Engagement
FSSAI registration and licence
Last reviewed 08 November 2026
The right FSSAI category under the 2026 limits, filed on FoSCoS.
In short
From 1 April 2026, a food business with turnover up to ₹1.5 crore takes an FSSAI registration, one above ₹1.5 crore and up to ₹50 crore takes a State licence, and one above ₹50 crore takes a Central licence. Registrations and licences issued on or after 1 April 2026 have perpetual validity: they stay valid unless suspended, cancelled or surrendered, and are not renewed.
Overview
Every food business operator needs an FSSAI registration or licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. In March 2026 FSSAI amended the Regulations and revised the turnover limits that decide which one a business needs. Applications, changes and migrations are made on FSSAI's FoSCoS portal.
Which one applies from 1 April 2026
| Annual turnover | What is needed |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹1.5 crore | What is needed: FSSAI registration |
| Above ₹1.5 crore and up to ₹50 crore | What is needed: State licence |
| Above ₹50 crore | What is needed: Central licence |
These limits come from FSSAI's order of 13 March 2026, issued after the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026 were notified on 10 March 2026. They apply to new applications made on or after 1 April 2026.
Validity, fees and existing holders
- No renewal. A registration or licence issued on or after 1 April 2026 has perpetual validity. It remains valid unless it is suspended, cancelled or surrendered.
- Fee. The fee can be paid for any number of years at once, at any time of the year.
- Existing holders. A business whose category changes under the new limits migrates on FoSCoS on its own self-declaration, without needing approval. The licence number does not change, and no fee is charged for the migration.
- Fee already paid. Where a State licensee moves down to registration, the State licence fee already paid is adjusted against the annual registration fee.
Other changes, such as a new premises or activity, are still made through a modification application under the existing procedure.
Key Deliverables
- Working out the right category under the 2026 turnover limits
- New registration or licence application on FoSCoS
- Migration and modification of existing registrations and licences
- Coordination with your food safety consultant where technical documents are needed
Documents & E-Forms
- FoSCoS application
When to Engage
Before the food business starts, or when turnover crosses ₹1.5 crore or ₹50 crore.
Typical turnaround: Scoped in the engagement letter.
Frequently Asked
About this engagement