FSSAI Registration & License in India

Types of FSSAI Registration & License by Kind of Business

FSSAI classifies every food business into a specific "Kind of Business" category under its notified eligibility schedule. The applicable category, together with turnover and capacity, determines whether Basic Registration, State License, or Central License is required. Below are the major kind of business categories relevant to most food businesses in India.

• Petty Food Business Operator: Small manufacturers, retailers, hawkers, itinerant vendors, and temporary stall holders with turnover up to ₹12 lakh, Basic Registration.
• Manufacturer: Any unit manufacturing or processing food products, classified by production capacity in tonnes or litres per day, Basic, State, or Central License depending on capacity and turnover.
• Dairy Unit / Milk Processing: Includes chilling, processing, and dairy product manufacturing units, classified by daily procurement or processing volume, Basic up to 500 litres/day, State up to 50,000 litres/day, Central above that.
• Vegetable Oil Processing Unit: Units engaged in oil extraction, refining, or processing, classified by daily processing capacity, Basic, State, or Central depending on tonnage.
• Slaughtering House & Meat / Fish Processing Unit: Units engaged in slaughtering, meat, poultry, or fish processing, classified by daily processing capacity.
• Storage, Warehouse & Cold Chain Operator: Includes cold storage, controlled atmosphere storage, and general warehousing of food products.
• Transporter: Businesses operating food transport vehicles, classified by fleet size, Basic for a single vehicle, State for larger fleets, Central above 100 vehicles or specified turnover.
• Wholesaler, Distributor & Retailer: Includes super-stockists, wholesale traders, and retail outlets, classified primarily by annual turnover.
• Hotel, Restaurant, Club, Canteen & Caterer: Includes standalone restaurants, hotel categories by star rating, industrial and institutional canteens, and catering services for events.
• Marketing / E-commerce Food Business Operator: Online food aggregators, marketplaces, and food delivery platforms, typically require a Central License.
• Importer: Businesses importing food products or ingredients into India, Central License, along with a valid Import Export Code (IEC).
• Exporter & 100% Export Oriented Unit (EOU): Businesses exporting food products from India, including EOUs operating within notified export zones, Central License.
• Re-packer & Re-labeller: Businesses that repack or re-label food products without altering the core manufacturing process.
• Proprietary Food, Novel Food & Health Supplement Manufacturer: Manufacturers of nutraceuticals, health supplements, and proprietary or novel food products, generally require a Central License.
• Food Business at Railways, Airports & Seaports: Food outlets and catering units operating within central government-regulated premises, Central License.

Because eligibility thresholds vary by kind of business and are periodically revised by FSSAI, RegisCorp verifies the current notified schedule before recommending a category, to avoid misclassification, application rejection, or the need for a category upgrade later.

Importers, exporters, and 100% Export Oriented Units generally also require a valid Import Export Code (IEC) from the DGFT before commencing operations, in addition to the applicable FSSAI Central License.

FSSAI Basic Registration vs State License vs Central License

The correct FSSAI category depends primarily on annual turnover, production or storage capacity, and the nature of the food business activity. The comparison below will help you identify the licence category applicable to your business.

Choosing the correct FSSAI category at the outset avoids rejection, delays, and the need for re-application. RegisCorp assesses your turnover and business activity to recommend the right licence before filing.

FSSAI Basic Registration, State License & Central License: Full Details & Pricing

Each FSSAI category has its own eligibility criteria, document requirements, processing timeline, and RegisCorp professional fee. Use the sections below to identify the right category for your food business and get started directly.

FSSAI Government Fee & RegisCorp's Professional Quote

FSSAI registration and licensing involves two separate components: the official government fee payable to FSSAI or the state licensing authority, and RegisCorp's professional fee for category assessment, documentation, FSMS preparation, FoSCoS filing, and end-to-end coordination until the certificate or license is granted.

Official FSSAI Government Fee (per year)

The government fee payable equals the applicable per-annum rate multiplied by the number of years of validity selected (1 to 5 years), and is paid directly on the FoSCoS portal at the time of application. The State License fee varies within the ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 band based on the specific kind of business and scale of operation.

RegisCorp's Professional Fee

The professional fee above covers RegisCorp's end-to-end service, category assessment, documentation, FSMS preparation, and FoSCoS filing, and excludes the government fee shown in the table above, which is paid separately and directly on the FoSCoS portal. For businesses with multiple locations, complex product categories, or additional documentation needs, a short free assessment call confirms the final scope before you commit.

Documents & Information Required for FSSAI Registration

The documents required for FSSAI registration or license vary slightly by category, but the following are commonly required across Basic Registration, State License, and Central License applications filed through the FoSCoS portal.

