About FSSAI - Governing law

For all food-related businesses involved in manufacturing, processing, importing, storing, distributing, catering, mess, canteen, or retailing, obtaining an FSSAI registration or license from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandatory. This requirement applies even to small eateries and street vendors (thelas) across India.

An FSSAI License comprises a 14-digit code issued by the authority under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 to all food business operators in India. This code certifies that the food products are of good quality and are free from adulteration. 

The license number is to be printed on the label of all food items intended for sale to the general public. In simple words, by obtaining FSSAI registration, businesses ensure that the food products comply with government standards and is safe for consumption.

Governing Law

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a legal authority that offers a food license to all food business operators (FBO) in India.

As per Section 31(1) Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, every Food Business Operator in the country must be licensed under the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The FSSAI licensing and registration procedure and requirements are regulated by the Food Safety & Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011.

The type of FSSAI certification—registration, state license, or central license—depends on the size and nature of the food business.

Who need FSSAI License and Registration - FSSAI eligibility

The Food Business operator carrying on the following kinds of businesses are mandatorily required to obtain an FSSAI Registration and License:

1. Small-scale food businesses, including petty retailers, hawkers, itinerant vendors, temporary stalls, sweet shops, juice stalls, snacks shops, confectionery or bakeries, etc.
2. Stalls (temporary or fixed) or food premises engaged in the preparation, storage, distribution, and sale of food products that can be served as snacks, tea, coffee and similar variants. 
3. Gol Gappa stalls, chat stalls, fruit or vegetable vendors, tea stalls, snacks stalls, bread fritters (pakora) stalls, samosa stalls, Chinese food stalls, South Indian food stalls, sweet stalls, juice shops, etc.
4. Hawkers selling packaged or freshly prepared food by travelling (usually on foot or movable carts) from one location to another.
5. Dairy units including milk chilling units, petty milkmen and milk vendors.
6. Vegetable oil processing units including solvent extraction and refining.
7. Slaughtering houses such as meat shops, mutton shops, chicken shops, lamb meat, etc.
8. Meat processing and fish processing units.
9. All food manufacturing or processing units including  radiation Processing, producing or adding food additives, enzymes, flavouring agents, processing aids, or repacking of food
10. Proprietary food and Novel food including specialized nutritional products and nutraceuticals.
11. Cold or refrigerated storage facility with or without atmospheric control.
12. Transporter of food products having several specialised vehicles like insulated refrigerated vans or wagons, milk tankers, food wagons, food trucks, etc.
13. Wholesaler, supplier, distributor and marketer of food products.
14. Hotels, restaurants, clubs and bars.
15. Canteens and cafeteria including mid-day meal canteens.
16. Food vending agencies and caterers.
17. Dhaba, Paying-guest serving food, Banquet halls with food catering arrangements, home-based canteens and food stalls in fairs or religious institutions.
18. Food Business Activities or Canteens at Central Govt. Premises
19. Importers and exporters of food items including food ingredients.
20. E-commerce food suppliers including cloud kitchens.

Types of FSSAI Registration or License?

There are three categories of FSSAI license/registration:

1. FSSAI Basic Registration
2. FSSAI State License
3. FSSAI Central License
   

The category of FSSAI license or registration depends on the nature of the business, business turnover and production capacity. Whether the FBOs are eligible for a Basic Registration, Central License, or State License will depend upon the installed capacity and turnover.

1. FSSAI Basic Registration

This type of FSSAI registration applies to small-scale food business operators. FBOs having a turnover of less than Rs.12 lakh p.a are required to obtain FSSAI Basic registration. The applicant must submit Form A to obtain FSSAI Basic Registration.

The petty Food business operators who manufacture or sell food items, hawkers, little retailers, itinerant vendors, temporary stall-holders, or small-scale units relating to food business who comply with the following conditions must obtain an FSSAI registration certificate.

