• Fast Mode Available: Certificate in 1–2 Days (Sole Proprietors)

FSSAI State License
for Food Businesses

Mandatory for food businesses with annual turnover between  ₹1.5 crore – up to ₹50 crore. Expert-assisted, 100% online — we handle everything from documents to issuance.

  • Documents preparation
  • Application filing
  • License issuance
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+91 9818209246

30–60 days

Standard processing timeline

1–2 days

Fast mode (sole proprietorship)

1–5 yr

License validity, your choice

₹4,999

+ Govt Fee ₹2,000–₹5,000/yr

⚠️ Operating a food business without a valid FSSAI license can result in a fine of up to ₹10 Lakhs and imprisonment up to 6 years for grievous cases.

FSSAI State License: Eligibility, Fees, Documents & How to Apply

What Is an FSSAI State License

FSSAI is the regulatory authority under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare responsible for food safety in India. Every Food Business Operator (FBO) — manufacturer, restaurant, distributor, retailer, transporter, or caterer — must hold one of three FSSAI credentials based on the scale of their business: Basic Registration, State License, or Central License.

The State License sits in the middle tier. It is granted by the Food Safety Department of the state where the business premises are located, and it authorises medium-scale operations such as restaurants, cloud kitchens, mid-sized manufacturers, hotels, storage units, and distributors to legally manufacture, store, distribute, or sell food. If you are unsure which tier your business falls into, the applicability of FSSAI license guide walks through the full decision tree.

FSSAI Registration, FSSAI Basic Registration, FSSAI State License, FSSAI Central Licensse, Food license, Food Licence Registration

The 2026 Turnover Threshold Change

If you researched FSSAI licensing before 2026, the numbers you remember are outdated. On 10 March 2026, FSSAI notified the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026 in the Gazette of India, followed by an implementation Order dated 13 March 2026 that revised the turnover slabs with effect from 1 April 2026.

Category Old Threshold (before 1 April 2026) New Threshold (from 1 April 2026)

Basic Registration

₹12 Lakh

₹1.5 Crore

State License

₹12 lakh – ₹20 crore

Above ₹1.5 crore – up to ₹50 crore

Central License

Above ₹20 crore

Above ₹50 crore

Who Needs an FSSAI State License — Eligibility Criteria

You need a State License if any of the following apply to your food business:

Your annual turnover is above ₹1.5 crore but does not exceed ₹50 crore. This single criterion covers most mid-sized restaurants, cloud kitchens, distributors, wholesalers, and processing units.

Certain categories require a State License based on production capacity or business type regardless of turnover, including: mills processing cereals, grains, or pulses; food manufacturing or repacking units producing between 101 kg/litres and 2 metric tonnes per day; dairy units or milk chilling centres handling 501 to 50,000 litres of milk per day (or 2.5 to 2,500 MT of milk solids per annum); slaughterhouses within specified capacity bands (3–50 large animals, 11–150 small animals, or 51–1,000 poultry birds per day); and hotels rated 3-star or 4-star (5-star hotels move into the Central License bracket).

Cloud kitchens and food businesses listed on e-commerce or food-delivery platforms are required to hold at least a State License even if their standalone turnover is below ₹1.5 crore, because listing on an aggregator app is treated as a State-License-triggering activity. If this applies to you, our dedicated guide on FSSAI license for cloud kitchens covers the platform-specific requirements.

Manufacturers of proprietary foods, food/health supplements, and nutraceuticals, and marketers operating across a state, also typically fall under the State License tier unless their turnover pushes them into the Central category.

Critical Rule: Turnover Is NOT Always the Deciding Factor

This is the most misunderstood rule. Certain business types must obtain a higher license regardless of turnover. Many food entrepreneurs face penalties for misclassification.

⚠️ Important: Always verify your business type in the official FoSCoS “Kind of Business (KoB) Eligibility Matrix” (updated April 1, 2026) before applying. False declaration attracts penalties up to ₹10 Lakh under Section 61 of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006.

