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FSSAI Central License
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FSSAI Central License Overview
Ensuring the safety and quality of food products is paramount for public health. In India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) plays a crucial role in regulating and monitoring the food industry. A key aspect of this regulatory framework is the FSSAI Central License, which is mandatory for certain food business operators (FBOs). This article provides a comprehensive overview of the FSSAI Central License, including its applicability, eligibility criteria, application process, and recent updates in 2025.
Who Needs an FSSAI Central License?
The FSSAI Central License is required for FBOs that meet specific criteria, primarily based on their scale of operations and the nature of their business. As of April 2025, the following categories of FBOs generally require a Central License:
- Large-scale Food Businesses: Those with an annual turnover exceeding INR 20 crore.
- Businesses Operating in Multiple States: Any FBO having business operations in more than one state across India.
- Importers and Exporters: Businesses involved in the import or export of food products, including food ingredients and additives for commercial use.
- Specific Food Processing Units:
- Dairy units handling more than 50,000 liters of milk per day or more than 2,500 metric tons of milk solids per annum.
- Vegetable oil processing units with a daily production capacity exceeding 2 metric tons.
- Slaughterhouses with a daily capacity of more than 50 large animals, 150 small animals, or 1,000 poultry birds.
- Meat processing units handling more than 500 kg of meat per day or 150 metric tons per annum.
- All food processing units (including relabelers and repackers, but excluding grain, cereal, and pulse milling units) with a daily production capacity exceeding 2 metric tons.
- Manufacturers of Proprietary Foods, Food or Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, and Foods for Special Dietary Uses.
- Storage Units: Other than those with controlled atmosphere and cold environment, having a capacity of more than 50,000 metric tons. Cold or refrigerated storage facilities with a capacity exceeding 10,000 metric tons. Controlled atmosphere plus cold storage facilities with a capacity of more than 1,000 metric tons.
- Wholesalers, Retailers, Distributors, and Suppliers: Those with an annual turnover of more than INR 30 crore (for wholesalers) or INR 20 crore (for retailers, distributors, and suppliers).
- Caterers: Including those serving government entities, with an annual turnover exceeding INR 20 crore.
- Hotels and Restaurants: Five-star and above hotels, and restaurants with an annual turnover of more than INR 20 crore.
- Transporters: Having more than 100 vehicles or an annual turnover exceeding INR 30 crore.
- Marketers: With an annual turnover exceeding INR 20 crore.
- Food catering services in establishments and units under Central Government Agencies.
- E-commerce businesses selling food products online, especially those involved in the import/export or having a large scale of operations.
FSSAI Central License Fees
FSSAI Central License Fee
₹
6500/ + Govt Fee
- Documents Preparation
- Application Filing
- Issuance of FSSAI Certificate
Governement Fee for FSSAI Central License
The government fee for an FSSAI Central License is INR 7,500 per year.
This fee is applicable for new applications, renewals, and modifications of the Central License.
Additional points to note regarding FSSAI license fees:
- The license can be applied for a maximum period of 5 years. The total fee payable will be INR 7,500 multiplied by the number of years selected.
- For a duplicate license, the fee is 10% of the applicable license fee.
Documents required for FSSAI Central License
Based on the latest updates for April 2025, the documents generally required for an FSSAI Central License are as follows. Please note that specific requirements may vary based on the nature of your food business. It is always recommended to check the latest guidelines on the official FSSAI FoSCoS portal.
Mandatory Documents for all Food Business Operators (FBOs):
- Form B: Duly completed and signed application form in duplicate by the Proprietor/Partner or the Authorized Signatory.
- Photo ID and Address Proof: Issued by a government authority for the Proprietor/Partner/Director(s)/Authorized Signatory.
- Proof of Possession of Premises: This could be a Sale deed, Rent agreement, Electricity bill, etc.
- Partnership Deed/Self-Declaration for Proprietorship/Memorandum & Articles of Association (MOA & AOA): As applicable based on the constitution of the firm. For MOA, typically the first page (Certificate of Incorporation), second page (Authorization of food business activity), and third page (list of directors with addresses) need to be uploaded.
- List of Directors/Partners/Proprietor/Executive Members of Society/Trust: With full address and contact details. This is mandatory for companies.
- Authority Letter: With the name and address of the responsible person nominated by the manufacturer, along with an alternate responsible person, indicating the powers vested in them (assisting officers in inspections, sample collection, packing & dispatch). This is required for manufacturers/processors.
