License ยท Business License
FSSAI License
Central FSSAI licensing for large-scale food businesses.
What is FSSAI License?
An FSSAI Central Licence is required for food businesses operating at a large scale โ manufacturers above prescribed turnover, importers, and businesses operating across multiple states โ issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 to ensure food safety compliance across production and distribution.
FSSAI licensing exists to ensure every food business, regardless of scale, meets baseline hygiene, quality, and traceability standards โ reducing foodborne illness risk and giving consumers a verifiable safety guarantee (via the licence number printed on packaging).
The FSS Act, 2006 replaced a patchwork of earlier food laws with a single regulator and a single licensing framework, but that framework is deliberately tiered โ Basic Registration, State Licence, and Central Licence โ so that a home baker and a pan-India food conglomerate aren't held to identical paperwork. Central Licensing sits at the top of that tier structure and applies not just by turnover but by the nature of the operation: import/export, multi-state presence, or certain categories (e.g. large dairies, meat/fish processing units, 100% export-oriented units) are routed to Central regardless of turnover.
Because a Central Licence anchors most of a food business's other regulatory filings โ customs clearance for imports, e-commerce onboarding, institutional supply contracts โ getting the scale assessment right at the outset matters more than it might first appear. Filing under the wrong tier is one of the more common reasons an FSSAI application gets sent back for correction.
Who Needs It
Types & Categories
Basic Registration
For small food businesses with turnover below โน12 lakh.
State Licence
For medium-scale food businesses, turnover roughly โน12 lakh to โน20 crore, operating within one state.
Central Licence
For large-scale, multi-state, or import/export food businesses above โน20 crore turnover.
Key Benefits
Documents Required
- Business incorporation and food safety management plan
- Manufacturing unit layout plan
- List of food products and processing details
- List of directors/partners with identity and address proof
- Import Export Code (IEC), where import/export activity is involved
Our Process
Eligibility Assessment
We confirm whether your scale/operations require Central (vs. State) FSSAI licensing.
Documentation Compilation
We compile the food safety management plan, unit layout, and product list against FSSAI's Central licensing checklist.
Application Filing
The FSSAI licence application is filed online with supporting documentation.
Query Resolution
We respond to any clarification requests raised during document scrutiny.
Inspection & Grant
Following document review and inspection, the licence is granted.
Renewal Tracking
We track your licence's expiry window and file the renewal well ahead of time to avoid a compliance gap.
Validity & Renewal
FSSAI licences applied for before April 1, 2026 are issued for a chosen 1โ5 year period and must be renewed at least 30 days before expiry. Licences applied for on or after that date are perpetually valid โ subsisting until suspended, cancelled, or surrendered โ under the 2026 amendment regulations, removing the periodic renewal requirement, though the annual fee obligation continues.
Penalty for Non-Compliance
Operating a food business without a valid FSSAI licence/registration is punishable under Section 63 of the FSS Act. Following the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, this was converted from imprisonment-plus-fine to a civil penalty of up to โน10 lakh; a subsequent/continuing offence under Section 64 attracts a further penalty of up to โน1 lakh per day of default. Adulteration and unsafe-food offences under other sections of the Act can still carry separate, more severe fines and imprisonment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Central licence different from Basic Registration?
Central licensing applies to larger-scale, multi-state, or import/export food businesses, while Basic Registration suits small businesses below a lower turnover threshold.
Do I need a Central Licence if I only import a small quantity of food?
Yes โ import/export activity is one of the categories routed to Central Licensing regardless of turnover, since imported food carries additional traceability and customs-linked requirements.
Can I hold both a Central Licence and State Licences at the same time?
Yes โ a common structure is a Central Licence for the registered head office/import point and separate State Licences for individual manufacturing or storage units in different states.
What happens if my turnover changes mid-cycle?
If your operations grow into Central-Licence territory (or shrink out of it) during your licence period, you should apply for the appropriate modification rather than waiting for renewal to reflect the change.
Is a food safety management plan mandatory for Central Licensing?
Yes โ Central Licence applicants are expected to demonstrate a documented food safety management system covering hygiene, traceability, and quality control at the scale they operate.
Does the 2026 perpetual-validity change mean I never have to pay again?
No โ the licence itself no longer needs periodic renewal, but the annual fee still has to be paid on schedule; missing a year's payment can trigger automatic suspension even though the licence is nominally perpetual.
Ready to Get Compliant?
Talk to a compliance expert today โ free, no-obligation consultation.
- Free consultation
- Response within 2 hours
- No hidden fees