What is FSSAI and Why Does It Matter?
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the apex statutory body responsible for regulating and supervising food safety across India. Established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act), FSSAI functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Its mandate is to protect public health by ensuring that food manufactured, processed, distributed or sold in India meets prescribed safety and quality standards.
Every food business operator (FBO) in India — from a street-side tea stall to a large food manufacturer with pan-India distribution — must obtain either an FSSAI registration or an FSSAI licence before commencing operations. Running a food business without a valid FSSAI credential is a punishable offence under the FSS Act, attracting imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh.
Once granted, the unique 14-digit FSSAI licence or registration number must be prominently displayed at the place of business and printed on all food product labels, menus, packaging and delivery vehicles. This number is a consumer's assurance that the food has been manufactured, handled or sold under regulated conditions.
What Changed in 2026
The food licensing landscape was overhauled this year. The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026 were notified in the Gazette of India on 10 March 2026, with revised turnover thresholds taking effect from 1 April 2026. Two changes matter most for any FBO:
- Higher turnover tiers. The Basic Registration ceiling jumped from Rs 12 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore, and the Central Licence trigger rose from Rs 20 crore to Rs 50 crore. A large number of small eateries, home kitchens and street vendors now qualify for the simpler, cheaper Basic Registration.
- Perpetual validity. The old system of choosing a 1–5 year term and renewing before expiry has been abolished. Licences and registrations are now valid indefinitely unless suspended, cancelled or surrendered. In its place, FBOs must pay an annual fee and file applicable returns every year; default leads to automatic deemed suspension.
The Three Tiers: Basic, State and Central
FSSAI does not apply a single credential to all food businesses. The type of registration or licence required depends on the scale and nature of the business, determined primarily by annual turnover and daily production capacity.
Basic Registration (Form A)
Basic Registration applies to petty food business operators — those with an annual turnover not exceeding Rs 1.5 crore, or manufacturers with an installed production capacity of less than 100 kg or 100 litres per day (and dairy units handling up to 500 litres of milk per day). This tier covers:
- Small roadside eateries, tea stalls and juice bars
- Small food retailers and kirana stores
- Street food vendors and hawkers
- Home-based food businesses with modest turnover
- Tiny or cottage-scale food processors
Basic Registration is the entry-level credential. The application process is lighter, and approval is often granted on a self-certification basis within 7 working days.
State Licence (Form B)
A State Licence is required for mid-scale food businesses with annual turnover above Rs 1.5 crore but not exceeding Rs 50 crore, or manufacturers with a daily production capacity between 100 kg/litres and 2 metric tonnes (MT). Dairy units handling 501–50,000 litres per day fall here too. This tier typically covers:
- Standalone restaurants, dhabas, quick-service restaurants (QSRs) and hotels
- Cloud kitchens and catering businesses
- Food processors and manufacturers at medium scale
- Wholesale food traders and distributors
- Cold storage units and food logistics operators
- Supermarkets and large retail chains within a single state
State Licences are issued by the respective State Food Safety Authority (the Designated Officer of that state).
Central Licence (Form B)
A Central Licence is required for large-scale food businesses and those with cross-state operations, including:
- FBOs with annual turnover above Rs 50 crore
- Manufacturers with daily production capacity exceeding 2 MT
- Food importers and exporters
- 100% Export Oriented Units (EOUs)
- Operators of central warehouses and depots (e.g., FCI)
- Dairy units processing more than 50,000 litres per day
- Food businesses operating from a registered head office with operations spanning more than one state
Central Licences are issued directly by FSSAI Headquarters in New Delhi. A business with manufacturing units in multiple states may require a Central Licence for the head office in addition to State Licences in each state of operation.
Who Needs an FSSAI Credential?
