How to Get FSSAI Registration or Licence in India
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) mandates that every food business operator (FBO) — from a home baker to a large food manufacturer — obtain a registration or licence before commencing operations, and operating without one is a punishable offence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The type of authorisation you need depends on your annual turnover, the nature of your activity (manufacturing, trading, storage, transport, or catering), and whether you operate in one state or across several. Applications are filed entirely online through the FoSCoS portal, but the correct classification, document set, and premises readiness still determine how quickly the licence is granted. Many businesses lose weeks because they apply under the wrong category or submit an incomplete layout plan, so getting the classification and paperwork right the first time matters more than the filing itself. This guide walks through eligibility, documentation, the FoSCoS workflow, inspection expectations, and ongoing compliance obligations after the licence is issued.
Before you start
- Identity and address proof of the proprietor, partners, or directors (PAN, Aadhaar, passport, or voter ID)
- Proof of possession of premises — rent agreement, lease deed, or ownership document with a recent utility bill
- Passport-size photographs of the proprietor/partners/directors and nominated food safety supervisor
- List of food products or categories to be manufactured, processed, stored, distributed, or sold
- Blueprint or layout plan of the food processing/manufacturing unit, showing area allocated to each activity (for manufacturing licences)
- Water testing report from an NABL-recognised or FSSAI-notified lab confirming potability (for manufacturing/processing units)
- List of machinery and equipment installed, with installed capacity, for manufacturing units
- Partnership deed, certificate of incorporation, or Memorandum/Articles of Association where the FBO is not a sole proprietorship
Step-by-step
Determine the Correct Authorisation Type
FSSAI authorisation falls into three tiers based on annual turnover and activity. Following the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026 (effective 1 April 2026), the turnover thresholds were raised substantially:
- Basic Registration — petty food businesses (turnover up to roughly ₹1.5 crore), filed on Form A.
- State Licence — mid-size businesses with turnover roughly between ₹1.5 crore and ₹50 crore, filed on Form B.
- Central Licence — large manufacturers, importers, exporters, e-commerce food operators, and businesses operating across multiple states with turnover above roughly ₹50 crore, also filed on Form B.
Certain categories (importers, dairy processors above a threshold, meat and poultry processing above a threshold, and businesses supplying to government agencies) require a Central Licence irrespective of turnover. Government fee slabs and turnover thresholds are periodically revised — confirm the current schedule on the FoSCoS portal before filing rather than relying on a fixed figure.
Register on the FoSCoS Portal
Create an FBO login on foscos.fssai.gov.in (Food Safety Compliance System, which replaced the older FLRS portal). Provide a working mobile number and email — OTP verification is required at multiple stages of the application and renewal process.
Select the Correct Form and Business Category
Choose Form A for Basic Registration or Form B for State/Central Licence. Select the precise kind of business (manufacturer, trader, transporter, caterer, restaurant, cloud kitchen, storage, retailer, e-commerce, etc.) and the specific food category codes that apply. Selecting the wrong category is one of the most common causes of processing delays and post-issuance compliance notices.
Fill in Business and Premises Details
Enter the legal name, constitution (proprietorship, partnership, LLP, company), registered office and operating premises address, and details of directors/partners/proprietor. If you operate from more than one premises, each location generally needs to be declared or separately licensed depending on the activity.
Upload Supporting Documents
Upload identity proof, premises proof, photographs, the food product/category list, and — for manufacturing units — the layout plan, water testing report, machinery list, and recall plan. Scanned documents should be clear, in the prescribed format, and under the portal's file size limits; blurred or incomplete scans are a frequent rejection reason.
Pay the Applicable Government Fee
Pay the fee online through the portal's payment gateway. For licences and registrations issued on or after 1 April 2026, validity is perpetual rather than fixed at 1 to 5 years — the authorisation continues indefinitely as long as the prescribed annual fee is paid and required compliance reports are filed; non-payment results in the licence being deemed suspended. Authorisations issued before that date continue to run on their originally chosen 1-to-5-year validity until their next renewal cycle, at which point they convert to the perpetual regime. Retain the payment receipt and application reference number for tracking.
Track Application Status and Respond to Queries
The Food Safety Officer or Designated Officer reviewing the application may raise a clarification or ask for additional documents through the portal. Respond within the stipulated window — applications left unanswered beyond the prescribed period may be treated as deemed rejected in some cases, requiring a fresh filing.
Premises Inspection (State and Central Licences)
For State and Central Licences, a Food Safety Officer typically inspects the premises before approval, checking hygiene practices, storage segregation, pest control arrangements, staff medical fitness records, and labelling of raw materials. Basic Registrations generally do not require a pre-issuance physical inspection, though post-registration inspections can still occur.
Receive the FSSAI Licence or Registration Certificate
On approval, you receive a 14-digit FSSAI licence or registration number and a downloadable certificate. Display the number and the FSSAI logo prominently on product packaging, invoices, menu cards, and premises signage — this is a legal requirement, not an optional courtesy.
Set Up Ongoing Compliance
Post-issuance obligations include filing annual/half-yearly returns where applicable (for manufacturers, importers, and certain other categories), maintaining a designated food safety supervisor for larger units, and paying the annual licence/registration fee on schedule. Since licences issued from 1 April 2026 have perpetual validity rather than a fixed expiry, the main ongoing risk is missed annual fee payment — which triggers deemed suspension — rather than a lapsed renewal date. Build a recurring reminder to confirm the annual fee is paid each year; if you still hold an older licence running on its original 1-to-5-year validity, track that expiry date until it converts to the perpetual regime at renewal.
