Every food business operator (FBO) in India must obtain FSSAI registration or a licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 before commencing operations. From 1 April 2026, small food businesses with annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore need only Basic Registration (previously the limit was ₹12 lakh). Licences and registrations issued from 1 April 2026 have perpetual validity — no more renewals — but an annual fee must still be paid to keep the registration active.
The Four Major FSSAI Reforms of 2026
Before anything else, the 2026 changes to FSSAI’s framework are the most significant update to India’s food licensing system in a decade. Most small food businesses have not yet fully understood what changed.
Reform 1 — New Turnover Thresholds (Effective 1 April 2026)
The FSSAI Order dated 13 March 2026 revised the annual turnover thresholds that determine which category of registration or licence applies:
| Category | Annual Turnover | Previous Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Registration | Up to ₹1.5 crore | ₹12 lakh |
| State Licence | Above ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore | ₹12 lakh to ₹20 crore |
| Central Licence | Above ₹50 crore | Above ₹20 crore |
What this means for small businesses: A home baker, kirana store, tiffin service, or small restaurant with turnover up to ₹1.5 crore now qualifies for the simplest and cheapest registration tier. Millions of businesses that previously needed a State Licence (with its heavier documentation and compliance requirements) can now operate under Basic Registration.
Migration is free and automatic. Existing State Licence holders whose turnover is now within the ₹1.5 crore Basic Registration threshold do not need to change their category or pay any migration fee — their licences continue under the updated framework.
Reform 2 — Perpetual Validity (Effective 10 March 2026)
All FSSAI licences and registrations issued on or after 1 April 2026 have perpetual validity — they remain valid indefinitely unless suspended, cancelled, or surrendered.
Previously, food businesses had to renew every 1–5 years — paying fees and resubmitting documents repeatedly. This is now abolished.
Critical nuance that every guide misses: Perpetual validity means the document is permanent — it does not mean all costs are eliminated. FBOs must still:
- Pay an annual fee each year to keep the registration active
- Maintain ongoing hygiene, sanitary, and food safety compliance at all times
- Respond to inspection notices and audits under the new risk-based inspection framework
Non-payment of the annual fee triggers automatic suspension of the registration/licence. A food business with a suspended FSSAI registration is operating illegally.
Reform 3 — Deemed Registration for Street Vendors
Street food vendors and hawkers who are already registered under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 with municipal corporations or vending committees are now automatically deemed registered under FSSAI — no separate application required.
This benefits 10 lakh+ street vendors across India by eliminating dual compliance and reducing regulatory harassment. The deemed registration does not exempt vendors from FSSAI’s hygiene and food safety requirements under Schedule 4 — those obligations remain fully applicable.
Reform 4 — Risk-Based Inspection System
Inspections are now based on risk classification — food type, compliance history, third-party audits, and risk scores — rather than a fixed calendar schedule. Compliant businesses with good inspection history face fewer routine checks. High-risk or non-compliant businesses face increased scrutiny.
Who Must Obtain FSSAI Registration or Licence?
Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, every person who carries on any food business must be registered or licensed with FSSAI. Food business means any undertaking, whether for profit or not, carrying out activities related to:
- Manufacture, processing, packaging, or storage of food
- Distribution, sale, or supply of food
- Import or export of food
- Catering or food service operations
- Food transport
This covers:
- Home bakers and cloud kitchens
- Kirana stores and grocery retailers
- Restaurants, dhabas, cafes, and food stalls
- Packaged food manufacturers
- Wholesale food distributors
- Food importers and exporters
- Online food aggregators and e-commerce food businesses
- Caterers (event and institutional)
- Mid-day meal scheme operators
- Hotels and hospitality businesses serving food
There are no exceptions based on scale. Even a single-person home-based tiffin service requires FSSAI registration.
Which FSSAI Registration Does Your Small Business Need?
Basic Registration (Form A) — For Businesses Up to ₹1.5 Crore Turnover
Who applies: Petty food manufacturers, small retailers, home bakers, street food stalls, small-scale processors, kirana stores, and any food business with annual turnover at or below ₹1.5 crore.
