FSSAI Registration online

All food businesses in India need an FSSAI license whether you run cloud kitchen, restaurant, home bakery or factory. FSSAI regulates food safety under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Without FSSAI licensing you may face financial penalties, product seizure or even business closure. The post covers FSSAI registration online process, types of FSSAI registration or licenses and documents required to apply for it.

FSSAI

FSSAI deals with food-related issues. They lay down science-based standards. It also regulates manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of food to ensure it is safe for consumption.

As per Section 31(1) and 31(2) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, every Food Business Operator (FBO) in India is required to get FSSAI registration or license. The licensing and registration procedure are regulated by the Food Safety & Standards Regulations, 2011.

FSSAI registration is meant for petty food manufacturers like small retailers, hawkers, itinerant vendors, temporary stallholders and small or cottage-scale industries with annual turnover of up to ₹12 lakh. Any food business with turnover above ₹12 lakh is required to apply for FSSAI license instead of registration.

Types of FSSAI Registration

Food Business Operators (FBOs) must apply for appropriate FSSAI registration or license based on size, scale, and nature of their business. FSSAI issues three types of approvals:

• Basic Registration – Small food businesses
• State License – Medium-scale food businesses
• Central License – Large food businesses

Basic FSSAI Registration (Small Food Businesses)

This is meant for small food business operators like local shops, street vendors, temporary food stalls, home-based kitchens and small family-run businesses with yearly sales up to ₹12 lakh.

Registration process –

1. Submit Form A with fee of ₹100 per year.
2. Generate Unique Application Reference Number.
3. Registering Authority will approve or reject application within 7 days.
4. If required, inspection may be conducted within 30 days.
5. Once approved, FBO may start the business

Fees for Registration Certificate

• New Registration: ₹100/year
• Renewal: ₹100/year
• Duplicate Certificate: 10% of the applicable fee

FSSAI State License (Medium Food Businesses)

State licenses are issued by the State Food Safety Authority to food businesses with turnover above ₹12 lakh and up to ₹20 crore, depending on capacity and activity.

Eligibility for State License

Manufacturers

• Dairy units: Handling 501 to 50,000 litres of milk per day OR up to 2,500 MT of milk solids per year.
• Vegetable oil units: Processing up to 2 MT per day with turnover above ₹12 lakh.
• Slaughterhouses:
  • Large animals: 3 to 50 per day
  • Small animals: 11 to 150 per day
  • Poultry: 51 to 1000 birds per day
• Meat processing units: Up to 500 kg per day OR 150 MT per year.
• Other food processing units (relabeling & repacking): More than 100 kg/litre up to 2 MT per day (except grain/cereal/pulse mills).

Other Businesses

• Storage (normal): Up to 50,000 MT capacity.
• Cold storage: Up to 10,000 MT capacity.
• Controlled atmosphere + cold storage: Up to 1,000 MT capacity.
• Wholesalers: Turnover up to ₹30 crore.
• Retailers, distributors, suppliers, caterers, marketers: Turnover up to ₹20 crore.
• Restaurants: Turnover up to ₹20 crore.
• Hotels: 3-star and above or turnover more than ₹12 lakh.
• Transporters: Up to 100 vehicles/wagons OR turnover up to ₹30 crore.
• Clubs/canteens: Turnover more than ₹12 lakh.
• Dhabas, boarding houses, banquet halls, home-based canteens, food stalls at fairs/religious gatherings, fish/meat/poultry shops: Turnover more than ₹12 lakh.

Premises in Central Government Agencies

• Food catering services in railways, airports, seaports, defence units, etc.
• Applies to catering services in government establishments, except at certain major seaports (Kandla, Tuticorin, Vizag, Kolkata, Marmagoa, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai, JNPT) and airports (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, etc.), which fall under Central License.

