Overview
Every person or business involved in manufacturing, processing, storing, distributing or selling food in India must hold a licence or registration from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Operating without one is an offence that can attract penalties and closure of the premises.
Which licence you need depends on your annual turnover and the scale of your operations — Basic Registration up to ₹12 lakh, State Licence from ₹12 lakh to ₹20 crore, and Central Licence above ₹20 crore or for importers, exporters and multi-state operators. Choosing the wrong category is the most common reason applications get rejected, and it is the first thing we get right.
Who needs this
- Restaurants, cafés, cloud kitchens and food trucks
- Food manufacturers, processors and packagers
- Grocery retailers, supermarkets and kirana stores
- Wholesalers, distributors and transporters of food
- Importers and exporters of food products
- Home-based food businesses and online food sellers
Documents required
- Passport-size photograph of the applicant
- PAN card and Aadhaar / identity proof of the proprietor or directors
- Proof of business premises — rent agreement or utility bill
- List of food products to be manufactured or handled
- Food safety management plan (for State and Central licences)
- Layout plan of the processing unit (for manufacturers)
- NOC from the local municipality or panchayat, where required
What is included
- Assessment of the correct licence category for your turnover
- Preparation of the product and category list
- Complete application filing on the FoSCoS portal
- Follow-up on departmental queries and clarifications
- Coordination for inspection, where applicable
- Delivery of the FSSAI licence with your 14-digit licence number
How the process works
- 1
Category assessment
We review your turnover, premises and product range to identify whether you need Basic, State or Central registration.
- 2
Document preparation
We compile the declarations, product list and premises proof in the exact format FoSCoS accepts.
- 3
Application filing
Your application is submitted on the FoSCoS portal with the prescribed government fee.
- 4
Query handling & inspection
We respond to any departmental queries and prepare you for the premises inspection if one is scheduled.
- 5
Licence issued
You receive your FSSAI licence certificate along with guidance on display, renewal and annual returns.