Overview
Every food business operator (FBO) in India must hold an FSSAI registration or licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Applications are filed on FSSAI’s online system, FoSCoS. Which one you need depends on your Kind of Business and turnover.
FSSAI changed the rules in 2026. Its order of 13 March 2026 revised the turnover thresholds from 1 April 2026. Its FAQs of 27 March 2026 confirm that licences and registrations are now valid unless suspended, cancelled or surrendered.
| Basic registration | State licence | Central licence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual turnover | Up to ₹1.5 crore | Above ₹1.5 crore, up to ₹50 crore | Above ₹50 crore |
| Required regardless of turnover | – | Grain, cereal and pulses milling units | Importers, e-commerce, exporters, 100% EOUs, health supplements and nutraceuticals, proprietary and non-specified food, multi-State head offices |
| Annual fee | ₹100 | ₹5,000 for most kinds of business | ₹7,500 |
| Issued by | State registering authority | State licensing authority | FSSAI |
Fees are from the FoSCoS eligibility sheet updated in April 2026. For the full picture, read our guide to the FSSAI certificate.
Who needs it
- Manufacturers and processors, including repackers and relabellers.
- Importers of food, ingredients and food additives, who need a Central licence at the address on their Import Export Code.
- E-commerce food businesses and brands selling food through their own website.
- Health supplement and nutraceutical brands, which need a Central licence.
- Distributors, wholesalers, retailers, storage and transport operators, at the tier their turnover requires.
Documents required
Basic registration needs Form A, photo ID and a self-declaration on hygiene. A State or Central licence typically needs:
- Photo ID and address proof of proprietors, partners or directors
- Proof of possession of the premises
- Partnership deed or memorandum and articles of association
- Layout plan and equipment list with installed capacity (manufacturers)
- List of food categories
- Water analysis report, where water is used as an ingredient
- Nomination of the responsible person (Form IX) and a food safety management system plan
- Import Export Code (importers) or NOC from the manufacturer (relabellers)
Process
- Tier check. We confirm your Kind of Business and turnover against the current FoSCoS sheet.
- Documents. We prepare the application and supporting documents.
- Filing. We file Form A or Form B on FoSCoS and pay the fee for the years you choose.
- Queries. We track the application and reply to queries within the 30-day window.
- Inspection. Where the authority inspects the premises, we help you prepare against the Schedule 4 hygiene requirements.
- Grant. The certificate is issued with a 14-digit number, which goes on your labels, premises and bills.
After grant
- Annual fee paid in advance on FoSCoS.
- Form D-1 annual return by 31 May, for manufacturers, importers and manufacturer-exporters.
- Form C modification for changes to name, address, Kind of Business or product categories.
- Label compliance under the Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020: FSSAI logo and “Lic. No.” on every pack.
Note: If you hold a licence issued before April 2026, check its status and any tier change on FoSCoS. FSSAI has said existing businesses will be given time to move to the new tiers at no cost.
How Aaditech helps
Aaditech works with importers and brands whose products need several Indian approvals at once. For food businesses we:
- pick the right tier under the 2026 thresholds and Kind of Business rules;
- prepare and file the FoSCoS application and handle queries until grant;
- review pack labels against FSSAI labelling and LMPC declarations;
- set up post-grant compliance, including fee payments, annual returns and modifications;
- advise on AGMARK where your buyers or export markets ask for graded produce. See our AGMARK certification service.
Contact us with your product list and business model, and we’ll confirm the licence you need.
