You can check any FSSAI licence or registration number online for free. Open FBO Search on the FoSCoS homepage, enter the 14-digit number with the captcha, and the result shows the business name, premises address, licence type and whether it is Active or Inactive. The same check works in FSSAI’s Food Safety Connect app, or by scanning the QR code on the certificate.
Quick FSSAI licence check:
- Go to foscos.fssai.gov.in and click the FBO Search tab on the homepage.
- Type the 14-digit number in License/Registration Certificate No. (or a company name), then enter the captcha.
- Click Search.
- Match the name and premises address to the label, bill or seller, and check that the status says Active.
For the difference between a registration, a State licence and a Central licence, see our guide to the FSSAI certificate. This post covers only the lookup.
What the 14-digit FSSAI number tells you
FSSAI’s licensing FAQs say every licence and registration number is 14 digits long, and the first digit tells you which kind it is.
| First digit | What it is | Typical holder |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FSSAI licence (State or Central) | Businesses above the registration turnover limit, and categories such as importers that always need a licence |
| 2 | FSSAI registration | Smaller food businesses within the registration turnover limit |
A number of any other length, or starting with any other digit, is not a valid FSSAI number. Guides often read the later digits as a state code, year and authority code, but FSSAI’s FAQs do not publish that breakdown, so only the FoSCoS search proves a number is genuine.
How to check an FSSAI licence on FoSCoS
FBO Search is a tab on the FoSCoS homepage, next to License/Registration and Know Your Officer. No login is needed. Menu labels can change, so look for the nearest match if a name differs.
- Open foscos.fssai.gov.in and click FBO Search.
- Fill in either field:
- License/Registration Certificate No.: the full 14 digits, with no spaces.
- Company Name: at least 3 characters of the registered name.
- Optionally choose Select State and Select District to narrow a name search.
- Type the code shown in Enter Captcha Code and click Search.
- If nothing matches, the portal shows “Record not found”. Re-check the digits first.
The tab also links to Commodity, Category or Area Specific Search, which filters by licence type, kind of business and area. FoSCoS has a separate E-Commerce FBO Search too.
Reading the FBO Search result
| Column | What to check |
|---|---|
| FBO/Company Name | Same legal entity as the brand, importer or seller you are dealing with |
| Premises Address | Same district and state as the address on the label or invoice. A licence covers one premises |
| License No./Registration No. | Matches the number printed, digit for digit |
| License Type | Registration, State licence or Central licence |
| Valid (Active/Inactive) | Should say Active. FoSCoS marks some inactive records “(Expired License)” or “(Expired Certificate)” |
| View Products | The food products endorsed on the licence. FSSAI’s FAQs say making a product not endorsed on the licence is treated as conducting business without a licence |
Check with the Food Safety Connect app or the QR code
FSSAI’s FAQs name the Food Safety Connect app as a way to verify licensed and registered businesses, and its launch press release says the app lets consumers “verify FSSAI license or registration on any food packet”. Download it from the Google Play Store, choose the licence verification option and enter the 14 digits. App menus can change between versions.
Every licence and registration is issued with a QR code. FSSAI’s FAQs say scanning it shows the details held in FSSAI’s database, which helps expose fraudulent certificates. The FoSCoS page it opens shows the company name, kind of business, date of issue, Active or Inactive status and the products covered. If what you scan does not match the paper in front of you, trust the scan.
Since August 2025, the front page of the certificate also carries a QR code for the Food Safety Connect app. FSSAI’s press release of 1 August 2025 asks restaurants, dhabas, cafes and other businesses to display the certificate in customer-visible areas such as entrances or billing counters.
Where to find the FSSAI number
| Where | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Food pack | FSSAI logo with “Lic. No.” and the 14 digits, in a contrasting colour. The brand owner’s number must appear, plus the manufacturer’s, packer’s or marketer’s if different. Importers show their own number and address | Regulation 5(7), Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020 |
| Shop, restaurant or warehouse | The registration or licence number, or a Food Safety Display Board where specified, at a prominent place in every premises | Regulation 5(7)(d), same regulations |
| Bills and invoices | The 14-digit number on cash receipts, invoices, cash memos and bills. GST e-way bills and other system-generated government documents are exempt | FSSAI order of 8 June 2021, enforced from 1 January 2022 |
| Online listing | Mandatory label details must be given to the buyer before sale, and platforms must not list a seller without displaying its valid FSSAI licence or registration | Regulation 4(2) of the Labelling Regulations; FSSAI advisory of 3 December 2024 |
The June 2021 order notes that a missing number indicates non-compliance or non-registration by the business.
What the result means, and what to do
| Result | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Active, details match | Valid licence or registration for that premises | Keep a screenshot with the date for your records |
| Inactive or “(Expired License)” | Licence has lapsed, or has been suspended, cancelled or surrendered | Ask the business for its current number. Do not rely on an old certificate |
| Record not found | Typing error, or a number that does not exist | Re-enter all 14 digits, then ask the supplier for the certificate and scan its QR code |
| Different name or address | Number belongs to another business or premises | Treat as a red flag until explained with documents |
| Product not listed | Product is not endorsed on the licence | Ask for a modified licence covering the product |
FSSAI’s FAQs say a business whose licence is suspended or cancelled must stop food business activity immediately, and one that closes down must surrender its licence online. FSSAI’s FAQs of 27 March 2026 say any licence or registration issued on or after 1 April 2026 stays valid unless suspended, cancelled or surrendered. Older licences were issued for one to five years, so an older certificate can still carry an end date.
How licence holders download their own certificate
The certificate is not a public download. FSSAI’s FAQs say it is emailed after issue: a licence to the nominated person’s email address, and a registration to the applicant’s. If it does not arrive, check the email address in the application.
For another copy, FSSAI’s FoSCoS guidance document says:
- Log in to FoSCoS with your user ID and password.
- On the dashboard, open the Issued tab, which lists licences and registrations already issued.
- Click Send Mail to email yourself the licence, then save or print the PDF.
For login problems, the FoSCoS helpdesk is 1800112100 (toll free) or helpdesk-foscos@fssai.gov.in.
How to report a fake or missing FSSAI number
Use Food Safety Connect, either in the app or on the Food Safety Connect portal linked as Consumer Grievance on FoSCoS. FSSAI’s user manual sets out the steps:
- Log in, or create an account with your email or mobile number and an OTP.
- Choose Register New Complaint and select a category.
- Pick the business from the list, or choose “Other FBO”. You can enter its 14-digit FSSAI number if you have one, and upload photos, bills or documents.
- Submit and note the ticket number, which you use to track the complaint.
FSSAI says complaints are routed to the authority with jurisdiction over the premises. Checking a non-food product? See our BIS registration number check, or Agmark certification for graded farm produce.
How Aaditech can help
Aaditech handles FSSAI registrations, State and Central licences, renewals of older licences, and modifications such as adding products or changing the premises address. If your FBO Search result shows a wrong address, a missing product or an inactive status, see our FSSAI licence service to put it right.