Food businesses
Getting an FSSAI licence: which tier you need and how the FoSCoS application works
Getting an FSSAI licence starts with identifying which tier you need — Basic Registration for food businesses up to ₹1.5 crore annual turnover (₹100/year fee), State Licence for ₹1.5–50 crore (₹2,000–₹5,000/year), and Central Licence for above ₹50 crore, importers, exporters, and businesses operating across multiple states (₹7,500/year). Applications go through the FoSCoS portal (foscos.fssai.gov.in) and take 7–60 days depending on tier and state. Under the 2026 amendment, licences are now effectively perpetual — they continue as long as you pay the annual fee and file required returns rather than lapsing after 1–5 years. Operating without a valid registration exposes you to fines up to ₹5 lakh, and commercial platforms (Swiggy, Zomato, quick-commerce) delist sellers who can't produce a valid FSSAI number.
Which tier do you need?
The three tiers map to turnover and activity. Basic Registration covers petty food businesses with annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore — street vendors, small retailers, home bakers selling online, tiffin services. State Licence covers manufacturers, processors, and storage businesses between ₹1.5 crore and ₹50 crore. Central Licence applies above ₹50 crore, or to any business that imports food, manufactures for export, operates from a centrally regulated premise (airports, ports), or has a multi-state footprint.
Two activity-based triggers that override the turnover floor for Central: importers need Central Licence before their consignment clears customs, and operating in more than one state typically requires Central Licence for the head office even if turnover is below the threshold. Getting the tier wrong is a common inspection finding — and operating on a lower-tier licence than your activity warrants is treated the same as operating without one.
- Basic Registration: ≤₹1.5 Cr turnover, petty food businesses, home bakers, vendors — ₹100/year
- State Licence: ₹1.5–50 Cr, manufacturers, processors, storage units — ₹2,000–₹5,000/year
- Central Licence: >₹50 Cr, or importers, exporters, multi-state operations — ₹7,500/year
- Importers: Central Licence required before goods clear customs, regardless of turnover
The FoSCoS application process
Applications go through the Food Safety Compliance System at foscos.fssai.gov.in. The flow: register on the portal → choose licence type → fill the application form (business type, premises details, food categories) → upload documents → pay the fee online. State and Central applications go to different reviewing authorities — Central applications are cleared by the FSSAI head office; State by the state licensing authority.
Processing timelines: Basic Registration is typically 7 days (often auto-approved if no inspection is triggered). State Licence takes 30–60 days, including a mandatory pre-licensing inspection of the premises. Central Licence timelines are similar to State but involve the central authority. Incomplete uploads or document mismatches restart the clock.
Documents you'll actually need
Core documents across tiers: identity and address proof of the proprietor/directors/partners, proof of possession of the premises (rental agreement or ownership document), business registration certificate (certificate of incorporation, partnership deed, GST registration, or equivalent), and a basic food safety management plan or hygiene undertaking.
State and Central add-ons: list of food products and their specific categories (the licence is granted for specific food categories — 'all food products' is not accepted), details of installed equipment and capacity, premises layout showing the food processing area, and a water testing report. Importers additionally need their IEC (Importer-Exporter Code) from DGFT.
- ID + address proof of proprietor/directors/partners
- Premise possession proof (rental deed or title document)
- Business registration certificate (incorporation, GST, etc.)
- Specific food category list (not generic descriptions)
- Food safety management plan / hygiene undertaking
- For State/Central: premises layout, equipment list, water testing report
- For importers: IEC code from DGFT
After approval: what perpetual actually means
Under the 2026 amendment, the licence is condition-based rather than time-bound: it continues as long as you pay the annual fee and file required returns. For manufacturers, Form D-1 (annual return) is due by 31 May for the preceding financial year. Missing the annual fee triggers suspension rather than lapse — which means a restoration process rather than a fresh application, but the licence is non-operative during suspension.
Practical calendar: FoSCoS shows the annual fee window tied to your licence grant date. The D-1 return runs on the financial-year cycle. Keep both calendared — the fee and the return are the two compliance heartbeats that keep a perpetual licence alive. Businesses that maintained renewals under the old regime sometimes miss the first annual fee under the new model because nothing forces renewal paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start selling food before my FSSAI application is approved?
No. Operating a food business without a valid registration or licence is an offence under the Food Safety and Standards Act — penalties reach ₹5 lakh for operating without a licence. Basic Registration is typically processed within 7 days; the safer position is to wait for the certificate rather than assuming auto-approval from the application date.
Does a home baker or tiffin service selling through Instagram or WhatsApp need FSSAI?
Yes. FSSAI has clarified that home-based food businesses selling online are covered under the Act, and Basic Registration (₹100/year) applies once you sell food commercially. Marketplaces and delivery platforms ask for your FSSAI number during onboarding; operating without one risks account suspension and platform delisting.
My existing licence was issued under the old 5-year validity regime. What do I do?
Existing licences transition into the perpetual regime under the 2026 amendment's transition provisions. An annual fee payment now replaces the renewal application cycle. Confirm your annual-fee schedule in FoSCoS — don't rely on the expiry date on the old certificate. See our guide on the 2026 FSSAI amendment for the full transition details.
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