FSSAI Registration Process – Documents Required, Benefits

Whether you are a small vendor or a growing enterprise FSSAI registration is a prerequisite to starting a food business. It is a mandatory registration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to ensure compliance, safety and credibility. This simple procedure demands few documents such as identity proofs, address verification, and business details. It opens up essential benefits like legal protection, increased consumer trust, access to broader markets, and eligibility for government schemes. In this blog you will learn how obtaining your FSSAI licence paves the way for sustainable success in the food industry.

Who Needs FSSAI Registration?

All food business operators including pharmacies and medical shops selling health supplements or nutraceuticals need FSSAI registration. Let us understand the breakdown of the companies that should apply for food licence:

• Shops and retailers, including grocery stores, bakeries, snack shops, confectionery shops, etc.
• Dairy units, including milkmen, milk chillers, and small vendors
• Food processing units, fish and meat processing, vegetable oil processing, food repacking, etc.
• Businesses that store and transport food including cold storage facilities and food transporters using milk tankers, food trucks, or refrigerated vans
• Suppliers, wholesalers, distributors, and other food distributors/marketers
• Food service establishments such as bars, restaurants, hotels, canteens, cafeterias, etc.
• Food vending agencies, dhabas, and caterers
• PGs providing food services
• Banquet halls with food catering arrangements
• Home-based food stalls and canteens serving food in religious institutions or fairs
• Businesses involved in importing and exporting of food, including food ingredients
• E-commerce food suppliers
• Cloud kitchens

What are the Types of FSSAI Registration

The type of FSSAI registration you need depends on your business type, production capacity, and turnover. There are three types of registrations:

1. Basic Registration: FBOs having turnover less than ₹ 12 lakh p.a need to obtain FSSAI basic registration. Form A is the FSSAI registration form that the applicant has to fill for getting FSSAI basic registration
2. State License: FBOs with annual turnover ranging from ₹ 12 lakh to ₹ 20 crore are required to obtain FSSAI state license. The applicant has to fill Form B which is the FSSAI registration form to obtain an FSSAI state licence.
3. Central License: FBOs having a turnover of more than ₹ 20 crore p.a needs to obtain FSSAI central license. Form B is the form to apply for FSSAI central licence and it has to be filled by the applicant.

*₹. 30 Crore in the case of transportation business and for wholesalers.

What are the Documents Required for FSSAI Registration

Before learning how to get an FSSAI license, you must gather the necessary documents, including the following:

• Basic KYC documents, including PAN card, voter ID, Aadhaar card, etc.
• Address proof, like property tax receipt or electricity bill
• Business details, including business name, contact details, address of operation, nature of business, etc.
• Food category details, like the description of food products traded, manufactured, or processed
• Authorisation letters as applicable, such as NOC from the local authority for food manufacturers

FSSAI Registration Eligibility

For basic FSSAI registration, a food business must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

• An annual turnover of up to ₹12 Lakh
• Food production capacity of up to 100 litre/kg per day (except milk and meat)
• Food procurement, milk collection, and handling of up to 500 litres per day
• Slaughtering capacity of up to two large animals, ten small animals, or fifty poultry birds per day
• Transportation through a single vehicle
• Up to 12 vending machines in a single state or union territory (UT)

FSSAI License Eligibility Criteria

Here are the eligibility criteria for obtaining a state FSSAI license:

• Annual turnover between ₹ 12 Lakh and ₹ 20 Crore
• Food production capacity of up to 1 MT to 2 MT per day (except milk and meat)
• Food procurement, milk collection, and handling of up to 501 to 50,000 litre per day
• Slaughtering capacity of 3-50 large animals, 11-150 small animals, or 51-1,000 poultry birds per day
• Storage capacity of up to 10,000 MT
• Transportation through 100 vehicles
• Hotels with up to four-star rating
• Up to 100 vending machines in a single state or UT

Also read: How Small Businesses Can Reduce Banking Costs Without Compromising Premium Services

Here are the eligibility criteria for obtaining a central FSSAI license:

• Annual turnover above ₹ 20 Crore
• Food production capacity of up to above 2 MT per day (except milk and meat)
• Food procurement, milk collection, and handling of more than 50,000 litres per day
• Slaughtering capacity of more than 50 large animals, more than 150 small animals, or more than 1,000 poultry birds per day
• Storage capacity of more than 10,000 MT
• Transportation through more than 100 vehicles
• Hotels with five-star rating and above
• More than 100 vending machines in two or more states or UTs

Also read: Privileged Banking for High‑Value Businesses: A Deep Dive into the New Privy Plus Business Account

What are FSSAI License Costs?

These are the costs involved in obtaining a food license per year:

• Basic Registration Fee: ₹ 100
• State License Fee: 2,000 to ₹ 5,000
• Central License Fee: ₹ 7,500

How to Apply Online for FSSAI Registration?

To learn how to apply for an FSSAI license online, you must visit the official FoSCoS portal and fill out an online application form. FoSCoS stands for Food Safety and Compliance System, an online platform allowing food businesses to register online and obtain their food license. By logging in to your FoSCoS account, you can also track your application status, renew your license, modify information in the license, file complaints, download your license, pay fees, etc.

How to get an FSSAI License in Step-by-Step Procedure?

Follow these steps for FSSAI registration online:

• Visit the official FoSCoS portal at https://foscos.fssai.gov.in/
• Open the “Apply for New License/Registration” section
• New users must register, and existing users must log in
• Choose the registration type depending on your turnover
• Complete the online application form
• Upload the necessary documents
• Pay the applicable fee
• Submit the application

After scrutinising your application, the department will issue a registration certificate with a unique 14-digit number. Download the certificate from the portal by logging in to your FoSCoS account.

What are the Benefits of the FSSAI Food License?

Obtaining the FSSAI license provides legal benefits to the food business. Furthermore, it helps build goodwill, creates consumer awareness, ensures food safety, and assists expansion. With a legal establishment, it is easier to open a Current Account with Kotak Mahindra Bank and even apply for unsecured loans. Since the FSSAI logo on food items ensures quality, it boosts sales and builds customer loyalty.

FSSAI Non-Compliance Offences and Penalty

The penalties depend on the type of non-compliance, including the following:

• Non-compliant food quality: ₹ 2 Lakh, ₹ 25,000 for small manufacturers
• Sub-standard food: ₹ 5 Lakh
• Misbranded Food: ₹ 3 Lakh
• False description or misleading advertisement: ₹ 10 Lakh
• Extraneous matter in food: ₹ 1 Lakh
• Not complying with the food safety directions: ₹ 2 Lakh
• Unhygienic manufacturing or processing: ₹ 1 Lakh