Documents of the Applicant / Proprietor

• PAN Card of the proprietor, partners, or authorised signatory
• Identity proof (any one): Aadhaar Card / Passport / Voter ID / Driving Licence
• Recent passport size photograph of the applicant or authorised signatory
• Contact details: mobile number and email ID for FoSCoS registration

Business & Premises Proof

• Proof of possession of business premises: rent agreement, NOC from owner, or ownership document
• List of food products or categories intended to be manufactured, processed, stored, or sold
• Partnership deed, LLP agreement, or Certificate of Incorporation, as applicable to the entity type
• Layout plan of the processing unit, for manufacturing and processing applicants

Additional Requirements for State & Central License

• Food Safety Management System (FSMS) plan or certificate, describing hygiene and safety controls
• Water testing report from an FSSAI-notified or NABL-accredited laboratory, for manufacturing units using water as an ingredient
• Import Export Code (IEC), applicable for importers and exporters of food products
• Source of milk or details of milk procurement plan, for dairy applicants
• Recall plan, wherever applicable, as part of food safety compliance for manufacturers
• Medical fitness certificates of food handlers, for specified manufacturing and catering categories
• List of directors, partners, or executive members with full address and identity proof, for Central License applicants
• Equipment and machinery list, and plant layout plan, for manufacturing and processing units

If your business does not yet hold an Import Export Code, RegisCorp can register your Import Export Code (IEC) alongside your FSSAI State or Central License application.

All documents can be submitted digitally through the FoSCoS portal. Our experts assist in reviewing, preparing, and filing documents to ensure smooth and error free FSSAI registration across India.

FSSAI Renewal, Modification & Penalties for Non-Compliance

Renewal of FSSAI Registration or License

FSSAI registration and license must be renewed before expiry to avoid business disruption. Renewal applications should ideally be filed on the FoSCoS portal between 120 and 30 days before the expiry date. Applications filed within the last 30 days before expiry attract a penalty of ₹100 per day of delay. Once a license or registration has expired, it cannot be renewed directly, and the food business operator must file a completely fresh application, which can disrupt operations and banking or vendor compliance requirements in the interim.

Modification of FSSAI License

A modification application is required whenever there is a change in the registered business details, such as a change of business address within the same state, addition or deletion of a director or partner, change in the kind of business or product category, or a change in the name of the food business. Operating with outdated FSSAI details is treated as non-compliance during inspection.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 prescribes specific penalties for non-compliance, which a Food Safety Officer or adjudicating authority can impose after due process:

• Operating a food business without valid registration or license (Section 63): monetary penalty extending up to ₹5 lakh, along with possible seizure of food stock and closure of premises.
• Manufacturing, storing, selling, or distributing unsafe food (Section 59): penalties that increase in severity where the unsafe food causes injury or death, in addition to potential criminal liability.
• Sub-standard food or misbranding (Sections 51 and 52): monetary penalties for food that does not meet prescribed quality or labeling standards.
• Furnishing false information or documents in an application (Section 61): penalty for inaccurate declarations made during registration, licensing, or renewal.
• Failure to maintain records, display the license, or file the annual return: administrative penalties and compliance notices under the FSS Rules, 2011.

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 revised several of these provisions to rely more heavily on monetary penalties for procedural and documentation lapses, while retaining strict consequences for unsafe food and unlicensed operation. RegisCorp helps food businesses stay ahead of renewal deadlines, modification triggers, and annual return due dates to avoid these penalties altogether.

Related Licenses, Registrations & Compliance for Food Businesses

FSSAI registration is a foundational requirement for any food business, but most food businesses also need additional registrations to operate legally, raise funding, protect their brand, and scale across India.

RegisCorp provides end to end legal and compliance support for all registrations commonly required alongside FSSAI registration. These registrations are governed by different authorities and are applicable uniformly across all Indian states and cities.

• Shop & Establishment License Mandatory state-level registration for restaurants, cafes, and food outlets operating from a physical premises. Often required alongside FSSAI registration to legally open and operate a food business location.
• MSME / Udyam Registration Enables food manufacturers and small food businesses to access collateral-free loans, subsidies, and government schemes designed to support small and medium enterprises.
• GST Registration Required once turnover crosses the applicable threshold, or voluntarily for restaurants, food delivery businesses, and suppliers seeking to claim input tax credit and issue compliant tax invoices.
• Trademark Registration Protects your food brand name, logo, and packaging design from imitation as you expand across cities, franchise your outlet, or list on e-commerce and delivery platforms.
• Import Export Code (IEC) Mandatory DGFT registration for food businesses that import ingredients or export food products from India, typically required alongside an FSSAI Central License.
• Company Registration For food businesses not yet incorporated, forming a Private Limited Company, LLP, or OPC first strengthens liability protection, funding eligibility, and the entity documents needed for FSSAI licensing.

Completing these registrations alongside FSSAI licensing strengthens the legal standing, funding eligibility, and brand protection of your food business. RegisCorp ensures all related compliances are completed accurately across India.