FSSAI Basic Registration

FSSAI Basic Registration is done online through the FoSCoS portal by filing Form A. Following the 2026 FSSAI reforms, this category now covers food businesses with an annual turnover of up to ₹1.5 crore (raised from the earlier ₹12 lakh limit). The process involves five steps: 1) Keep your ID proof, address proof, a passport-size photo and a list of food products ready. 2) Visit foscos.fssai.gov.in and click "Apply for New License/Registration," then select your state and Kind of Business (KoB). 3) Fill Form A with your business, address and contact details. 4) Upload the scanned documents and pay the registration fee of ₹100 per year. 5) Note the 17-digit reference number to track your application, and download your registration certificate once approved — typically within 7–15 days, or within 48 hours under the Tatkal scheme. Once granted, the registration now carries perpetual validity (effective 10 March 2026), subject to payment of the annual fee.

No, GST registration is not a mandatory pre-requisite for FSSAI Basic Registration — the two are independent registrations under different laws. However, if your business already has a GSTIN, FoSCoS may ask you to provide it as supporting business proof. Likewise, holding an FSSAI registration does not automatically make GST registration compulsory; GST becomes mandatory only once your turnover crosses the GST threshold (₹20–40 lakh depending on the state and category) or you sell through e-commerce platforms. Since aggregators like Zomato and Swiggy often ask for both FSSAI and GST details during onboarding, it is advisable to keep both ready even if not strictly mandatory at your current turnover.

FSSAI issues three categories of registration or license based on annual turnover and the nature of business activity. 1) Basic Registration (Form A) — for food businesses with turnover up to ₹1.5 crore, suited to small vendors, home kitchens and petty food stalls, with a fee of ₹100 per year. 2) State License (Form B) — for businesses with turnover between ₹1.5 crore and ₹50 crore, requiring more detailed documentation such as a layout plan and food safety management plan. 3) Central License (Form B) — for large businesses with turnover above ₹50 crore, importers/exporters, e-commerce food operators, and businesses with units in more than one state. The applicable category also depends on the "Kind of Business" selected, not turnover alone.

No. Food delivery platforms such as Zomato and Swiggy require every restaurant, cloud kitchen or home-based food seller to upload a valid FSSAI registration or license number before they can be listed and start accepting orders. If your annual turnover is up to ₹1.5 crore, a Basic Registration is sufficient; larger or multi-outlet businesses need a State or Central License. Selling food without a valid FSSAI number can lead to your listing being suspended and may attract penalties under the Food Safety and Standards Act, including fines of up to ₹5 lakh.

As per the FSSAI Order dated 13 March 2026 (effective from 1 April 2026), the turnover limit for FSSAI Basic Registration has been raised to ₹1.5 crore per year, up from the earlier ₹12 lakh. Businesses with an annual turnover between ₹1.5 crore and ₹50 crore need a State License, while those above ₹50 crore — or carrying out specific activities such as import/export, e-commerce food sales, or operations across multiple states — require a Central License, regardless of turnover.

FSSAI Basic Registration on the FoSCoS portal generally involves four stages. 1) Online application — selecting your state, Kind of Business and filling Form A with business details. 2) Document upload — ID proof, address proof, photograph and a declaration of food categories. 3) Fee payment — ₹100 per year, after which a 17-digit application reference number is generated. 4) Verification and approval — the Food Safety Officer reviews the application, typically within 7–15 days (or 48 hours under the Tatkal scheme for eligible categories), after which the registration certificate becomes available for download.

In most cases, yes. Under FSSAI's Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) programme, every licensed food business (State and Central License holders) is required to have at least one trained and certified Food Safety Supervisor per premise or unit. For Basic Registration holders, FoSTaC certification is being rolled out progressively under the risk-based compliance framework and is increasingly checked during inspections or when upgrading categories. Even where it is not strictly mandatory for your category, getting a Food Safety Supervisor FoSTaC-trained is strongly recommended, as it strengthens compliance and is often verified during audits.

FSSAI "Registration" (Form A) is meant for small Food Business Operators with annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore, and involves minimal documentation along with a lower fee of ₹100 per year. An FSSAI "License" (Form B) applies to State License holders (turnover ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore) and Central License holders (turnover above ₹50 crore, or specific high-risk/multi-state activities), and requires more detailed documentation such as a premise layout plan, water test report and food safety management plan. Both are issued with a unique 14-digit number and, after the 2026 reforms, both now carry perpetual validity subject to annual fee payment — the key difference lies in eligibility (turnover and activity) and the level of documentation required.

