The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the autonomous regulator set up under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, functioning under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Any business that manufactures, processes, stores, distributes, sells or imports food in India must hold a valid FSSAI registration or licence before it starts operating — from a home-kitchen cloud brand to a large importer. Applications are filed and tracked on the FoSCoS portal (foscos.fssai.gov.in).
Which FSSAI approval you need
The category is decided by annual turnover, scale and the nature of the activity. The Licensing and Registration Amendment Regulations, 2026 raised the long-outdated turnover limits with effect from 1 April 2026:
| Type | Who it covers | Annual turnover |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Registration | Petty FBOs, small retailers, hawkers, home-based sellers | Up to ₹1.5 crore |
| State Licence | Mid-sized manufacturers, storage units, restaurants, distributors | ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore |
| Central Licence | Large units, importers/exporters, e-commerce, units at ports | Above ₹50 crore |
Some activities always need a Central Licence regardless of turnover, including imports, operations at seaports and airports, and businesses that span multiple states.
Reading the 14-digit FSSAI number
Every approval carries a 14-digit number that must be printed on packaging and displayed at the premises. Reading left to right: the 1st digit shows licence (1) or registration (2); the next 2 digits are the state code; the next 2 the year of enrolment; the next 3 the issuing authority; and the last 6 a unique permit number for the food business operator. A genuine number lets customers verify the food business on FoSCoS.
Perpetual validity replaces renewals
Historically an FSSAI licence was issued for 1–5 years and had to be renewed 30 days before expiry. The 2026 amendment scrapped that cycle: registrations and licences granted on or after 1 April 2026 now carry perpetual validity and do not expire. In its place, every food business operator must pay the annual fee on time — miss it and the licence is treated as deemed suspended until the dues and any late charge are cleared. Continued validity remains subject to compliance and risk-based inspections.
Staying compliant after you get the licence
- Display the licence: the FSSAI number and certificate must be visible at every premises and printed on labels.
- Annual return (Form D-1): manufacturers, importers and exporters file it on FoSCoS by 31 May for the previous financial year; late filing attracts ₹100 per day, capped at five times the annual licence fee.
- Food Safety Management System (FSMS): maintain documented hygiene, sanitation and a trained food-safety supervisor (FoSTaC).
- Traceability and recall: keep records that let any product be traced and recalled if found unsafe.
Common mistakes to avoid
Founders often trade under the wrong category — running a multi-state or import operation on a State Licence, or a fast-growing D2C brand still on a Basic Registration after crossing ₹1.5 crore. Others forget the annual fee now that renewals are gone and are caught by a deemed suspension, or skip Form D-1 entirely. Upgrade your category as soon as turnover or scope changes, and set a diary reminder for the annual fee and the 31 May return so a lapse never quietly suspends your licence.