• Annual turnover does not exceed Rs.12 lakh.
• Production capacity of food products (other than milk and milk products and meat and meat products) up to 100 litres or kg per day.
• For Dairy Business procurement or handling and collection of milk is up to 500 litres per day or up to 2.5 MT of milk solid per annum.
• Slaughtering capacity is 2 large animals, 10 small animals, or 50 poultry birds per day or less.
• Eligible transporter having single-vehicle.
• Food vending agencies having up to 12 vending machines in each State/UT.
• Distributes foods including in any religious or social gathering except a caterer.

2. FSSAI State License

This license applies to medium-sized food manufacturers, processors, distributors, and retailers. FBOs with an annual turnover exceeding Rs.12 lakh but less than Rs.20 crore are required to obtain the FSSAI state license. The applicant must submit Form A to acquire an FSSAI state license.

Food businesses that must obtain an FSSAI State License and their fees are as follows:

• Slaughterhouses handling 3 to 50 large animals, 51 to 1000 poultry birds, or 11 to 150 small animals are required to obtain an FSSAI State License. The fee for this license is Rs. 2000.
• Meat Processing Units producing up to 500 kg of meat per day or up to 150 metric tons (MT) of meat per annum must secure an FSSAI State License. The fee for this license is Rs. 3000.
• Dairy Businesses with a daily milk processing capacity of 501 to 10,000 litres or annual production of 2.5 to 500 MT of milk solids need an FSSAI State License. This license costs Rs. 3000.
• For larger Dairy Businesses that process between 1001 and 50,000 litres of milk per day or 501 to 2,500 metric tons (MT) of milk solids per annum, the FSSAI State License must be obtained at a fee of Rs. 5000.
• Vegetable Oil Processing Units with a daily production capacity of less than 1 metric ton (MT) must obtain an FSSAI State License. The fee is Rs. 3000.
• Vegetable Oil Processing Units with a daily production capacity ranging from 1 to 2 metric tons need an FSSAI State License, which costs Rs. 5000.
• Food Manufacturing or Processing Units with a production capacity from 101 kg/litres to 1 MT per day, including those involved in grains, cereals, pulses, and milling, must obtain an FSSAI State License. The fee for this license is Rs. 3000.
• For larger Food Manufacturing or Processing Units with a daily production capacity of 1 to 2 MT, an FSSAI State License is required at a fee of Rs. 5000.
• Cold or Refrigerated Storage Facilities with a storage capacity of up to 10,000 metric tons (MT) are required to obtain an FSSAI State License. The fee for this license is Rs. 2000.
• Atmospheric-Controlled Cold Storage Facilities with a storage capacity of up to 1,000 MT must secure an FSSAI State License, costing Rs. 2000.
• Cold Storage Without Atmospheric Control operating at a capacity of up to 50,000 metric tons (MT) requires an FSSAI State License. The fee for this license is Rs. 2000.
• Transporters operating up to 100 vehicles, with an annual turnover of up to Rs. 30 crores, need an FSSAI State License. The fee for this license is Rs. 2000.
• Food Vending Agencies operating up to 100 vending machines in a single state or union territory must obtain an FSSAI State License. The fee is Rs. 2000.
• Hotels that are one-star, two-star, or unrated require an FSSAI State License, which costs Rs. 2000.
• Three-Star and Four-Star Hotels must obtain an FSSAI State License, with a fee of Rs. 5000.
• Wholesalers with an annual turnover of up to Rs. 30 crores are required to have an FSSAI State License. The fee is Rs. 2000.
• Other Eligible Food Business Operators with an annual turnover exceeding Rs. 12 lakhs but not more than Rs. 20 crores must also obtain an FSSAI State License. The fee for this license is Rs. 2000.