Handle Category or Turnover Changes
If turnover grows beyond the Basic Registration threshold, or you add product categories, activities, or premises not covered by your existing authorisation, file a modification or upgrade application rather than continuing to operate under the original licence. Continuing under a lower category after crossing the threshold is treated as non-compliance even if the original registration was validly obtained.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Underestimating turnover to stay within Basic Registration — FSSAI officers cross-check turnover during inspections and GST/ITR data, and operating under a lower category attracts penalties and forced re-registration.
- Not displaying the FSSAI licence/registration number on product packaging, menus, or signage — this is a violation even for businesses that hold a valid, current licence.
- Missing the annual fee payment on a perpetual licence (issued from 1 April 2026 onward) — non-payment results in the licence being deemed suspended, which is treated the same as operating without one at all; older licences still running on their original 1-to-5-year validity must instead be renewed before expiry.
- Selecting the wrong or incomplete product/food category codes at filing — selling products outside your declared categories violates the licence conditions and can trigger action during inspection.
- Submitting a vague or non-scaled layout plan for manufacturing units — officers frequently return applications for revision when the plan does not clearly show area allocation for each process.
- Assuming a Basic Registration is permanent regardless of growth — failing to upgrade to a State or Central Licence once turnover or activity scope crosses the threshold is a common compliance gap.
- Treating cloud kitchens, home bakers, or occasional online sellers as exempt from FSSAI — any commercial food sale, however small, requires at least Basic Registration.
- Ignoring the nominated food safety supervisor requirement for larger units, which is a documented compliance obligation, not just a filing formality.
Frequently asked questions
Does a home baker or cloud kitchen need FSSAI?
Yes. Any food business — including home-based bakers, tiffin services, cloud kitchens, and occasional online food sellers — requires at minimum a Basic FSSAI Registration before selling food commercially. There is no blanket exemption for small or part-time operations.
Can I operate across multiple states on one FSSAI licence?
A Central Licence generally covers your registered office along with operations that legitimately fall under central jurisdiction (such as imports/exports or interstate manufacturing above the applicable threshold). A State Licence is valid only within the issuing state. If you run manufacturing or processing units in multiple states, you typically need a separate State Licence for each location unless the activity qualifies for central-level authorisation — confirm the current multi-state rules with FSSAI or a compliance advisor before assuming coverage.
How often must the FSSAI licence be renewed?
Under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026, licences and registrations issued on or after 1 April 2026 have perpetual validity — there is no fixed expiry and no renewal cycle. Instead, the FBO must pay the prescribed annual fee (and file required compliance reports) each year; missing an annual payment results in the licence being deemed suspended until the dues are cleared. Licences issued before 1 April 2026 continue to run on their originally chosen 1-to-5-year validity — for those, renewal applications should still be submitted at least 30 days before expiry, since late renewal attracts a per-day penalty — until the licence converts to the perpetual regime at its next renewal.
What food products require a Central FSSAI Licence regardless of turnover?
Importers, exporters, and manufacturers of certain higher-risk categories — including dairy, edible oils, and meat/poultry processing above notified capacity thresholds — generally require a Central Licence irrespective of turnover. E-commerce food business operators are also typically required to hold a Central Licence. Thresholds and category lists are revised periodically, so verify the current schedule before filing.
How long does FSSAI approval usually take?
Basic Registrations, which do not require a pre-issuance inspection, are typically approved faster than State or Central Licences, which involve a premises inspection. Total timelines vary by state workload and application completeness; incomplete documentation or an unclear layout plan is the most common cause of delay beyond the standard processing window.
What happens if I sell a food product not listed in my FSSAI application?
Selling products outside your declared food category codes is treated as operating outside the scope of your licence, which can result in penalties or licence action during inspection. File a modification application to add product categories before you start selling them, rather than after.
Is a separate FSSAI licence needed for each branch or outlet?
In most cases, yes — each manufacturing unit, warehouse, or outlet needs to be declared and, depending on the licence category and state rules, may require its own registration or licence, or be added as an additional premises under a central registration. Confirm the specific requirement for your business model, since rules differ for retail chains versus centralised manufacturing with distributed outlets.
Can the FSSAI licence be transferred if I sell the business?
No. FSSAI registrations and licences are issued to a specific FBO and are not transferable. A change in ownership, constitution, or proprietor requires the new owner to apply for a fresh registration or licence rather than continuing under the seller's existing authorisation.
Do I need FSSAI registration if I only sell food occasionally at events or pop-ups?
Yes, in principle — any commercial sale of food falls within FSSAI's scope, and event organisers or venues often require proof of at least Basic Registration before allowing a stall or pop-up to operate. Confirm the specific requirement with the venue and, where the activity is genuinely occasional and small-scale, discuss the appropriate category with a compliance advisor.
What records should a food business maintain after getting FSSAI approval?
Depending on the category, expect to maintain purchase and supplier records, water testing reports (for manufacturing), staff medical fitness certificates, cleaning and pest control logs, and — for applicable categories — periodic returns filed with FSSAI. Keeping these current is what an inspecting officer typically checks, beyond just the validity of the licence itself.
Can PNPC Global help with FSSAI registration end-to-end?
Yes. PNPC Global assists with classification (determining whether Basic, State, or Central applies), document preparation including layout plans, FoSCoS filing, liaison during inspection, and ongoing compliance tracking — including annual fee payment reminders for perpetual licences and renewal tracking for older licences still running on their original 1-to-5-year validity — so the authorisation never lapses or is deemed suspended.
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