Businesses Requiring State License (Minimum)

Even with turnover below ₹1.5 Crore, these business types CANNOT get basic registration:

Business Type Why? Minimum License Tier

All Caterers

Wedding, event, party caterers handling food preparation for mass gatherings

State License (min)

Mid-Day Meal Caterers

Schools, NGOs providing nutritious food under government schemes

State License (min)

Street Vendors

Separate registration required

Deemed registration (no filing needed)

Grain & Cereal Millers

Flour mills, grain processors require specialized compliance

State License (min)

FSSAI Basic vs State vs Central License

Parameter Basic Registration State License Central License

Annual Turnover

Up to ₹1.5 crore

Above ₹1.5 crore – up to ₹50 crore

Above ₹50 crore

Applicable FBOs

Petty/home-based operators

Restaurants, manufacturers, caterers, dairy

Large chains, importers, exporters

Govt. Fee/Year

₹100

₹2,000 – ₹5,000

₹7,500

Import/Export

✗

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FSSAI State License Fees

Our FSSAI State License Fees

₹ 4,999/ + ⚖️ Govt fee: ₹2,000 – ₹5,000/year depending on business type
  • Document preparation & review
  • Online application filing (FoSCoS)
  • Query & clarification handling
  • Follow-up till license issued
Pay & Apply Now →

FSSAI State License Govt Fee

The government fee for FSSAI State License depends on your business type. Our professional fee of ₹4,999 covers document preparation, application filing, and follow-up until your license is issued.

₹2,000 per year (Govt. fee)

Restaurants, canteens, caterers, clubs, dabbawalas, hotels (below 3-star) and Traders

₹3,000 per year (Govt. fee)

Manufacturers below 1 MT/day, dairy 501–10,000 L/day: ₹3,000/year

₹5,000 per year (Govt. fee)

Hotels 3-star & above, manufacturers above 1 MT/day, dairy above 10,000 L/day: ₹5,000/year

How to Apply for FSSAI State License Online

setupfiling.in handles the entire process end-to-end on FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System). Here’s how it works:

  • Document Collection

    Share your business documents with our team via WhatsApp or email. Our expert reviews them for completeness before filing.

  • Application Preparation on FoSCoS

    We prepare Form B (State License application) on the FSSAI’s FoSCoS portal, accurately filling all business details, food categories, and capacity details.

  • Government Fee Payment

    Govt. fee (₹2,000–₹5,000/year) is paid online on the FoSCoS portal. You choose the validity period (1–5 years) at this stage.

  • Application Review by Licensing Authority

    The State Licensing Authority reviews your application. If inspection is required, it will be scheduled. We handle any clarifications raised.

  • Fast Track (Sole Proprietors Only)

    Eligible sole proprietorships can opt for Fast Mode — license issued within 1–2 working days without physical inspection.

  • License Issued

    Your FSSAI State License is downloaded from the FoSCoS portal and shared with you digitally. Display it prominently at your business premises.

Documents Required for FSSAI State License

🏢 Company / Firm Documents

  1. Certificate of Incorporation / Partnership Deed / LLP Agreement
  2. MOA & AOA (for Pvt. Ltd. companies)
  3. PAN Card of Business Entity
  4. List of Directors / Partners
  5. Board Resolution (Companies)
  6. Form IX — Nomination Form
  7. List of food products to be handled

👤 Director / Partner / Nominee

  1. PAN Card
  2. Aadhaar Card
  3. Passport / Voter ID / Driving Licence
  4. Email ID & Mobile number (for OTP)
  5. Educational qualification (if applicable)

📍 Business Address Proof

  1. Sale Deed or Rent Agreement
  2. Electricity Bill (not older than 2 months)
  3. NOC from property owner (if rented)

🏗️ Manufacturing Units — Additional

  1. Blueprint/layout plan with area dimensions
  2. Photograph of manufacturing/production unit
  3. List of machinery with capacity & horsepower
  4. Water test analysis report (chemical & bacteriological)
  5. Recall plan
  6. Water analysis report (Hotels/Restaurants)

Penalty for Running Food Business Without FSSAI License

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 mandates obtaining a Food License before commencing any food business. Non-compliance attracts severe penalties:

⚠️ Legal Penalties Under FSS Act, 2006

All directors, partners, managers, and secretaries of the FBO can be held personally liable under the Act.