- Food Safety Management System (FSMS) plan or certificate: If available. A self-declaration regarding FSMS is also an option.
- Declaration Form.
Specific Documents based on the nature of the business:
- For Manufacturing and Processing Units:
- Blueprint/layout plan of the processing unit: Showing dimensions in meters/square meters and operation-wise area allocation.
- Name and List of Equipment and Machinery: Along with the number, installed capacity, and horsepower used. List of Food Category Desired to be Manufactured.
- Analysis report (Chemical & Bacteriological) of water: To be used as an ingredient in food, from a recognized/public health laboratory to confirm potability.
- Photographs of the production unit (if required).
- For Relabelers and Repackers:
- NOC & Copy of License from the Manufacturer (mandatory).
- Declaration and Undertaking by FBO – Repackagers Only.
- For Dairy Processing Units:
- Source of milk or procurement plan for milk: Including the location of milk collection centers, etc.
- For Meat and Meat Processing Plants:
- Source of raw material for meat.
- For Units Manufacturing Packaged Drinking Water, Packaged Mineral Water, and/or Carbonated Water:
- Pesticide residues report of water from a recognized/public health laboratory.
- For Cooperatives:
- Copy of the certificate obtained under the Coop Act – 1861/Multi-State Coop Act – 2002.
- For 100% Export Oriented Units (EOU):
- Ministry of Commerce Certificate.
- For Transporters:
- Supporting documentary proof for Turnover or self-declaration of the number of vehicles (mandatory).
- For Hotels:
- Certificate provided by the Ministry of Tourism (HRACC) – mandatory for hotels.
- For Importers and Exporters:
- Import-Export Code (IEC) document issued by DGFT.
- Recall plan, wherever applicable, with details on whom the product is distributed.
- For Exporters: Declaration that products are meant for export only.
- For Businesses operating in multiple states:
- NOC/PA document issued by FSSAI (in case of multiple documents, merge them into one for upload).
- Nomination of Persons by a Company:
- Form IX: Nomination of Persons by a Company along with the Board Resolution.
- Proof of Turnover: Supporting documentary proof for turnover may be required in some cases.
- NOC from Municipality or local body: May be required in some cases.
Important Points to Remember:
- All documents should be self-attested by the applicant or authorized signatory.
- Ensure that all mandatory fields in the online application are filled correctly.
- Scanned copies of the documents should be clear and as per the size and format specified on the FoSCoS portal.
- The person supervising the production process in manufacturing/processing units must possess the required educational qualifications (degree in Science or relevant technology/management).
Timeline for Grant of FSSAI Central License
According to the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, the concerned Licensing Authority should issue a FSSAI Central license within a period of 60 days from the date of issue of an application ID number.
Renewal of FSSAI License
FBO shall make an application to renew a license granted under these Regulations not later than 30 days before the expiry date indicated in the License. An applicant can file a renewal application 120 days in advance. The License shall continue to be in force till the disposal of the renewal application. Further, the licencing authorities must decide the renewal within 30 days of the expiry of the licence.
The designated officers may order an inspection before renewal if considered necessary for reasons to be recorded in writing. No inspection is required if the Food Business Operator has a valid certificate from an agency accredited by the Food Authority, an accredited food safety auditor, or any other organization notified by FSSAI.
If the renewal application is not made within the validity period, the licence shall expire, & the Food Business Operator shall stop all business activity at the premises. The Food Business Operator will have to apply for a new license if it wants to restart it.
FSSAI Annual Return
Every FSSAI Licensed FBOs involved in Manufacturing and Importing of Food Products including those engaged in manufacturing of Milk and Milk Products shall furnish online periodic annual returns with effect from FY 2020-21 as per notification dated 18th Dec 2020.
The returns shall be submitted online on Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) not beyond 31st May for each year. Every licensee shall file a separate return for each License, i.e. for each food unit. It is immaterial that the same Food Business Operator holds more than one License. Any delay in filing return beyond 31st May of each year shall attract a penalty of Rs 100 per day of delay.
Exemption From Annual Return under FSSAI
- Food Business Operators (FBOs), including Petty Food Business Operators holding FSSAI Registration Certificate, are not required to submit annual returns.
- Presently, the provision of annual return submission is not applicable for other Kind of Businesses (Such as Distributor, Wholesaler, Retailer, Storage, Transporter and Food. Services etc.)