FSSAI's regulatory mandate is generally summarised under these core functions: 1) Framing food safety standards and regulations. 2) Granting registrations and licenses to Food Business Operators. 3) Laying down procedures for accreditation of certification bodies and food testing laboratories. 4) Monitoring and surveillance of food safety through inspections and sampling. 5) Collecting data on food consumption, contamination and emerging risks. 6) Capacity building and training of stakeholders through programmes such as FoSTaC. 7) Creating consumer awareness, education and grievance redressal. Together, these functions ensure that food sold in India meets safety, hygiene and labelling standards from production to consumption.

The government fee for FSSAI Basic Registration is ₹100 per year under the 2026 FoSCoS fee structure. Since FSSAI registrations and licenses now carry perpetual validity (effective from 10 March 2026), this fee is payable annually rather than as a one-time lump sum for a fixed multi-year tenure, as was the case earlier. Apart from this government fee, if you take professional help for documentation, application filing and follow-up, a separate service fee applies depending on the consultant or platform you choose.

Your total FSSAI cost depends on three factors. 1) Category — Basic Registration (₹100/year), State License, or Central License, where State and Central License fees vary by Kind of Business and can range from a few thousand rupees to ₹7,500 per year for a Central License. 2) Duration — though registrations and licenses are now perpetually valid, the annual fee is payable each year; older multi-year applications filed before the 2026 change may still reflect a one-time multi-year fee. 3) Professional charges — if you engage a consultant or compliance platform for documentation, filing and liaison with the department, their service fee is added on top of the government fee.

Yes, for eligible categories. FSSAI's Tatkal (instant) scheme allows Basic Registration and certain Form B applications to be processed within 48 hours of fee payment and digital document verification, instead of the standard 7–15 day timeline. Eligibility for Tatkal depends on the Kind of Business selected and the completeness of your documents; an incorrect Kind of Business selection is the most common reason applications get delayed or sent back for correction.

A food truck or mobile food vending unit typically needs FSSAI Basic Registration if its annual turnover is up to ₹1.5 crore, which covers most food trucks. The minimum requirements include identity and address proof of the operator, the vehicle's registration certificate (RC) as proof of the business premise, a declaration of the food items or menu you intend to sell, a passport-size photograph, and ideally a FoSTaC-trained food handler on board. If the food truck operates across multiple states or its turnover exceeds ₹1.5 crore, a State or Central License may be required instead of Basic Registration.

Yes — both the platform and every seller on it need a valid FSSAI registration. Zomato, as a Food Business Operator that facilitates the sale and delivery of food across India, holds its own FSSAI license (typically a Central License, given its multi-state operations). Separately, every restaurant, cloud kitchen or home chef listed on Zomato must hold their own valid FSSAI registration or license — Basic, State or Central depending on turnover — and upload it during onboarding. Zomato's own license does not cover or substitute for the FSSAI registration of individual sellers on the platform.

L1 and L2 are categories under state Excise Department licensing and are not part of the FSSAI framework. Broadly, an L1 license permits wholesale trade and distribution of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), while an L2 license permits retail sale of liquor for consumption off the premises (a liquor shop). These licenses are issued by the respective State Excise Department, and exact definitions, fees and eligibility vary from state to state. If your food business, such as a restaurant or bar, also serves alcohol, you will need the relevant state excise license in addition to your FSSAI registration or license for food items.

Yes. Even home-based food businesses — such as tiffin or dabba services, home bakeries, pickle and snack makers, or cloud kitchens run from a residence — must obtain FSSAI Basic Registration if their annual turnover is up to ₹1.5 crore. This applies whether you sell offline, through your own website, or via platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, Zomato or Swiggy. Operating without registration can attract penalties under the Food Safety and Standards Act, and most online marketplaces will not onboard sellers without a valid FSSAI number.

The three categories differ primarily by annual turnover and business activity. Basic Registration (Form A) covers turnover up to ₹1.5 crore, needs simple documentation, costs ₹100 per year, and suits small vendors and home businesses. State License (Form B) covers turnover between ₹1.5 crore and ₹50 crore, requires more detailed documents such as a food safety management plan and premise layout, and is issued by the State Food Safety Department. Central License (Form B) covers turnover above ₹50 crore, or activities such as import/export, large-scale manufacturing, e-commerce food businesses, or operations across multiple states, and is issued by the FSSAI head office. All three now carry perpetual validity from 10 March 2026, subject to timely annual fee payment.