The FSS Act has an extremely wide scope. Any entity engaged in manufacturing, processing, packaging, storage, distribution, transportation, import or sale of food for commercial purposes requires an FSSAI credential. This includes:
- Food Manufacturers and Processors: packaged food companies, bakeries, dairy processors, meat processors, snack and beverage producers, oil mills, flour mills
- Food Service Establishments: restaurants, hotels, canteens, cloud kitchens, caterers, tiffin services
- Retailers and Distributors: supermarkets, kirana stores, wholesale food markets, co-operative stores
- Food Storage and Logistics: cold storage operators, dry warehouses, refrigerated transport companies
- E-Commerce Food Businesses: online food delivery aggregators, home chefs selling through platforms, online grocery and food delivery services
- Importers: all importers of food articles or ingredients — only through a Central Licence
- Nutraceuticals and Health Foods: dietary supplements, health food brands, fortified food products, ayurvedic food preparations
Step-by-Step Application Process on FoSCoS
FSSAI applications are made through the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) at foscos.fssai.gov.in. The legacy Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS) has been phased out.
Step 1 — Create an Account on FoSCoS
Visit foscos.fssai.gov.in and register as a new applicant. Provide your mobile number and email address — both are verified via OTP. This account is used to track your application and download the certificate once approved.
Step 2 — Determine Your Licence Category
FoSCoS includes a category-selector tool. Enter your state, nature of business, annual turnover and daily production capacity. The system recommends the correct tier. Getting this right from the outset avoids rejection and the need to re-apply at a higher tier.
Step 3 — Fill and Submit Form A or Form B
Basic applicants fill Form A, which is shorter. State and Central applicants fill the more comprehensive Form B. Required details include business name and address, type of food business, the complete list of food products, premises details, and details of the proprietor, directors or partners.
Step 4 — Upload Supporting Documents
Upload scanned copies of all required documents (see the checklist below). Ensure they are legible and in the format specified by the portal. Missing or unclear documents are the most common cause of delay.
Step 5 — Pay the Government Fee
Pay the applicable annual fee online through FoSCoS using NEFT, RTGS or debit/credit card. Keep the payment receipt for your records.
Step 6 — Application Processing and Inspection
The processing timeline differs by tier:
- Basic Registration: issued within 7 working days on a self-certification basis. Physical inspection is not always required.
- State Licence: the Designated Officer reviews the application and may conduct a site inspection.
- Central Licence: processed by FSSAI Headquarters.
A complete licence application must be decided within 60 days. If the authority neither grants nor rejects within that period, the applicant may commence business on the basis of deemed approval.
Step 7 — Receive Your FSSAI Certificate
Download your Registration or Licence Certificate directly from FoSCoS. The certificate displays your unique 14-digit FSSAI number, where the first two digits indicate the state code. Keep a printed copy at your business premises at all times.
Document Checklist
For Basic Registration (Form A)
- Government-issued photo identity: Aadhaar, PAN, Passport or Voter ID
- Proof of possession of business premises (rent agreement or ownership document)
- Passport-size photograph of the applicant
- List of food products to be dealt in
- Declaration or self-certification form
For State Licence or Central Licence (Form B)
- Photo ID and address proof of proprietor, directors or partners
- PAN card of the business entity
- Proof of business constitution: partnership deed, LLP agreement, Certificate of Incorporation, or MOA and AOA (as applicable)
- Proof of premises: registered rent agreement or sale deed
- NOC and completion certificate from the local body or municipality (for manufacturing units)
- Blueprint or layout plan of the processing unit drawn to scale (manufacturers)
- Complete list of food products and their categories
- List of machinery and equipment with installed horsepower (manufacturers)
- Water testing report from a NABL-accredited laboratory, not older than 6 months (manufacturers and processors)
- Authority letter authorising the signing person
- Medical fitness certificates of food handlers (food service and catering businesses)
- IE Code issued by DGFT — required for importers only
- Proof of annual turnover (latest ITR or CA certificate) — for businesses near tier thresholds
Government Fee Structure
Under the perpetual-validity regime, the figures below are the annual fee payable each year for as long as the licence remains active.
| Type | Basis | Approximate Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Registration | per year | Rs 100 |
| State Licence — Manufacturer / Processor | per year | Rs 2,000 – Rs 5,000 |
| State Licence — Retailer / Trader / Distributor | per year | Rs 2,000 |
| Central Licence | per year | Rs 7,500 |
State Licence fees vary by business category and by state. Verify the current fee schedule for your specific business type on the FoSCoS portal before submitting. Professional assistance for documentation and filing typically costs an additional Rs 1,500 – Rs 5,000.
