FSSAI Registration 2026: Complete FoSCoS Guide with New ₹1.5 Cr Turnover Limit
Apply online for Basic Registration (₹100/yr), State License (₹5,000/yr), or Central License (₹7,500/yr). New 2026 thresholds effective 1 April 2026. Perpetual validity. Instant grant for eligible petty FBOs.
Key Compliance Specifications
At-a-Glance Statutory Requirements
All Food Business Operators (FBOs) in India. Basic Registration: Turnover ≤ ₹1.5 Cr/yr (Form A). State License: ₹1.5 Cr – ₹50 Cr/yr (Form B). Central License: > ₹50 Cr/yr or multi-state/importer/e-commerce (Form B). Category exceptions apply (caterers, importers, 5-star+ hotels, grain mills).
Basic Registration: ₹100/year (Hawkers: Nil, Anganwadi: Nil). State License: ₹5,000/year. Central License: ₹7,500/year. Railway/Central Govt canteens: ₹2,000/year. Prepay for multiple years allowed.
Basic Registration: 7–10 working days (instant for eligible petty FBOs post-payment). State License: 30–45 working days (includes inspection). Central License: 45–60 working days (includes inspection).
Perpetual validity for registrations/licenses issued on or after 1 April 2026. No renewal required. Annual fee payable for one or more years. Existing licences migrate on FoSCoS via self-declaration (no fee, same licence number).
Operating without FSSAI licence: Up to 6 months imprisonment and/or ₹5 lakh fine (Section 63, FSS Act 2006). Late renewal (pre-2026 licences): ₹100/day. Duplicate certificate: 10% of applicable licence fee.
What is FSSAI / food licence?
FSSAI Registration/Licence is the mandatory food-safety approval under Section 31 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 for every Food Business Operator (FBO) in India—manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution, sale, import, export, or online food sales (including Instagram/WhatsApp/ONDC). The 2026 Amendment Regulations (notified 10 March 2026, effective 1 April 2026) raised the Basic Registration turnover ceiling from ₹12 lakh to ₹1.5 crore, introduced perpetual validity, and enabled instant grant for petty FBOs. Applications are filed exclusively on the FoSCoS portal (foscos.fssai.gov.in) via Form A (Registration) or Form B (State/Central License).
Governing Act: Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006; Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026
Regulatory Authority: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
Who Needs to Comply / Eligibility Criteria
Key Benefits & Strategic Advantages
Statutory protections and operational advantages of timely compliance.
Document Checklist
Required Proofs & Paperwork
Official Fee Schedule
Statutory Government Fees & Penalty Matrix
| Category / Taxpayer Slabs | Government Fee | Applicable Penalty / Late Fee | Compliance Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Registration (Turnover ≤ ₹1.5 Cr/yr) | ₹100 per year | Nil (perpetual validity; annual fee payable anytime) | Hawkers (itinerant/mobile vendors): Fee waived w.e.f. 28 Sep 2024. Anganwadi centres: Fee waived w.e.f. 12 Mar 2025. Prepay for any number of years allowed. Instant grant for eligible petty FBOs post-payment. |
| State License (Turnover ₹1.5 Cr – ₹50 Cr/yr) | ₹5,000 per year | ₹100/day for late renewal of pre-2026 licences. Duplicate: 10% of fee (₹500). | Applies to manufacturers, restaurants, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, storage, transporters, clubs/canteens, hotels up to 4-star, caterers (no registration tier), grain/cereal/pulse mills (mandatory State at any turnover). Includes inspection. |
| Central License (Turnover > ₹50 Cr/yr or Multi-state/Importer/E-commerce) | ₹7,500 per year | ₹100/day for late renewal of pre-2026 licences. Duplicate: 10% of fee (₹750). | Mandatory for: Importers, e-commerce platforms, 100% EOUs, proprietary food, nutraceuticals, non-specified food, Ayurveda Aahara, radiation processing, 5-star+ hotels, head offices with multi-state ops, Central Govt agencies, airports/seaports. Includes inspection. |
| Special Central License Categories | ₹2,000 per year | Standard late/duplicate rules apply. | Railway premises food businesses & Central Government departmental canteens (turnover > ₹1.5 Cr). Departmental canteens ≤ ₹1.5 Cr: Central Registration ₹100/yr. |
| Professional/Consultancy Fees (Market Benchmark) | ₹1,500 – ₹5,000 (Basic); ₹3,000 – ₹10,000 (State); ₹5,000 – ₹15,000 (Central) | N/A | Separate from government fees. Covers form filing, document prep, query handling, inspection liaison. Food lab testing: ₹1,000–₹5,000+ per product if required. |
Official Filing Procedure
Step-by-Step e-Filing Workflow
Process executed on the official regulatory portal: FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System) - foscos.fssai.gov.in
Access FoSCoS Portal & Create Account
Visit foscos.fssai.gov.in. Click 'Sign Up'. Enter name, email, mobile, create password. Verify via OTP on mobile & email. Log in with credentials.
