FSSAI Food Licence
The licence every food business needs — basic registration, state licence or central licence, matched to your turnover and activity.
What this is
Every food business operator in India — manufacturer, processor, packer, transporter, distributor, retailer or restaurant — must hold an FSSAI registration or licence before commencing operations. Which one you need is decided by turnover and by the nature of the activity.
Basic registration covers petty food businesses. A state licence covers mid-sized operators within a single state. A central licence is required for large operators, importers, exporters and businesses operating across multiple states.
The fourteen-digit licence number must be displayed on every food package and at the premises. It is one of the few licences customers actually look for.
Compare packages
| What is included |
Basic ₹2,499.00 |
Standard ₹5,999.00 |
Premium ₹11,999.00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility and category review | |||
| Application preparation and filing | |||
| Registration certificate delivered to your vault | |||
| Valid for 1 year | |||
| State licence application | |||
| Form B and declarations | |||
| Layout and equipment list preparation | |||
| Central licence application | |||
| Full documentation set | |||
| Response to any query raised by the authority |
Prices are our professional fee. Government fees and stamp duty are extra and shown separately.
Who can apply
Basic registration is for food businesses with annual turnover up to ₹12 lakh. A state licence covers turnover between ₹12 lakh and ₹20 crore. A central licence is required above ₹20 crore, and regardless of turnover for importers, exporters, e-commerce food operators and businesses at more than one state.
Certain activities — such as operating at a port or airport, or 100% export-oriented units — require a central licence irrespective of size.
Documents you will need
This is the same list we turn into your live checklist once you order, so nothing is a surprise later.
For the business
For the authorised signatory
For the registered office
How it runs
Category review
We confirm whether you need basic, state or central, from turnover and activity.
Day 1–2Documentation
Layout plan, equipment list, water test report and declarations prepared.
Day 2–6Application filed
Filed on the FoSCoS portal and the reference number recorded.
Day 6–8Department processing
The authority reviews and may raise a query or inspect.
Day 8–18Licence issued
Licence delivered to your vault with the expiry date registered.
Day 18–21What the fees are
| Our professional fee Standard package |
₹5,999.00 |
| FSSAI basic registration (per year) | ₹100.00 |
| GST @ 18% on our fee | ₹1,079.82 |
What happens if you do not do this
Carrying on a food business without the required licence is punishable with imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to ₹5 lakh.
Separate penalties apply for sub-standard or misbranded food, and for failing to display the licence number on packaging. Enforcement is active, particularly for restaurants and cloud kitchens.
What comes after
A licence is issued for one to five years and must be renewed before expiry — an expired licence cannot be renewed, only applied for afresh. An annual return (Form D1) is required for manufacturers and importers.
We add the expiry date to your renewal register and remind you well before it lapses, because a lapsed FSSAI licence stops the business rather than merely costing a late fee.
Questions people actually ask
Which FSSAI licence do I need?
Turnover up to ₹12 lakh: basic registration. ₹12 lakh to ₹20 crore: state licence. Above ₹20 crore, or importing, exporting or operating in more than one state: central licence. We confirm the category before filing, because applying under the wrong one wastes both the fee and the time.
How long is an FSSAI licence valid?
One to five years, at your choice at the time of application. Longer validity costs proportionally more government fee but avoids repeated renewal.
What happens if my licence expires?
An expired licence cannot be renewed — you must apply afresh, and you cannot trade in the meantime. Renewal must be applied for before the expiry date, which is why we register the date and remind you.
Do home-based food businesses need FSSAI?
Yes. Any food business operator needs at least basic registration, including a home kitchen or a cloud kitchen selling online. Food delivery platforms require the licence number before onboarding.
Do I need to display the licence number?
Yes. The fourteen-digit number must be displayed on food packages and at the premises. Failure to do so carries its own penalty.
Is a water test report always required?
For manufacturing and processing licences, yes — a report from an NABL-accredited or FSSAI-notified laboratory. It is not needed for basic registration of a retailer.
Reviews
Our FSSAI licence was about to lapse and nobody had told us. The renewal reminder came sixty days ahead and we renewed without a break in trading.
Related services
Udyam (MSME) Registration
Free government recognition as a micro, small or medium enterprise — and the credit, tender and delayed-payment protections that come with it.
Import Export Code (IEC)
The DGFT code you must hold before importing or exporting goods or services from India.
Shop & Establishment Registration
The state labour registration every commercial premises needs, and the document banks most often ask a proprietor for.
Startup India (DPIIT) Recognition
DPIIT recognition unlocking tax exemptions, self-certification and public procurement relaxations.
ISO Certification
ISO 9001, 27001 and other standards, from gap assessment through to certification audit.
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)
The Class-3 signing token required for every MCA, income tax, GST, tender and trademark filing.