Post-Licence Compliance Obligations
Receiving an FSSAI credential is the beginning, not the end. Food business operators must maintain compliance on an ongoing basis.
Display the FSSAI Number
The 14-digit number must appear on signage at the premises, all food product labels and packaging, online menus and delivery-platform listings, and delivery vehicles. Failure to display is treated as misbranding and attracts a penalty of up to Rs 3 lakh.
Food Safety and Hygiene Standards
All FBOs must comply with Schedule 4 of the FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011 — covering premises hygiene, equipment maintenance, personal hygiene of food handlers, pest control, waste management and potable water standards. Larger manufacturers are required to implement a documented Food Safety Management System (FSMS) incorporating HACCP principles.
Annual Fee and Returns
Although the licence itself no longer expires, you must keep it active by paying the annual fee each year and filing the prescribed returns:
- Form D-1: annual return for licensed food manufacturers, importers, processors, re-packers and re-labellers — due by 31 May for the preceding financial year.
- Form D-2: half-yearly return for FBOs manufacturing milk and milk products — for the periods April–September and October–March, filed within one month of each period's end.
Late filing of the annual return attracts a penalty of Rs 100 per day of delay, capped at five times the annual licence fee. Crucially, non-payment of the annual fee or non-submission of the applicable return results in automatic deemed suspension of the licence; no food business activity is permitted until outstanding fees, pending returns and any penalties are cleared. Small FBOs operating under Basic Registration are generally exempt from the return-filing obligation.
Notification of Business Changes
Any change in business name, registered address, list of food products, partners or directors, or ownership structure must be notified to the licensing authority by filing a modification application on FoSCoS. Failure to comply can attract a general penalty of up to Rs 2 lakh under the FSS Act.
Common Reasons for Application Delay or Rejection
- Incomplete or illegible document scans
- Business address not consistent across documents
- Turnover or capacity figures inconsistent with the tier applied for
- Missing NOC from the local municipal authority for manufacturing units
- Water test report older than 6 months
- Layout plan not drawn to scale or missing key annotations
- Selecting incorrect food product categories in the application
Penalties for Violations
The FSS Act prescribes significant penalties to deter violations:
- Operating without registration or licence: imprisonment up to 6 months and fine up to Rs 5 lakh
- Sub-standard food: penalty up to Rs 5 lakh
- Misbranded food (including no FSSAI number on the label): penalty up to Rs 3 lakh
- Unsafe food causing grievous injury: imprisonment up to 6 years and fine up to Rs 5 lakh
- Unsafe food resulting in death: imprisonment of not less than 7 years extending to life, and fine of not less than Rs 10 lakh
- Misleading advertisement: penalty up to Rs 10 lakh
FSSAI and Other Registrations for Food Businesses
FSSAI regulates food safety but does not replace other regulatory requirements. A food business starting in 2026 will typically need several other registrations alongside its FSSAI credential:
- GST Registration: mandatory once aggregate turnover crosses Rs 20 lakh for services or Rs 40 lakh for goods (Rs 10 lakh / Rs 20 lakh in specified special-category states). Restaurant and food-service providers typically charge GST at 5% without input tax credit; packaged-food manufacturers pay 12% or 18% depending on the product.
- Udyam Registration: food businesses qualifying as Micro, Small or Medium Enterprises should register on the Udyam portal to access collateral-free credit, government tenders and MSME benefits.
- Shops and Establishment Registration: required under the applicable state Shops and Establishments Act for any retail or food-service establishment.
- Trade Licence: issued by the local municipal body, required for most commercial food operations.
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