Every food business in India needs FSSAI registration or a licence before it starts, applied for online on FSSAI's FoSCoS portal. Since 1 April 2026, basic registration covers annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore at ₹100 a year, a State licence covers up to ₹50 crore at ₹5,000 a year, and a Central licence costs ₹7,500 a year, with no renewal needed for anything granted from that date as long as the annual fee is paid.
Who needs FSSAI registration or a licence?
Every food business needs one, from a home tiffin service to a factory: FoSCoS's eligibility sheet assigns a registration or licence to each kind of business, including manufacturing, catering, storage, transport, retail, import and export. Turnover and kind of business decide which; the FSSAI Licence Type Finder applies both tests.
A few groups are treated differently:
- Street vendors registered under the Street Vendors Act 2014 are deemed registered under the food law from the 2026 amendment, but must still follow the Schedule 4 hygiene rules.
- Dairy cooperative members who sell all their milk to the society do not need their own FSSAI registration.
- Caterers cannot use basic registration at any size; they start at a State licence.
- Importers, e-commerce food businesses and merchant exporters need a Central licence even with a small turnover.
- Each premises in a different area needs its own licence under section 31(7) of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
What documents are needed for an FSSAI licence and registration?
Basic registration needs only a photograph, a government photo ID such as Aadhaar, PAN or Voter ID, and proof of business address if it differs from the ID. A State or Central licence needs the business's constitution and premises documents, ID for each partner or director, and a Form IX nomination.
| Applicant | Documents FoSCoS asks for |
|---|---|
| Registration (Form A) | Photo, photo ID, address proof if different, and a self-declaration that you follow the Schedule 4 Part I hygiene rules |
| Every licence (Form B) | List of proprietor, partners or directors with the authorised signatory; their photo ID and address proof; proof of possession of the premises; partnership deed, MoA and AoA or proprietorship declaration; Form IX nomination, except for proprietors |
| Manufacturers | Layout plan of the unit, equipment list with capacity, and a water analysis report |
| Importers | Importer Exporter Code, with the licence taken at the IEC address |
| Relabellers and repackers | No-objection certificate from the manufacturer |
| Milk units | Milk procurement or sourcing plan |
| Packaged drinking water | Pesticide residue report |
Documents are self-attested and uploaded on FoSCoS. If you import, get your IEC registration first, because the Central licence follows the IEC address.
How long does FSSAI registration take?
A basic registration is granted or rejected within 7 days, or within 30 days if an inspection is ordered, and the 2026 amendment lets FSSAI grant it instantly once the documents are in. A State or Central licence is issued within 60 days of the application ID.
| Stage | Registration (Form A) | State or Central licence (Form B) |
|---|---|---|
| First action | Granted, rejected or inspection ordered within 7 days | Application scrutinised within 15 days |
| After a query or inspection | Decision within 30 days of an ordered inspection | Missing information due within 30 days, or the application stands rejected |
| Outer limit | 30 days, where an inspection is ordered | 60 days from the application ID |
| If the authority does nothing | You may start business | You may start business if no defect was pointed out (regulation 2.1.6) |
Instant (Tatkal) issuance has run across India since 31 August 2024 for kinds of business such as wholesalers, retailers, transporters, importers and petty tea or snack sellers. Licences are instant only for proprietorships, milk, meat and fish units are excluded, and a few states, such as West Bengal, restrict the scheme. FSSAI's FAQ of 27 March 2026 confirms that the new thresholds and perpetual validity also apply to Tatkal licences and registrations.
What are the FSSAI licence fees in 2026?
The government fee on FoSCoS is ₹100 a year for registration, ₹5,000 for a State licence and ₹7,500 for a Central licence, plus GST as applicable. Hawkers pay nothing. You can pay for several years in one go, at any time of the year.
Example. A made-up tiffin service, Greenleaf Tiffins, has an expected turnover of ₹40 lakh and pays ₹300 for three years of registration. A spice importer with the same turnover pays ₹22,500 for three years of its Central licence, both before GST. Ofin's fee for preparing and filing either application is ₹1,899.
The eligibility and fee sheet on FoSCoS, updated on 1 April 2026, lists ₹5,000 for every State licence even though the 2011 Regulations' Schedule 3 still shows ₹2,000 to ₹5,000, so check the amount at checkout.
What changed for FSSAI registration in 2026?
FSSAI's order of 13 March 2026 replaced the old limits, such as ₹12 lakh for registration and ₹20 crore for a restaurant's Central licence, with ₹1.5 crore and ₹50 crore from 1 April 2026. Amendment regulations notified on 10 March 2026 ended renewals.
- Licences stay valid unless suspended, cancelled or surrendered, but an unpaid annual fee or a missed return leads to deemed suspension.
- Businesses that change category under the new limits move on FoSCoS by self-declaration, with no fee, no approval and no change of number; a State licence fee already paid is adjusted against the registration fee.
- Inspections are now risk-based, so businesses with a clean compliance history are inspected less often.
- FSSAI expects more than 98% of food businesses to fall under State supervision.
- Dairy, meat, packaged drinking water, infant food and fishery businesses keep their full hygiene, safety and testing duties.
What happens after you get the FSSAI licence?
Keep the licence active by paying the annual fee and, if you are a licensed manufacturer, importer or manufacturer-exporter, by filing Form D-1 by 31 May. Display the number at every premises and print it on bills and invoices.
- A late Form D-1 costs ₹100 a day from 1 June, up to five times the annual licence fee.
- Changes to the premises, products or partners go through the existing modification procedure on FoSCoS.
- If the business closes, inform the authority and surrender the licence within 30 days; fees already paid are not refunded.
- Customers and platforms can confirm your number with the FSSAI Licence Number Check.
Common reasons FSSAI applications are rejected or delayed
Check these before you file. Most turn on the kind of business chosen, the query deadline or the premises documents, and each is avoidable.
- Choosing registration when the activity needs a State or Central licence; FoSCoS warns that a wrong kind of business or eligibility may be penalised as a false declaration under section 61 of the Act.
- Proof of possession that does not match the premises named in the application.
- Not answering a licence query within 30 days, after which the application stands rejected.
- Missing the Form IX nomination for a company, LLP or firm.
- Using one licence for kitchens or warehouses in different areas.
- Running a food business that needs a licence without one, which can mean up to 6 months' imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹5 lakh under section 63.
How Ofin handles FSSAI registration and licences
Ofin's CAs, CSs and legal professionals confirm your licence type, check your documents, file Form A or Form B on FoSCoS and track the application through any query or inspection, 100% online. Higher packages add document verification and validity advice. Fees start at ₹1,899, and we reply within 24 hours: get a fixed-price proposal. In Mumbai, see FSSAI registration in Mumbai.