Fees for State FSSAI License

1. New License

• Manufacturers / Millers
  • Production above 1 MT/day – ₹5,000 per year
  • Milk: 10,000–50,000 litres/day OR 501–2,500 MT solids/year – ₹5000 per year
  • Production below 1 MT/day – ₹3,000 per year
  • Milk: 501–10,000 litres/day OR up to 2.5 MT solids/year – ₹3000 per year
• Hotels (up to 4-star) – ₹5000 per year
• Food Service Providers (restaurants, clubs, school/college/office canteens, caterers, banquet halls, dabbawallas) – ₹2000 per year

2. Renewal fees depend on the number of years selected.

3. Fee for modification of license – The fees for modification of the license is fees for one (1) year per license modification.

4. Duplicate License – 10% of the applicable license fee.

Documents Required for New Application for FSSAI State License

• Form B, duly filled and signed by the proprietor, partner or authorized signatory
• Blueprint or layout plan of the processing unit showing dimensions in meters and area-wise allocation (mandatory for manufacturing and processing units)
• List of Directors/Partners/Proprietor/Executive Members of the society or trust with complete address and contact details (mandatory for manufacturing and processing units)
• List of machinery and equipment with quantity, installed capacity and horsepower (mandatory for manufacturing and processing units)
• Photo ID and address proof of the proprietor/partner/director/authorized signatory issued by government authority (optional)
• List of food categories to be manufactured or handled (for manufacturers only)
• Authority letter nominating responsible person and alternate person, specifying their powers to assist officials during inspections, sample collection, packing, and dispatch (for manufacturers/processors)
• Water analysis report (chemical and bacteriological) from recognised public health laboratory confirming potability (mandatory for manufacturing and processing units)
• Proof of possession of premises (sale deed, rent agreement, electricity bill, etc.) (optional)
• Partnership deed / Self-declaration for proprietorship / Memorandum & Articles of Association
  • For MOA, upload three pages:
    1. Certificate of incorporation
    2. Authorisation of food business activity
    3. List of directors with addresses
• Certificate under the Cooperative Act, 1861 or Multi-State Cooperative Act, 2002 (if applicable)
• NOC and copy of license from the manufacturer (mandatory for relabellers and repackers)
• Food Safety Management System (FSMS) plan or certificate (if available)
• Milk procurement plan with details of milk collection centres (for milk and milk product processing units, where applicable)
• Source of raw material for meat and meat processing units
• Pesticide residue report of water from recognised public health laboratory (for packaged drinking water, mineral water, or carbonated water units)
• Recall plan with details of product distribution (optional)
• NOC from the Municipality or local authority
• Form IX – Nomination of persons by company with Board Resolution
• Ministry of Tourism (HRACC) certificate (mandatory for hotels only)
• For transporters: Documentary proof of turnover or self-declaration of the number of vehicles (mandatory)
• Declaration form (mandatory in Delhi and Himachal Pradesh)

FSSAI Central License (Large Food Businesses)

FSSAI issues Central License to big food businesses like importers, manufacturers, and those working at airports, seaports or under central government agencies.

Eligibility for Central FSSAI License

1. Manufacturers

• Dairy units: Handle more than 50,000 litres of milk per day OR 2,500 MT of milk solids per year
• Vegetable oil units: Process more than 2 MT per day
• Slaughterhouses:
  • Large animals: more than 50 per day
  • Small animals: more than 150 per day
  • Poultry: more than 1,000 birds per day
• Meat processing units: More than 500 kg per day OR 150 MT per year
• Food processing units (including relabeling/repacking): More than 2 MT per day (except grain/cereal/pulse mills)
• Proprietary foods: More than 2 MT per day
• 100% Export Oriented Units: All

2. Importers – Any business importing food items, ingredients, or additives for commercial use
3. Other Large Business –

• Storage (normal): More than 50,000 MT capacity
• Cold storage: More than 10,000 MT capacity
• Controlled atmosphere + cold storage: More than 1,000 MT capacity
• Wholesalers: Turnover above ₹30 crore
• Retailers, distributors, suppliers, caterers, marketers: Turnover above ₹20 crore
• Hotels: 5-star and above
• Restaurants: Turnover above ₹20 crore
• Transporters: More than 100 vehicles/wagons OR turnover above ₹30 crore

4. Businesses in Central Government Premises

• Food catering services in defence units or other central government agencies
• Storage, wholesale, retail and distribution units inside central government premises

5. Businesses at Airports & Seaports

• Food catering services at major airports and seaports (e.g., Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Vizag, Cochin, JNPT, etc.)
• Storage, wholesale, retail, and distribution units located at these airports/seaports

So, central license is for big business, those handling large volumes of food, import/export, or operating in airports, seaports and central government locations.