Issued by: District-level FSSAI Designated Officer (under state government)
Government fee: ₹100 per year (paid annually)
Documents required (minimal):
- Form A (completed online through FoSCoS)
- Photo identity of the proprietor/applicant (Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, or passport)
- Proof of address of business premises — utility bill (not older than 2 months) or rent agreement
- Passport-size photograph of the applicant
- NOC from property owner (if rented premises)
Approval time: Typically 7–30 days
What Basic Registration covers: All food business activities within the turnover limit and within a single state. A Basic Registration holder displaying their 14-digit FSSAI number on packaging, signage, and stationery is compliant.
State Licence (Form B) — For ₹1.5 Crore to ₹50 Crore Turnover
Who applies: Mid-scale manufacturers, processors, distributors, restaurant chains, large caterers, and any food business with annual turnover between ₹1.5 crore and ₹50 crore operating primarily within one state.
Issued by: State Food Safety Commissioner / State designated authority
Government fee: ₹2,000–₹5,000 per year depending on the category
Documents required:
- Form B (completed online through FoSCoS)
- Photo identity and address proof of proprietor/directors
- Business registration document (COI, GST certificate, or other entity proof)
- Proof of registered business address
- Food Safety Management System (FSMS) plan or certificate
- List of food products manufactured / handled
- Layout plan of the premises
- NOC from local authority / municipality
- Water testing report from NABL-accredited laboratory (for manufacturing units)
- Machine and equipment list (for manufacturers)
Approval time: 30–60 days (subject to documentary verification and possibly physical inspection)
Central Licence (Form B) — Mandatory for Certain Categories Regardless of Turnover
Who must have Central Licence:
- Businesses with annual turnover above ₹50 crore
- Importers of food products — Central Licence mandatory regardless of turnover (annual fee ₹7,500)
- E-commerce food business operators (food aggregators, online food marketplaces) — Central Licence mandatory regardless of turnover
- Nutraceutical manufacturers and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (FSDU)
- Businesses operating across multiple states
- 100% export-oriented food businesses
- Businesses operating within airport, seaport, or railway premises
Issued by: Central Government (FSSAI headquarters, New Delhi)
Key point for online food businesses: If you sell food products through your own website or an aggregator platform — Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, Flipkart — you need to understand the e-commerce FBO rules. Platforms like Swiggy and Zomato hold their own Central Licences covering their aggregator function. As a restaurant or food business listed on these platforms, your own FSSAI licence must be displayed on the listing — typically Basic Registration or State Licence based on your turnover.
How to Apply — FoSCoS Portal Step by Step
All FSSAI applications are filed through the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) at foscos.fssai.gov.in.
Step 1 — Determine Your Category
Calculate your annual turnover and match it to the threshold table above. Confirm whether any of the mandatory Central Licence categories apply regardless of turnover (importer, e-commerce FBO, nutraceutical manufacturer, multi-state operations).
Step 2 — Create a FoSCoS Account
Visit foscos.fssai.gov.in. Click “Sign-Up” or “Register.” Provide your name, mobile number, email address, and PAN. Verify via OTP. Create login credentials.
Step 3 — Start a New Application
Click “Apply for New License/Registration.” Select your premise type — General, Railway Station, Airport, or Seaport.
The portal will present the appropriate form based on your inputs:
- Form A — for Basic Registration (turnover up to ₹1.5 crore)
- Form B — for State Licence or Central Licence
Step 4 — Fill the Application and Upload Documents
Complete all fields — business name, nature of food business, food products handled, address of premises, owner/director details, turnover details.
Upload all required documents as clear, legible scans. The most common reasons for application delay are unclear document scans and mismatched name fields.
Step 5 — Select Validity and Pay the Fee
For new applications from 1 April 2026 onwards, perpetual validity is automatically assigned — you no longer select a validity period of 1–5 years.
