FSSAI Registration / License
Mandatory for every food business
FSSAI basic registration or state/central license for restaurants, cloud kitchens, traders and manufacturers.
What's included
- Eligibility & category assessment
- Application with FoSCoS
- Follow-up till certificate
- Renewal reminders
Understanding FSSAI Registration / License
If you make, store, transport, distribute or sell food anywhere in India, the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 requires you to hold an FSSAI registration or license before you serve your first customer. The rule applies to everyone in the food chain — a home baker taking Instagram orders, a cloud kitchen on Swiggy, a kirana store, a restaurant, a packaged-food manufacturer, even a water-tanker operator. The 14-digit FSSAI number you receive must be printed on your labels, bills and shop display.
Which approval you need depends mainly on turnover. Businesses with annual turnover below ₹12 lakh apply for basic FSSAI registration. Those between ₹12 lakh and ₹20 crore need a State license, and businesses above ₹20 crore, importers, and operators working across multiple states need a Central license. Capacity thresholds also matter — for example, a manufacturer processing beyond prescribed limits needs a State or Central license regardless of turnover. All applications now run through FoSCoS, the Food Safety Compliance System portal.
Getting the category wrong is the single biggest reason applications get rejected or businesses get penalised later. We assess your business, pick the correct registration or license type and Kind of Business codes, prepare the documents, file on FoSCoS and follow up with the designated officer until your certificate is issued — typically within 7 to 15 working days for registrations, a little longer where an inspection is scheduled.
Who needs this?
Home-based and cloud kitchens
Home bakers, tiffin services and cloud kitchens selling through Swiggy, Zomato or WhatsApp need at least basic registration — aggregator platforms will not onboard you without an FSSAI number.
Restaurants, cafes and caterers
Any premises where food is cooked and served needs registration or a State license depending on turnover. Caterers handling events fall under the same net.
Retailers and kirana stores
Shops selling packaged food, sweets, dairy or beverages need FSSAI registration even if they do not cook anything — selling food is a food business under the FSS Act.
Manufacturers and repackers
Units that process, manufacture or relabel food products need a State or Central license based on production capacity and turnover, and must list every product category they handle.
Traders, distributors and transporters
Wholesalers, C&F agents, storage warehouses and vehicles transporting food all need their own FSSAI approval — you cannot ride on your supplier's license.
Importers and exporters of food
Anyone importing food items into India needs a Central FSSAI license linked to their Import Export Code, irrespective of turnover.
When this is NOT the right fit
| Your situation | What applies instead |
|---|---|
| ✕You only cook for your own family or free community events | The FSS Act covers food businesses — activity carried on for sale or distribution in the course of business. Purely private, non-commercial cooking is outside its scope. |
| ✕You grow and sell your own farm produce without processing | Farmers and fishermen selling their own primary produce directly are generally exempt; the moment you process, package or brand it, you need FSSAI approval. |
| ✕You expect turnover above ₹12 lakh but want basic registration for the lower fee | Registration is capped at ₹12 lakh annual turnover. Operating on a registration when you qualify for a license is treated as operating without a valid license and invites penalties. |
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Documents you'll need — and why
Photo identity and address proof of proprietor or partners
FoSCoS verifies the identity of every person responsible for the food business; Aadhaar and PAN are the standard accepted proofs.
Passport-size photograph of the applicant
The photo is printed on the registration certificate itself, which must be displayed at the premises.
Proof of business premises (rent agreement, electricity bill or property document)
The license is premises-specific — the food safety officer needs to know exactly where food is handled, and each location needs its own approval.
List of food products or categories handled
Your certificate authorises only the categories you declare. Selling products outside your listed categories is a compliance breach, so the list must be complete and forward-looking.
Business constitution proof (partnership deed, incorporation certificate, GST registration)
Determines who the food business operator legally is and whose name appears on the license.
Layout plan and equipment list (for State and Central licenses)
Manufacturers and larger units must show their processing area, machinery and hygiene arrangements so the officer can assess compliance before or during inspection.
Water test report (for manufacturing units)
Water used in food processing must meet potability standards; a recent lab report is mandatory for manufacturing license applications.
How it works, step by step
- 1
Category assessment
Day 1We review your activity, turnover and capacity to fix whether you need basic registration, a State license or a Central license, and select the correct Kind of Business codes.
- 2
Document collection and preparation
1-2 working daysYou share documents over WhatsApp or email; we verify them, prepare the product list and draft the application in Form A (registration) or Form B (license).
- 3
Filing on FoSCoS and fee payment
1 working dayWe file the application on the FoSCoS portal, pay the government fee for your chosen validity period (1 to 5 years) and share the application reference number with you.
- 4
Departmental scrutiny and inspection
5-12 working daysThe designated officer reviews the application and may schedule a premises inspection for license cases. We respond to any queries or document re-uploads on your behalf.
- 5
Certificate issued
By day 7-15 in most casesYour FSSAI certificate with the 14-digit number is issued digitally on FoSCoS. We send it to you with guidance on label declarations and display requirements.
Due dates to know
Renewal application
No later than 30 days before expiry
FoSCoS allows renewal up to 180 days in advance. Late renewal attracts a daily fee, and an expired license means you must apply afresh.
Annual return (Form D1)
31 May each year
Applies to manufacturers and importers for the previous financial year, filed on FoSCoS.
Modification of license
Before the change takes effect
Change of address, products or ownership requires a modification application — you cannot operate on outdated particulars.
What non-compliance costs
Carrying on a food business without a license (Section 63, FSS Act)
Imprisonment up to 6 months and a fine that can extend to ₹5 lakh.
Selling sub-standard food (Section 51)
Penalty up to ₹5 lakh, determined by the adjudicating officer.
Misleading labels or misbranded food (Sections 52-53)
Penalty up to ₹3 lakh for misbranding and up to ₹10 lakh for misleading advertisements.
Late renewal of license
A late fee of ₹100 per day; once expired, the license lapses entirely and business must stop until a fresh one is issued.
Manufacturer not filing the annual return by 31 May
Late fee of ₹100 per day of delay, capped at five times the annual license fee.
Why doing this right pays off
Legal permission to operate
You can sell food, list on Swiggy, Zomato and quick-commerce platforms, and supply to retailers — all of whom demand a valid FSSAI number before onboarding.
Customer trust on every label
The FSSAI logo and 14-digit number on your packaging signals that your food meets national safety standards, which directly influences buying decisions.
Access to bank finance and expansion
Banks, investors and franchise partners treat the FSSAI license as basic proof of a legitimate food business when appraising loans or deals.
Protection during inspections
Food safety officers conduct surprise checks; a valid, correctly categorised license keeps a routine visit from turning into a closure notice.
Multi-year validity
You can take the license for up to 5 years in one go, locking in the fee and avoiding annual renewal follow-ups.
Common DIY mistakes we see
- Applying for basic registration to save on fees when turnover already exceeds or will soon exceed ₹12 lakh — this counts as operating without a valid license.
- Listing only current products and not future ones, then launching new items outside the licensed categories without filing a modification.
- Forgetting that each premises — the kitchen, the warehouse, the second outlet — needs its own separate registration or license.
- Missing the renewal window and letting the license expire, which forces a fresh application and a business shutdown in between.
- Not printing the FSSAI number on labels, menu cards and invoices, which is itself a punishable non-compliance even with a valid license.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Any sale of food, even from home and even in small volumes, is a food business under the FSS Act, 2006. With turnover below ₹12 lakh you only need the basic registration, which is quick and inexpensive — but skipping it exposes you to prosecution under Section 63.
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