Fees For Central License by FSSAI

• New License: INR 7500/ year
• Renewal license: INR 7500/ year
• Modification License: INR 7500/ modification
• Duplicate License: 10% of the Applicable License Fee

Documents for Central FSSAI License

New Application

• Form B – filled and signed by proprietor/partner/authorized signatory
• Blueprint/layout of processing unit (mandatory for manufacturing/processing units)
• List of directors/partners/proprietor with addresses (mandatory for manufacturing/processing units)
• Details of equipment/machinery – number, capacity, horsepower (mandatory for manufacturing/processing units)
• Photo ID & address proof (optional)
• List of food categories to be manufactured
• Authority letter – naming responsible person + alternate (for manufacturers/processors)
• Water analysis report (mandatory for manufacturing/processing units)
• Proof of premises – sale deed, rent agreement, electricity bill (optional)
• Partnership deed / MoA & AoA / self-declaration (optional)
• Cooperative certificate (if applicable)
• NOC & copy of license from manufacturer (mandatory for relabelers/repackers)
• Food Safety Management System (FSMS) plan/certificate (if any)
• Milk procurement plan (for dairy units)
• Meat/raw material source plan (for meat units)
• Pesticide residue report of water (for packaged water units)
• Recall plan (optional)
• NOC from municipality/local body (optional)
• Ministry of Commerce certificate (for 100% Export Oriented Units)
• Proof of turnover (mandatory for large businesses)
• NOC/PA document issued by FSSAI (merge multiple docs before upload)
• IE Code document from DGFT (mandatory for importers)
• Form IX – nomination of persons + board resolution
• Tourism certificate (HRACC) – mandatory for hotels
• Transporter documents – turnover proof or vehicle declaration

Documents required for conversion (State to Central License)

• Form B – filled and signed (duplicate)
• Any updated documents/information (mandatory, on letterhead)
• FSMS plan/certificate (if any)
• List of workers with medical fitness certificates (shown at inspection)
• Details of technical personnel (mandatory for manufacturing/processing units)
• Form IX – nomination of persons + board resolution
• Declaration form

Documents for Renewal of License

• Form B -filled and signed (duplicate)
• Annual audit report / FSMS plan / self-declaration regarding FSMS
• Form IX – nomination of persons and board resolution
• Declaration form

Documents required for Modification of License

• Form B – filled and signed (duplicate)
• Any updated documents/information (mandatory, on letterhead)
• FSMS plan/certificate (if any)
• Details of technical personnel (mandatory for manufacturing/processing units)
• Proof of name change (COI from ROC for companies, undertaking for partnerships)
• Form IX – nomination of persons & board resolution
• Blueprint/layout of processing unit (mandatory for manufacturing/processing units)
• List of directors/partners/proprietor with addresses (mandatory for manufacturing/processing units)
• Details of equipment/machinery (mandatory for manufacturing/processing units)
• Photo ID & address proof (optional)
• List of food categories to be manufactured
• Authority letter – naming responsible person & alternate (for manufacturers/processors)
• Water analysis report (mandatory for manufacturing/processing units)
• Partnership deed / MoA & AoA / self-declaration (optional)
• Cooperative certificate (if applicable)
• NOC & copy of license from manufacturer (mandatory for relabelers/repackers)
• Milk procurement plan (for dairy units)
• Meat/raw material source plan (for meat units)
• Pesticide residue report of water (for packaged water units)
• Declaration form

Conclusion

FSSAI licence is mandatory for anyone starting food business in India. Whether you manufacture, sell, store or serve food, you must apply for FSSAI registration or licence before working legally. The system ensures that food meets proper quality and safety standards. FSSAI helps prevent adulteration and stops sale of sub‑standard products. It also makes food businesses accountable for hygiene and compliance.