3. FSSAI Central License

Large-scale food business operators (FBO) engaged in processing, transporting, manufacturing, and having international trade of food products with an annual turnover of more than Rs.20 crore are required to obtain the FSSAI central license. The applicant must submit Form A to acquire an FSSAI state license. The Government fee for FSSAI Central License is fixed at Rs 7,500 except in the case of Department canteens on the premises of the Central Government, for which the fee is Rs 2000.  

Food businesses that must obtain an FSSAI State License and their fees are as follows:

• Slaughterhouses handling more than 50 large animals, 1000 poultry birds, and 150 small animals.
• Meat Processing Units producing more than 500 kg of meat per day or more than 150 metric tons (MT) of meat per annum.
• For Dairy Businesses that process more than 50,000 litres of milk per day or more than 2,500 metric tons (MT) of milk solids per annum.
• Vegetable Oil Processing Units with a daily production capacity of more than 2 metric tons.
• For Food Manufacturing or Processing units with a daily production capacity of more than 2 MT.
• Cold or Refrigerated Storage Facilities with a storage capacity of more than 10,000 metric tons (MT).
• Atmospheric-Controlled Cold Storage Facilities with a storage capacity of more than 1,000 MT.
• Cold Storage Without Atmospheric Control operating at a capacity of more than 50,000 metric tons (MT).
• Transporters operating more than 100 vehicles, with an annual turnover exceeding Rs. 30 crores.
• Food Vending Agencies operating more than 100 vending machines in a single state or union territory.
• Five-star Hotels or above must obtain an FSSAI Central License.
• Wholesalers with an annual turnover of more than Rs. 30 crores.
• Importers and Exporters
• Proprietary Food, novel food
• FBOs on Central Govt. premises providing the following activities Storage, Wholesale, Distribution, Retail.
• Departmental Canteens on premises of Central Govt.
• FBO at the premises of the Airport/Seaport
• E-commerce
• Other Eligible Food Business Operators with an annual turnover exceeding Rs. 20 crores must also obtain an FSSAI Central License.

Specified list of food  business operators not required to obtain FSSAI central license even if the turnover exceeds Rs.20crores

• Club/Canteen
• Dhaba
• Mid-day meal canteen (serving in schools)

Documents required for FSSAI License/Registration

1. For All Food Business Operators:

• Form-B: Duly completed and signed (In Duplicate) by the Proprietor, Partner or Authorized Signatory.
• Photo I.D. and Address Proof: Issued by Government authority of Proprietor / Partner / Director(s) / Authorized Signatory.
• Proof of Possession of Premises: Sale deed, rent agreement, electricity bill, etc.
• Food Safety Management System Plan or Certificate (If any)
• Supporting documentary proof for Turnover.
• NOC/PA Document Issued by FSSAI.
• Declaration form (In the case of Delhi & Himachal Pradesh).
• Analysis report (Chemical & Bacteriological) of water to be used as an ingredient in food from a recognized/ public health laboratory to confirm the portability. (Applicable for all food service providers such as hotels, restaurants, food vending establishments, clubs, canteens, or any other prepared food establishments

Additional Documents are required to be uploaded based on the nature of the business

2. For Manufacturing and Processing Units:

• Blueprint/layout plan of the processing unit showing the dimensions in metres/square metres and operation-wise area allocation.
• Production unit photographs
• Name and List of Equipments and Machinery along with the number, installed capacity and horsepower used.
• List of food categories desired to be manufactured.
• Authority letter with name and address of responsible person nominated by the manufacturer along with alternative responsible person indicating the powers vested with them viz assisting the officers in inspections, collection of samples, packing & dispatch.
• Dairy processing: Source of milk or procurement plan for milk including location of milk collection centres etc. in case of Milk and Milk Products processing units.
• Meat processing: Source of raw material for meat and meat processing plants.
• Slaughter House: NOC from municipal corporation or local body.
• Packaged Drinking water: Pesticide residues report of water in case of units manufacturing packaged drinking water, packaged Mineral water and/or carbonated water from a recognized public health laboratory.
• Novel Foods: Product approval from FSSAI Headquarters for each products.
• Nutraceuticals: Product Specification (ingredients as per applicable schedule) for each product mentioning the purity criteria adopted for ingredients of Nutraceuticals and health supplement products as per the prescribed format.
• Proprietary foods: Composition of each product as per the prescribed format.
• Recall plan.

