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FSSAI Registration is the mandatory 14-digit licence from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India that every food business operator — from home kitchens to large manufacturers — needs to legally manufacture, store, distribute, or sell food in India.
Under the FSSAI amendment effective 1 April 2026, the three categories are Basic Registration (turnover up to Rs. 1.5 crore), State License (Rs. 1.5 crore to Rs. 50 crore), and Central License (above Rs. 50 crore, or for importers, exporters, and e-commerce food businesses regardless of turnover). Licences granted under the new rules carry perpetual validity, subject to risk-based inspections.
Compliance Expert
Every food business in India — whether it's a home baker selling on Instagram, a cloud kitchen on Swiggy, or a multi-state food manufacturer — needs FSSAI Registration before it can legally operate. This guide walks through exactly what FSSAI Registration is, the types of registration and licence available, the newly revised 2026 turnover thresholds, eligibility, documents, the step-by-step application process, fees, and validity — including the recent regulatory order that has changed how food businesses are categorised and how long their licence stays valid.
FSSAI Registration is the certification issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) — a statutory authority established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, functioning under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is the legal permission required by every Food Business Operator (FBO) engaged in manufacturing, processing, packaging, storage, distribution, transportation, or sale of food products in India.
Once granted, FSSAI Registration or licence issues a unique 14-digit registration number that must be displayed on the food product label, at the business premises, and on restaurant or cloud-kitchen menus. This number allows consumers, regulators, and marketplace platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, and Amazon to verify that a food business meets India's food safety standards.
All FSSAI applications, renewals, and modifications are filed through FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System) — the official online portal at foscos.fssai.gov.in — which replaced the earlier FLRS system.
On 13 March 2026, FSSAI's Regulatory Compliance Division issued an official order (F. No. RCD-01002/1/2021-Regulatory-FSSAI-Part(1)) implementing the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026. This order followed recommendations from NITI Aayog's High-Level Committee on Non-Financial Regulatory Reforms and was approved by the Food Authority and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The amendment introduces three key changes for food business operators:
These revised turnover thresholds officially came into effect from 1 April 2026 and supersede all earlier orders and regulations on this classification.
| Category | Revised Turnover Threshold (Effective 01.04.2026) |
|---|---|
| Registration | Turnover up to Rs. 1.5 crore |
| State License | Turnover above Rs. 1.5 crore and up to Rs. 50 crore |
| Central License | Turnover above Rs. 50 crore |
FSSAI classifies food businesses into three categories based on annual turnover and the nature of business activity:
For small food businesses with an annual turnover up to Rs. 1.5 crore under the revised 2026 threshold. This covers petty food manufacturers, small retailers, home-based food businesses, hawkers, and small-scale food vendors. It requires the fewest documents and is the fastest to process.
For medium-sized food businesses with turnover above Rs. 1.5 crore and up to Rs. 50 crore under the revised threshold. This applies to mid-sized manufacturers, transporters, marketers, hotels, restaurants, and traders operating within a single state.
For large food businesses with turnover above Rs. 50 crore. A Central License is also mandatory regardless of turnover for certain activity types, including:
Document requirements scale with the category applied for. At a broad level:
| Category | Typical Documents Required |
|---|---|
| Basic Registration (Form A) | Passport-size photograph, government ID proof, address proof, declaration of food category/products, business constitution proof |
| State License (Form B) | All Basic Registration documents plus: layout plan of premises, list of equipment and machinery, water test report, food safety management plan, NOC from local municipal authority, rent agreement (minimum 6 months validity) |
| Central License (Form B) | All State License documents plus: import-export code (for importers/exporters), proof of turnover, business incorporation certificate, additional constitution documents based on entity type (proprietorship, partnership, LLP, or company) |
Assess your annual turnover and business activity against the revised 2026 thresholds to decide whether you need Basic Registration, State License, or Central License.
Visit foscos.fssai.gov.in, create an account using your email and mobile number, and complete OTP verification.
Choose 'New License/Registration', then select your state and Kind of Business (KoB), which determines the exact category and form applicable.
Complete Form A (Basic Registration) or Form B (State/Central License) with business details, food product categories, and turnover information.
Upload the category-specific documents listed above, ensuring scanned copies (not phone photographs) are used to avoid rejection.
Pay the government fee online through net banking, UPI, or card payment based on your category.
For State and Central License applications, a Food Safety Officer may inspect the premises against food safety and hygiene standards before approval.
Once verified, the FSSAI certificate bearing your unique 14-digit registration number is issued and should be displayed prominently at your premises and on product labels.
Government fees are charged based on category. Commonly reported figures across current sources are:
| Category | Approximate Government Fee |
|---|---|
| Basic Registration | Around Rs. 100 per year |
| State License | Roughly Rs. 2,000 – Rs. 5,000 per year, depending on business type |
| Central License | Around Rs. 7,500 per year |
These figures do not include professional/consultancy charges. Fee schedules and whether an annual fee continues to apply under the new perpetual-validity system are being updated across official channels — confirm the exact, current fee for your category on the FoSCoS portal or with our compliance team before budgeting.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Validity (from 01.04.2026 amendment) | Perpetual validity for registrations and licences issued under the amended regulations, subject to risk-based inspections, per FSSAI's official 13 March 2026 order |
| Previous system | Earlier licences were valid for a chosen period of 1 to 5 years and required renewal before expiry |
| Transition for existing licence holders | Businesses currently holding a fixed-term licence should verify with FSSAI/FoSCoS whether their existing licence transitions to perpetual validity at next renewal or under a separate transition process |
| Ongoing compliance | Continued validity is subject to risk-based inspections; specific ongoing obligations (such as annual returns or periodic fee payment) should be confirmed on FoSCoS, as reporting on this varies across sources |
FSSAI registration looks simple on the surface, but choosing the wrong category, missing a document, or misreading the 2026 turnover update can cost weeks of delay — and in some cases, a rejected application. Silvereye Certifications manages the entire process so your food business stays compliant from day one.
Speak directly with our compliance experts and get professional guidance for BIS, BEE, CDSCO, EPR, WPC, TEC/MTCTE, EMI/EMC Testing and other regulatory approvals.
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