Select Application Type & Form
Dashboard → 'Apply for Licence/Registration'. Choose: 'Registration' (Form A) for turnover ≤ ₹1.5 Cr, or 'State License' / 'Central License' (Form B) for higher tiers. System auto-suggests based on turnover & Kind of Business (KoB) selection.
Fill Business & Premises Details
Enter legal name, trade name, entity type, PAN, GSTIN (if any), CIN/LLPIN. Select exact Kind of Business (KoB) from dropdown (e.g., Restaurant, Manufacturer, Retailer, E-commerce, Caterer). Enter premises address, contact person, mobile, email. For multiple premises, each needs separate application.
Declare Food Categories & Turnover
Select food product categories from FSSAI standard list (e.g., 01-Dairy, 02-Fats/Oils, 04-Fruits/Veg, 09-Prepared Foods). Declare annual turnover (self-declared). For manufacturers, enter installed capacity (MT/day or LPD).
Upload Mandatory Documents
Upload scanned copies (PDF/JPG, max 2 MB each): Photo ID, address proof, premises proof, NOC, photo, constitution docs (for entities), layout plan (State/Central), FSMS plan (State/Central), water test (State/Central), equipment list (State/Central). Ensure clarity—blurry docs cause rejection.
Pay Government Fee Online
Fee auto-calculated based on KoB, tier & validity years selected (1–5+ years). Pay via net banking, UPI, debit/credit card, NEFT/RTGS challan. Fee receipt generated instantly. For Basic Registration, instant grant may trigger immediately after payment.
Submit Application & Save Reference Number
Review all entries. Click 'Submit'. System generates 17-digit Application Reference Number (ARN). Save ARN & download acknowledgment. No physical submission required.
Track Status & Respond to Queries
Dashboard → 'Track Application Status' → Enter ARN. Stages: Submitted → Under Scrutiny → Query Raised (respond within 7 days via dashboard) → Inspection Scheduled (State/Central) → Approved → Certificate Issued. Basic Registration often skips inspection.
Download Certificate & Display FSSAI Number
On approval, log in → 'My Licences/Registrations' → Download digitally signed certificate (PDF). Certificate bears 14-digit FSSAI number (1=Central, 2=State, 3=Registration). Mandatory: Display at premises, print on all labels, packaging, invoices, menus, website, app, social media.
Risk Mitigation & Error Prevention
Common Rejection Causes & Penalty Notices
- Wrong Kind of Business (KoB) selection – e.g., selecting 'Retailer' for a cloud kitchen that is 'Manufacturer'
- Mismatched business name across PAN, GST, rent agreement & application
- Blurry/unreadable document uploads (especially layout plan & water test)
- Incorrect turnover declaration (under/over-stating to manipulate tier)
- Missing NOC for rented premises or using residential address without proof
- Selecting Basic Registration for category-exempt businesses (caterers, importers, 5-star hotels)
- Incomplete FSMS plan or missing HACCP for State/Central License
- Using outdated turnover limits (₹12 lakh/₹20 Cr) instead of 2026 thresholds (₹1.5 Cr/₹50 Cr)
Section 63, FSS Act 2006: Operating without valid FSSAI licence/registration → Imprisonment up to 6 months AND/OR fine up to ₹5 lakh. Section 55: False/misleading information → Fine up to ₹2 lakh. Section 56: Obstructing Food Safety Officer → Imprisonment up to 3 months AND/OR fine up to ₹1 lakh. Pre-2026 licences: Late renewal → ₹100/day. Improvement Notice (Section 32) → Non-compliance leads to suspension/cancellation. Prohibition Orders (Section 33) for imminent health hazard.
• Turnover near ₹1.5 Cr or ₹50 Cr threshold – tier misclassification risk • Category-exempt businesses (caterers, importers, e-commerce, nutraceuticals, 5-star hotels, grain mills) – mandatory higher tier regardless of turnover • Multi-premise / multi-state operations – Central License & head office compliance • Prior rejection or query notice from Designated Officer • Need for instant Basic Registration grant (eligible petty FBO workflow) • Migration of existing State Licence to Registration under 2026 thresholds • Food lab testing coordination & FSMS/HACCP documentation • Export/Import (requires Central License + IEC + DGFT alignment) • Ongoing compliance: Annual returns (Form D1/D2), FOSTAC training, hygiene audits
Frequently Asked Questions on FSSAI / food licence
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