Pay the annual government fee online through the FoSCoS payment gateway (UPI, net banking, credit/debit card):
- Basic Registration: ₹100 per year
- State Licence: ₹2,000–₹5,000 per year
- Central Licence: ₹7,500 per year
Step 6 — Track and Download Your Certificate
After submission, the portal generates an Application Reference Number (ARN). Use this to track status on FoSCoS. Once approved, download the FSSAI Registration Certificate or Licence Certificate directly from the portal.
Display your 14-digit FSSAI number on all food products, packaging, menus, signage, and your business website — this is a statutory requirement under FSSAI labelling regulations.
Ongoing Compliance Obligations — What Small Businesses Must Do After Registration
Getting registered is step one. The ongoing obligations matter just as much:
Annual fee payment: Pay the annual fee by the due date each year. Non-payment triggers automatic suspension of the registration. A suspended registration means illegal operation.
Display of FSSAI number: The 14-digit FSSAI licence number must be displayed on all food packages, advertising materials, and in the business premises.
Hygiene and sanitation standards (Schedule 4): All FBOs — including Basic Registration holders — must comply with Schedule 4 of the FSS (Licensing and Registration) Regulations. This covers premises cleanliness, water quality, personal hygiene of food handlers, waste disposal, pest control, and storage conditions.
Food Safety Management System (FSMS): State Licence and Central Licence holders must implement an FSMS — a documented system covering hazard analysis, critical control points, temperature management, and food safety practices. Basic Registration holders are encouraged but not mandated to implement FSMS.
Employee food safety training: Food handlers — anyone who directly handles food — should have basic food safety training. FSSAI’s FoSTaC (Food Safety Training and Certification) programme provides training for food handlers at different levels.
Record keeping: Under the January 2026 draft amendment (proposed, not yet final as of May 2026), food businesses may be required to maintain daily digital records of production, storage, raw materials, and finished goods. Traceability requirements (one-step-forward, one-step-back) are increasingly emphasised.
Responding to inspections: Under the new risk-based inspection system, inspections are triggered by risk score, compliance history, and consumer complaints — not a fixed calendar. When an inspector arrives, you must allow inspection, produce the registration certificate, and demonstrate compliance with Schedule 4 standards.
Penalties for FSSAI Non-Compliance
| Violation | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Operating without registration / licence | Imprisonment up to 6 months + fine up to ₹5 lakh |
| Selling sub-standard food | Fine up to ₹5 lakh |
| Selling misbranded food | Fine up to ₹3 lakh |
| Selling unsafe food | Imprisonment up to 6 months + fine up to ₹1 lakh (first offence); 1 year + ₹3 lakh (repeat) |
| Unsafe food causing grievous injury | Imprisonment up to 6 years + fine up to ₹5 lakh |
| Unsafe food causing death | Imprisonment up to 7 years + fine up to ₹10 lakh |
| Misleading advertisement | Fine up to ₹10 lakh |
| Failure to comply with food safety officer | Fine up to ₹2 lakh |
The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 is enforced by FSSAI Food Safety Officers who have powers of inspection, seizure, and prosecution. Non-compliance risks are not theoretical — food safety enforcement has intensified significantly under the 2026 regulatory reform framework.
FSSAI for Specific Small Business Types
Home Bakers
A home baker selling cakes, cookies, or other food items — whether through social media, WhatsApp groups, or local delivery — is an FBO and requires FSSAI registration.
Category: Basic Registration (if turnover up to ₹1.5 crore) Address: Your home address serves as the business premises Key document: Proof of residential address (Aadhaar/utility bill)
Cloud Kitchens
A cloud kitchen (delivery-only restaurant with no dine-in) is a food manufacturing and catering business. FSSAI registration or licence is mandatory.
Category: Basic Registration if turnover ≤ ₹1.5 crore; State Licence if turnover between ₹1.5 crore and ₹50 crore Additional: If listing on Swiggy/Zomato, your FSSAI number must be displayed on the platform listing
Kirana Stores and Grocery Retailers
Any kirana store selling packaged or loose food items requires registration.
Category: Basic Registration for small stores (turnover up to ₹1.5 crore) Note: Re-labelling or repacking food into smaller units triggers a manufacturing activity — verify whether your activity requires a higher category
Tiffin Services and Caterers
Home-based or small-scale tiffin and catering businesses are FBOs.