3. For Companies:

• Partnership Deed/Memorandum & Articles of Association towards the constitution of the firm.
• List of Directors / Partners / Proprietor / Executive Members of Society / Trust with full address and contact details.
• Form IX: Nomination of Persons by a Company along with the Board Resolution.

4. For Relabellers and Repackers:

• NOC & License Copy from Manufacturer: Mandatory for relabellers and repackers only.

5. For Cooperatives:

• Copy of certificate obtained under Coop Act - 1861/Multi-State Coop Act - 2002 in case of Cooperatives.

6. For Hotels:

• Certificate Provided by Ministry of Tourism (HRACC).

7. For Transporters:

• Supporting Documentary Proof for Turnover or Self Declaration of Number of Vehicles: Mandatory for transporters only.

8. For 100% Export-Oriented Units (EOU):

• Ministry of Commerce Certificate for 100% EOU.

9. For Importers and Merchant Exporters:

• Import Export Code (IEC) document issued by DGFT.
• Declaration that the products meant for export only shall not be exposed for sale or consumption in the domestic market. Further, the products (meant for export only) meet the standard of the importing country.

10. For Head Office or Registered Office or eCommerce:

• Recall Plan: Wherever applicable, include details of product distribution. (optional)

Other Documents

• In the case of extraction of groundwater, NOC from CGWA as per FSSAI order dated 2nd January 2018 and 11th January 2021.
• Any document that is required by the licensing authority to ensure the safety of food.
• Any document specified by FSSAI or Commissioner of Food Safety through a public order for any particular kind of business activity or in general.

Registration process for FSSAI Registration?

Step 1: Log in to the FSSAI portal and click on "Apply for New License/Registration"

Step 2:  Choose the appropriate option based on your business needs.

• Select the "General" option if the premise is located outside the Railway Station/Airport/Seaport.
• Select the "Railway Station" option if the premise is located in the Railway Station.
• Select the "Airport/Seaport" option if the premise is located in the Airport/Seaport.

Step 3: Select the state where the premise is located for which the License/Registration will be obtained.

• Food business operators must obtain a separate license for each physical location of their operations, except for transporters, who can get a single license for all their vehicles.
• Where a food business operator has premises or units in more than one state, they must designate one location as the head office to obtain a central license. A separate FSSAI license, either central or state, must be obtained for each additional location according to eligibility requirements.
• Each premise of the food business operator (FBO) shall hold only one FSSAI license, that allows endorsement of any kind of business (KoB).

Step 4: Select the relevant business category to view its definition, then select the corresponding radio button to proceed.

• The type of FSSAI registration or license that will be applicable — whether it's an FSSAI basic registration, state license, or central license will depend on the type of business, turnover and capacity of production.

Step 5: Fill in the application form

Step 6: Upload the necessary documents, make the payment using available methods, and submit your application.

Step 7: After payment, a receipt with a 17-digit reference number will be generated for future reference.

• Once the applicant submits the application form and supporting documents to the FoSCoS portal, the FSSAI authority will review them within seven days of receiving the application.
• At the Department's discretion, they may also inspect the applicant's food premises before issuing the FSSAI registration certificate.
• Should the application be rejected, the applicant will receive written notification. If the Department is satisfied that the FBO meets all the required criteria, they will grant an FSSAI registration certificate containing the 14-digit registration number. The applicant can also download the FSSAI registration certificate by logging into the FoSCoS portal.
• The FBO must display the FSSAI registration certificate at the place of business during business hours, and the FSSAI registration 14-digit number must appear on all its products.