FSSAI Registration

Any business that manufactures, stores, transports or sells food in India needs an FSSAI registration or licence before it starts operating. Which one depends on turnover and scale: basic registration for the smallest operators, a State licence in the middle band, and a Central licence for large, import or export operations. The number must be displayed at the premises and printed on labels.

Who needs this: Food manufacturers, restaurants, caterers, traders

Government portal: https://foscos.fssai.gov.in

Indicative fees: Basic: ₹100-500. State License: ₹2,000-5,000. Central License: ₹5,000-15,000 (varies by state and category).

Timeline: Basic Registration approval: 3-5 days. State/Central License approval: 5-15 days (including inspection if applicable).

Who can use this

Food manufacturers and processors
Food traders and retailers
Food service operators (restaurants, cafes, caterers)
Bakeries and dairy units
Food import/export businesses
Packaged food producers
Food wholesalers and distributors

Who cannot use this

Non-food businesses
Individual home cooks (non-commercial)
Businesses with primary activity other than food

Documents required

PAN certificate
Aadhaar card copy
Address proof (electricity bill, water bill, or lease deed)
Premises layout plan or photograph
Details of water supply (municipal/bore well)
Waste disposal plan or system details
Sanitization plan
List of equipment/machinery used
Source documents of raw materials (if applicable)

Step-by-step process

Visit FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System) portal — Go to https://foscos.fssai.gov.in. Click 'New Registration' or 'Apply for License'. Select your state and food business type.
Register as new user on FoSCoS — Click 'New User Registration'. Provide email address and mobile number. Set password. Verify email and mobile OTP. Create account.
Log in and select registration type — Log in to FoSCoS. Choose registration type: Basic Registration (turnover <₹12L) or State License (turnover ₹12L-₹20L) or Central License (>₹20L turnover). Click 'Apply'.
Fill basic business details — Enter business name, PAN, proprietor/partner details, business address, type of food activity (manufacturing, trading, service, etc.), and contact information.
Provide food business details and products — Specify the food products you will handle (dairy, meat, bakery, spices, packaged foods, etc.). List all food categories under purview of your business.
Upload premises layout plan and photographs — Upload layout plan of your premises showing production area, storage, restrooms, waste disposal, etc. Include photos of premises, kitchen, and storage areas.
Describe water supply, waste disposal, and sanitation — Detail your water supply source (municipal/bore/tanker), waste disposal method, and sanitation plan (cleaning schedule, sanitizing agents). Upload waste disposal and sanitation documents.
List machinery, equipment, and raw material sources — Detail equipment used (processing, storage, packaging). Provide sources of raw materials (suppliers' names/addresses). Document food sourcing plan.
Upload supporting documents — Upload: PAN certificate, Aadhaar copy, address proof, premises photos, layout plan, sanitation plan, equipment list, and raw material source documents (all clear PDFs/images).
Provide applicant identity details — Fill proprietor/director/authorized person details: name, Aadhaar, DOB, address, email, mobile. Provide proof of identity.
Review complete application — FoSCoS displays full application summary: business details, products, premises, documents. Verify all sections are complete and accurate before submission.
Pay registration/license fee and submit — Pay applicable fee via online mode (e-Pay): Basic Registration (₹100-500), State License (₹2,000-5,000), Central License (₹5,000+). After payment, click 'Submit Application'.
Receive application reference number — After submission, FoSCoS generates an application reference number. Email confirmation is sent with reference number. Keep for tracking.
FSSAI verifies application and premises — FSSAI will review your application. For Basic Registration: decision within 3-5 days. For License: FSSAI officer may conduct premises inspection. Respond to any defect notice within specified period.
Download FSSAI registration certificate or license — Once approved, FSSAI issues unique FSSAI number (14 digits for State License, 10 for Basic). Download certificate/license from FoSCoS portal. Valid for 1/3/5 years depending on type.

Which of the three you need depends on turnover and scale

Basic registration is for the smallest food businesses, a State licence for mid-sized operations, and a Central licence for larger turnover, for importers and exporters, for operations at ports and airports, and for businesses operating in more than one state. Applying at the wrong level is a common cause of rejection and of enforcement action later — the level follows turnover and the nature of the operation, not preference.

It covers almost everyone who touches food

Manufacturers, processors, packers, storage and warehousing, transporters, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, restaurants, caterers, cloud kitchens and e-commerce food sellers are all food business operators. Home-based and small online food businesses are included, which surprises people who assume scale exempts them. Operating without registration where it is required is an offence with monetary penalties.

Display the number, and print it correctly

The 14-digit licence or registration number must be displayed at the premises and printed on food package labels, and marketplaces require it before listing. Labelling carries its own detailed requirements — name of the food, ingredients list, nutritional information, allergen declaration, the vegetarian or non-vegetarian mark, net quantity, date marking, and details of the manufacturer or packer. Labelling defects are among the most frequently cited non-compliances.

Renewal is not automatic and lapsing is expensive

Licences and registrations are issued for one to five years and must be renewed before expiry — applying after expiry can mean applying afresh, and operating on a lapsed licence attracts penalties. A late renewal application also attracts a daily fee. Because the cycle is multi-year rather than annual, it falls outside routine compliance calendars, which is exactly why it gets missed.

Hygiene, records and annual returns

Beyond the licence, operators must meet the sanitary and hygienic requirements in the regulations, keep records of raw materials, processing and distribution, and — for manufacturers and certain categories — file annual returns. Larger operations require a trained food safety supervisor. Inspections check the system, not just the certificate. Alongside FSSAI you will usually need a municipal trade licence and shop-and-establishment registration.

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