Category: Basic Registration (turnover up to ₹1.5 crore); State Licence for larger operations Hygiene focus: Schedule 4 compliance — clean premises, safe water, personal hygiene — is especially important for catering businesses as food is consumed directly
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is FSSAI registration and is it mandatory for small food businesses?
A: FSSAI registration is a mandatory licence issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to all food business operators (FBOs) under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. No food business — regardless of size — can legally operate without it. From 1 April 2026, small food businesses with annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore qualify for Basic Registration (the simplest tier), previously available only for businesses up to ₹12 lakh.
Q: What is the new FSSAI turnover limit for 2026?
A: Effective 1 April 2026, the FSSAI Order dated 13 March 2026 revised the thresholds: Basic Registration for annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore (previously ₹12 lakh); State Licence for turnover between ₹1.5 crore and ₹50 crore (previously ₹12 lakh to ₹20 crore); Central Licence for turnover above ₹50 crore (previously above ₹20 crore).
Q: What does FSSAI perpetual validity mean?
A: From 10 March 2026, FSSAI licences and registrations issued on or after 1 April 2026 have perpetual validity — they remain valid indefinitely without periodic renewal. However, perpetual validity does not eliminate the annual fee obligation. FBOs must still pay the annual government fee each year. Non-payment triggers automatic suspension of the registration. Compliance with hygiene and food safety standards must be maintained continuously.
Q: How do I apply for FSSAI Basic Registration in India?
A: Apply online through the FoSCoS portal at foscos.fssai.gov.in. Create an account, click “Apply for New License/Registration,” select Form A (Basic Registration), complete the application with business and personal details, upload required documents (identity proof, address proof, premises proof), and pay ₹100 annual fee. Approval typically takes 7–30 days. Download your registration certificate from the portal.
Q: Does a home baker need FSSAI registration in India?
A: Yes. A home baker selling food products — even through social media or home delivery — is a food business operator under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. FSSAI Basic Registration is required. The application can be filed using the home address as the business premises. The fee is ₹100 per year. Operating without registration risks a fine up to ₹5 lakh and imprisonment up to 6 months.
Q: Does an e-commerce food business need a Central FSSAI Licence?
A: Yes. E-commerce food business operators — platforms that sell food products online — require a Central FSSAI Licence regardless of annual turnover, as per the FoSCoS KoB Eligibility matrix updated 1 April 2026. Restaurants and food businesses listed on aggregators like Swiggy and Zomato need their own FSSAI registration (typically Basic or State based on turnover) — the aggregator’s licence does not cover individual food business operators listed on the platform.
Q: What happens if I operate a food business without FSSAI registration?
A: Operating without FSSAI registration or licence is a criminal offence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Penalties include imprisonment up to 6 months and a fine up to ₹5 lakh. FSSAI Food Safety Officers have inspection and seizure powers. Under the 2026 risk-based inspection framework, non-registered businesses are high-risk targets for enforcement action.
Q: Are street food vendors required to obtain FSSAI registration?
A: Street food vendors already registered with municipal corporations or vending committees under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 are now deemed registered under FSSAI — no separate application is required. However, they must still comply with all food safety and hygiene requirements under Schedule 4 of the FSSAI Regulations. Non-compliance with hygiene standards can still attract penalties.
Register Before You Sell — Not After You Get Caught
Every food business in India — from a home baker to a cloud kitchen to a kirana store — must be FSSAI registered before the first product is sold. The 2026 reforms have made registration easier and cheaper for small businesses than ever before, with the threshold raised to ₹1.5 crore, perpetual validity eliminating renewal hassle, and a streamlined FoSCoS portal.
The ₹100 annual fee for Basic Registration is the most cost-effective regulatory compliance in India’s business landscape. The cost of operating without it is not.
Apply for FSSAI Basic Registration directly through the official portal:
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Book a Compliance Consultation → TMZON
This article is written for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your FSSAI compliance requirements, please consult a qualified food regulatory consultant or legal professional.
Written by Arya Sharma, Advocate, Bombay High Court
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