 

₹10 Lakhs

Maximum fine for operating without a valid FSSAI license

6 Months

Imprisonment for unlicensed food business operation

6 Years

Imprisonment if unsafe food causes grievous injury

₹100/day

Late fee penalty for delayed fssai license renewal

FSSAI State License Renewal & Annual Return

🔄 License Renewal

Your FSSAI State License is valid for 1 to 5 years. Apply for renewal at least 30 days before expiry to avoid a penalty of ₹100 per day. The renewal process mirrors the original application. Get FSSAI License Renewal →

📊 Annual Return (Form D1)

All licensed manufacturers and importers of food products must file an FSSAI Annual Return on FoSCoS by 31st May each year. A separate return is required per license. Late filing attracts ₹100/day penalty. File Annual Return →

Get Your FSSAI License Today!

Obtain your FSSAI State License legally and quickly. Our experts handle everything — from documents to delivery.

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Frequently Asked Questions

FSSAI State License is a food business permit issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India for operators with annual turnover Above ₹1.5 crore – up to ₹50 crore operating within a single state. It is mandatory under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

fssai basic registration is for petty food businesses with annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore. FSSAI State License covers businesses with turnover between ₹1.5 crore – up to ₹50 crore operating within a single state. FSSAI Central License is for businesses with turnover above ₹50 Crores, multi-state operations, or food import/export activities.

Food Business Operators with annual turnover between ₹1.5 Cr to ₹50 Crores need a State License. This includes restaurants, caterers, food manufacturers, dairy units, cereal mills, and slaughterhouses with limited capacity.

The government fee ranges from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 per year depending on business type. Restaurants and caterers pay ₹2,000/year, mid-scale manufacturers pay ₹3,000/year, and hotels (3-star and above) with large manufacturers pay ₹5,000/year.

It typically takes 30 to 60 days. However, sole proprietorships can opt for Fast Track Mode and receive the license within 1 to 2 working days without a physical inspection.

Key documents include Certificate of Incorporation or Partnership Deed, PAN Card, Aadhaar Card, Rent Agreement or Sale Deed, Electricity Bill, NOC from property owner, and Form IX. Manufacturing units additionally need a floor plan, machinery list, and water test report.

The license is valid for 1 to 5 years depending on the validity period selected at the time of application. Renewal must be applied at least 30 days before expiry.

Operating without a valid FSSAI license can attract a fine up to ₹10 Lakhs and/or imprisonment up to 6 months. If unsafe food causes grievous injury, imprisonment can extend to 6 years.

Yes. The entire application is filed on the FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System) portal, which is the official FSSAI licensing platform.

Yes. A separate license is required for each premises where food is manufactured, stored, or processed at a different address.

No. If you operate across multiple states or have turnover above ₹20 Crores, you need a Central License for your registered office.

Yes. Swiggy, Zomato, and other food delivery platforms require a valid FSSAI license as a mandatory document during onboarding.

Apply for renewal at least 30 days before the expiry date. Late renewal attracts a penalty of ₹100 per day from the date of expiry.

 

Yes. All licensed manufacturers and importers must file an FSSAI Annual Return in Form D1 on the FoSCoS portal by 31st May every year. Late filing attracts ₹100 per day penalty.

If the turnover of a home-based food business exceeds ₹12 Lakhs, a State License is mandatory. Home bakers, cloud kitchens, and home chefs with qualifying turnover must obtain the appropriate license.