FSSAI Registration & Licence: Basic, State and Central

What are the FSSAI slabs now?

Under the revised framework: Basic registration up to ₹1.5 crore turnover (fee ₹100/year); State licence ₹1.5–50 crore (₹2,000–₹5,000/year by kind of business); Central licence above ₹50 crore — or any importer, exporter, 100% EOU or e-commerce platform regardless of turnover (₹7,500/year).

I run a small cloud kitchen. Which applies?

With food turnover up to ₹1.5 crore, Basic registration — the ₹100-a-year tier. Platforms will ask for the number at onboarding.

Does a food EXPORTER with tiny turnover really need Central?

Yes — importer/exporter status forces the Central licence regardless of the ₹1.5-crore relaxation, alongside IEC. Sequence both before the first shipment.

What does "perpetual validity" mean now?

The revised regime moves away from expiry-and-renew cycles subject to conditions (returns, fee continuity) — read your certificate’s terms and calendar whatever it says; "perpetual" never means "forget it".

Which documents do I need?

ID/photo/premises chain for everyone; layouts, equipment lists and water reports as manufacturing tiers demand — the full tier-wise checklist is in our documents guide linked above.

What is a Kind of Business (KoB) and why does it matter?

The activity categories you select — they drive which annexures apply and what inspectors check. Mismatched KoBs are a top revert reason.

Home bakers and tiffin services — covered?

Yes, food business is food business; the Basic tier was designed to make compliance easy at small scale. Operating unregistered is what platforms and inspectors both catch.

One licence for two outlets?

Credentials attach to premises — multiple locations mean multiple applications, mapped once so nothing operates naked.

How long does approval take?

Basic registrations move quickly; licence tiers add scrutiny and possible inspection. The controllable part is a complete, correctly-tiered file that never enters the revert loop.

What does "reverted" mean on FoSCoS?

Corrections sought within a window — answer precisely or the application lapses. Our rejection guide maps each revert cause to its fix.

Are annual returns required?

Manufacturer-class licensees file annual returns (Form D1 family); the compliance brief with your credential states what applies to your KoB — missing returns is what breaks "perpetual" validity.

Display requirements?

The FSSAI number belongs on premises, labels and platform listings; licences carry a conditions schedule that is enforceable, not decorative.

Can I upgrade tiers mid-year as turnover grows?

Yes — and promptly: operating on a lower tier than turnover supports is a live violation. The categorisation includes the upgrade trigger plan.

What do inspections check?

The conditions schedule: hygiene basics, records, display, labels, water reports where applicable — the brief exists so none of it surprises you.

Is anyone able to guarantee the licence?

No — approvals are the authority’s. Complete files, correct tiers and answered reverts are what actually move applications; treat "guaranteed" agents as a warning sign.

What decides the cost of FSSAI registration or licence work?

The government fee depends on your category — ₹100 a year for basic registration, ₹2,000–₹5,000 a year for a State licence by kind of business, ₹7,500 a year for a Central licence. The professional fee depends on licence type, premises count and whether Schedule 4 documentation support is involved, and is quoted as a fixed amount in writing before filing.