An FSSAI licence in Mumbai is applied for online on FoSCoS, but two different authorities decide it: FDA Maharashtra issues State licences and registrations, and FSSAI's Western Region office in Bandra East issues Central licences. Since 1 April 2026, most Mumbai food businesses with turnover up to ₹1.5 crore need only a ₹100 registration, and a State licence covers turnover up to ₹50 crore at ₹5,000 a year.
Who issues food licences in Mumbai: FDA Maharashtra or FSSAI?
FDA Maharashtra, the state's Food and Drug Administration, issues State licences and registrations for Mumbai through FoSCoS. Central licences for Mumbai businesses come from Designated Officers of FSSAI's Western Region, which covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
| Authority | Decides | Mumbai office |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Maharashtra | State licences and registrations | Survey No. 341, 2nd Floor, Bandra Kurla Complex, opposite Reserve Bank of India, Bandra East, Mumbai 400051; 1800-222-365 |
| FSSAI Western Region | Central licences | Unit 1202, 12th Floor, Hallmark Business Plaza, opposite Guru Nanak Hospital, Bandra East, Mumbai 400051; 022-22617672 |
The FSSAI Western Region licensing page lists separate Designated Officers for Greater Mumbai and for the Thane region. Applications to both go through FoSCoS, so there is no office visit to apply.
Which FSSAI licence does a Mumbai food business need?
Turnover decides it for most Mumbai restaurants, cafés, cloud kitchens and traders, while some activities always go to FSSAI. The FSSAI Licence Type Finder applies the same rules as the table below.
| Mumbai business (made up) | Annual turnover | What it needs | Fee a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Café in Bandra | ₹90 lakh | Registration from FDA Maharashtra | ₹100 |
| Cloud kitchen in Andheri | ₹3 crore | State licence from FDA Maharashtra | ₹5,000 |
| Wedding caterer in Dadar | ₹25 lakh | State licence, as caterers have no registration tier | ₹5,000 |
| Tea stall at CST station | ₹18 lakh | Central registration (Railways) from FSSAI | ₹100 |
| Food outlet at Mumbai airport | ₹2 crore | Central licence from FSSAI | ₹7,500 |
| Olive oil importer in Masjid Bunder | ₹80 lakh | Central licence from FSSAI, plus a Form D-1 return | ₹7,500 |
Example. Marine Spice Kitchens Private Limited, a made-up company with its head office in Andheri, runs a ₹3 crore cloud kitchen that needs a State licence from FDA Maharashtra. When it opens a second kitchen in Ahmedabad, it operates in two states, so the Andheri head office also needs a Central licence from FSSAI's Western Region, while each kitchen keeps its own licence or registration.
FDA Maharashtra's document checklist for a food licence
FDA Maharashtra publishes an 18-item list of documents for new State or Central licence applications. Beyond the usual ID, premises proof and constitution documents, it asks for several items that are easy to overlook.
- An authority letter naming a responsible person and an alternate, with their powers.
- A chemical and bacteriological water analysis from a recognised or public health laboratory.
- A food safety management system plan or certificate, if you have one.
- A recall plan with distribution details, where applicable.
- A manufacturer's no-objection certificate for relabellers, a milk sourcing plan for milk units and a pesticide residue report for packaged drinking water.
- No-objection certificates from the municipality or local body and from the State Pollution Control Board, except in notified industrial areas.
The FDA Maharashtra food licensing page holds the full list. Registration needs far less: a photo, photo ID and address proof, uploaded on FoSCoS.
Mumbai municipal and labour permissions beside FSSAI
An FSSAI number does not replace Mumbai's other permissions. The MCGM issues health licences under sections 394 and 412A of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act through its online Common Business Application, and staff numbers decide your Maharashtra Shops and Establishments filing.
- MCGM health licence. The MCGM's instructions split trades into those with flame and without flame. Both accept the fire safety conditions set by the Chief Fire Officer, and a trade with flame pays the licence fee, TRC and a security deposit only after approval. Check with the MCGM whether your trade needs one.
- Shops and Establishments. With 10 or more workers, register online under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act 2017; with fewer, file an intimation of commencement.
- Tax registrations. A Mumbai kitchen with staff also needs professional tax registration in Mumbai, and GST once turnover or the sales channel requires it; see GST registration in Mumbai.
What 2026 changed for food businesses in Maharashtra
FDA Maharashtra recorded 1,87,030 active State licences and 9,43,872 active registrations, 11,30,902 in all, as of 31 May 2026. The new limits from 1 April 2026 let a Mumbai licence holder with turnover up to ₹1.5 crore move down to registration by self-declaration on FoSCoS.
- Moving category because of the new limits costs nothing, needs no approval and keeps the same number, per FSSAI's FAQs of 27 March 2026.
- A State licence fee already paid is adjusted against the registration fee.
- Licences and registrations granted from 1 April 2026 have no expiry while the annual fee is paid.
- FDA Maharashtra's own classification shows a Central registration for petty food businesses in Central Government premises such as railways.
Common mistakes Mumbai food businesses make
Check these before you apply. Several come from the split between FDA Maharashtra and FSSAI, and others from treating one licence as covering several outlets.
- Applying to FDA Maharashtra for a stall or canteen at a railway station, which needs a Central registration or licence for railway premises.
- Assuming one licence covers every outlet; the Food Safety and Standards Act requires a separate licence for premises in different areas, so check each address.
- Trying to register a small catering business; caterers need at least a State licence.
- Assuming the FSSAI number replaces the MCGM health licence or the Shops and Establishments filing.
- Distributing food at a festival without FDA Maharashtra's community food distribution permission, which it runs online.
- Missing the 30-day window to answer a licence query on FoSCoS.
Once issued, confirm the number with the FSSAI Licence Number Check. For fees, Tatkal issuance and the 2026 rules in more detail, see our guide to FSSAI registration in India.
How Ofin's Mumbai team handles FSSAI licences
Ofin's Mumbai team, at Shanti Bhuvan in Mulund West, confirms whether FDA Maharashtra or FSSAI decides your application, checks your documents against FDA Maharashtra's list and files on FoSCoS, 100% online. CAs, CSs and legal professionals handle each file, and we reply within 24 hours. Fees start at ₹1,899. Tell us your kind of business and turnover to get a fixed-price proposal.
