Payments are to be made by bank transfer, UPI, or such other method as agreed.

4.3 Late Payment

Food Safety Works reserves the right to charge interest on overdue amounts at 18% per annum (calculated daily) from the due date until actual payment. We also reserve the right to suspend Services in the event of non-payment exceeding 30 days, without liability to the Client.

4.4 Taxes

All fees are exclusive of applicable Goods and Services Tax (GST) and any other statutory levies, which shall be charged additionally at prevailing rates. GST invoices will be issued as required under the CGST Act, 2017 and applicable state laws.

5. Regulatory Services — Important Note

Where Food Safety Works assists with FSSAI licensing, registrations, label approvals, or other regulatory filings, our role is that of a consultant and liaison. Approval authority rests solely with the relevant regulatory body (FSSAI, FoSCoS, or other authorities). Food Safety Works does not guarantee regulatory outcomes, timelines, or approvals. We will use our best professional efforts to prepare accurate and complete submissions.

6. Confidentiality

Each party agrees to keep confidential all proprietary or sensitive information received from the other party in connection with the engagement. This includes business data, formulations, operational processes, client lists, and regulatory documents. Confidentiality obligations survive the termination of the engagement for a period of three (3) years.

Food Safety Works may reference the Client’s name and nature of engagement (without disclosing confidential details) for the purpose of business development and case studies, unless the Client requests otherwise in writing.

7. Intellectual Property

All methodologies, frameworks, tools, templates, and internal processes used or developed by Food Safety Works remain the sole intellectual property of Food Safety Works, even if customised for a specific client engagement.

Deliverables prepared specifically for the Client (such as FSMS documentation, SOPs, and audit reports) become the property of the Client upon full payment of applicable fees. The Client may not resell or commercialise such deliverables without our written consent.

8. Limitation of Liability

Food Safety Works’ total liability to the Client for any claim shall not exceed the total fees paid by the Client for the specific engagement giving rise to the claim, in the twelve months preceding the claim.

Food Safety Works shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, or punitive loss including loss of profits, loss of data, regulatory penalties, or business interruption, even if advised of the possibility of such losses.

9. Termination

Either party may terminate an engagement by providing thirty (30) days’ written notice. Upon termination:

• The Client shall pay for all Services rendered and expenses incurred up to the effective date of termination
• Food Safety Works will deliver all work-in-progress deliverables completed up to the termination date
• Any confidentiality and intellectual property obligations will continue to apply

Food Safety Works may terminate immediately and without notice in the event of material breach by the Client, including non-payment exceeding 60 days.

10. Force Majeure

Neither party shall be in breach of these terms for any failure or delay in performance caused by circumstances beyond reasonable control, including acts of God, government restrictions, pandemic-related disruptions, or failure of third-party services.

11. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These General Business Terms are governed by the laws of India. In the event of any dispute, the parties will first attempt to resolve the matter through good faith negotiations within 30 days. If unresolved, disputes shall be referred to arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, with the seat of arbitration in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

12. Amendments

Food Safety Works may update these General Business Terms from time to time. The terms applicable to a specific engagement are those in force at the time of signing the Engagement Letter.