"CL7" is not an FSSAI term — it refers to a liquor or excise license category used by certain State Excise Departments, and its exact scope varies from state to state under the respective State Excise Act. Since excise license codes and their definitions differ across states, it is best to confirm the precise meaning applicable to your state with the local Excise Department or a compliance professional. If you are setting up a restaurant or bar, this type of excise license is required in addition to, and separate from, your FSSAI registration or license for food operations.

Yes. A Food Business Operator can hold more than one FSSAI registration or license if they operate from more than one premise or location — each separate manufacturing unit, storage facility, branch or outlet generally requires its own registration or license corresponding to that address. Additionally, a business may need a Central License for its head office or multi-state operations, along with separate State Licenses or Basic Registrations for individual branches in different states, depending on each unit's turnover and activity.

APL (Above Poverty Line) and BPL (Below Poverty Line) are ration card and welfare-scheme classifications used by state governments to determine eligibility for subsidised food grains and other benefits under the Public Distribution System — they are unrelated to FSSAI registration or food business licensing. Neither is inherently "better"; eligibility depends on a household's income and socio-economic criteria as defined by the respective state government, and BPL cardholders typically receive higher subsidies. This classification has no bearing on whether a food business needs FSSAI registration or which category applies.

"CL9" refers to a liquor license category under the Karnataka Excise Act, issued by the Karnataka State Excise Department, and is not part of the FSSAI framework. Fees for such excise categories are revised periodically by the state government and depend on factors like the area (urban or rural), type of establishment and license tenure. For the current, exact fee applicable to a CL9 license, check the latest notification from the Karnataka Excise Department or consult a local compliance professional — FSSAI registration remains a separate, additional requirement for the food side of such establishments.

Every FSSAI registration or license, including Basic Registration, is identified by a unique 14-digit number issued through the FoSCoS portal upon approval. This number is divided into segments indicating the registration/license status, the state code, the year of registration, the approving officer's code, and a unique serial number for the Food Business Operator. This 14-digit number must be displayed at the business premises and printed on food packaging along with the FSSAI logo, and can be entered on the FoSCoS portal to verify the registration's validity and status.

Form MD-41 is not related to FSSAI — it is a form under the Medical Device Rules, 2017, administered by the CDSCO and state licensing authorities, used to apply for a license to manufacture certain Class A and Class B medical devices, including in-vitro diagnostic devices. If your business deals with both food products and medical or health devices, such as nutraceuticals along with diagnostic kits, you may need FSSAI registration for the food or nutraceutical side and a separate medical device manufacturing license, such as MD-41, for the devices — these are governed by different authorities and require separate applications.

No, these are different identifiers for different purposes. A "Farmer ID" is a unique digital identity issued to farmers under India's Agristack/Digital Agriculture Mission, used to link farmers to land records and government scheme benefits such as PM-KISAN. An "FSSAI registration number" is a 14-digit code issued to a Food Business Operator under the Food Safety and Standards Act. If a farmer also processes and sells packaged food products, such as honey, pickles, flour or spices, under their own brand, they would need FSSAI Basic Registration for that food business in addition to their Farmer ID, which serves a separate agricultural-scheme purpose.

You can check your FSSAI application or registration/license status on the FoSCoS portal at foscos.fssai.gov.in. Go to "Track Application Status" and enter the 17-digit reference number generated when you submitted your application, or use "Verify FSSAI License/Registration Number" and enter your 14-digit FSSAI number to view its current status, validity and details. This same method lets customers, business partners or platforms such as Zomato and Swiggy verify that a food business's FSSAI number is genuine and active.

The "6-digit Registration Number" usually refers to a component of the Corporate Identity Number (CIN) allotted by the Registrar of Companies (RoC) when a company is incorporated in India. The 21-character CIN is structured to capture the listing status, year of incorporation, state code, company type and industry code, ending with a unique 6-digit registration number assigned sequentially by the RoC to that company. This number is distinct from an FSSAI number — a food business that is also a registered Private Limited Company or LLP will have both: a CIN/registration number from the RoC for company-law compliance, and a separate 14-digit FSSAI number for food safety compliance.