FSSAI Registration vs Licence: Turnover Limits, Fees & Validity for 2026
FSSAI basic registration up to Rs. 12 lakh turnover, state licence 12 lakh - 20 crore, central licence above 20 crore. Fee slabs, validity periods, documents and renewal before expiry.
Basic FSSAI Licence
Get Basic FSSAI Registration for small food businesses. Turnover up to ₹18 lakh. Professional fees ₹2,538 + Govt fee. Fast processing.
State FSSAI Licence
Get State FSSAI Licence for food businesses with turnover ₹18 lakh to ₹20 crore. Professional fees ₹3,600 + Govt fee.
Central FSSAI Licence
Get Central FSSAI Licence for large food businesses. Turnover above ₹20 crore, importers, exporters. Professional fees ₹7,140 + Govt fee.
FSSAI Renewal
FSSAI Licence Renewal services for Basic, State, and Central licences. Timely renewal to avoid penalties. Professional fees start at ₹2,538.
The three tiers
- Basic registration: turnover up to Rs. 12 lakh - one-time, quickest
- State licence: turnover Rs. 12 lakh - Rs. 20 crore - issued by state/UT authority
- Central licence: turnover above Rs. 20 crore or food categories under central control (milk processing, oils, exporters, proprietary foods, additives, etc.)
- Special cases: food importers and exporters always need central licences regardless of turnover
Fee and documents
- Basic registration: nominal fee per the regulations (typically Rs. 100-500 by category)
- State licence: annual fee by turnover band (Rs. 2,000-5,000 typical) - see the schedule
- Central licence: typically Rs. 7,500/year with plan approval for new sites
- Common documents: ownership/rental proof, partnership/company registration, directors' PAN, food safety management plan (HACCP/ISO 22000 where required), water testing report
- Renewal: apply 30 days before expiry; late renewal attracts 100% additional + late fee
How to apply (online)
- Register on the Food Licensing & Registration System (FLRS) at fssai.gov.in
- Choose operation type - registration or licence - based on turnover and activity
- Upload the food safety management and location documents for licences
- Pay the fee online; the state/central authority issues after verification (licences undergo site/plan approval)
- Renew on the same portal at least 30 days before expiry with the fee for the next term
Common pitfalls
- Turnover misestimated at application - a 12 lakh+ business on registration gets flagged in inspection
- Renewal filed on the expiry day - the 30-day rule means 100% additional fee
- Category mismatches (e.g., milk under general food) triggering central licence demand
- No display of licence number - a prosecution-ready technical default
- Home-based producers forget the producer-verification step
What you should do
- Confirm your annual turnover (last FY) and pick the right tier
- Gather ownership, partnership, PAN and water-test documents first
- Choose a 3-5 year term for licences - renewal friction is the biggest churn
- Renew 45 days before expiry to leave buffer
- Match GSTIN activity with FSSAI categories - mismatches create compliance queries
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Basic FSSAI Licence
Get Basic FSSAI Registration for small food businesses. Turnover up to ₹18 lakh. Professional fees ₹2,538 + Govt fee. Fast processing.
State FSSAI Licence
Get State FSSAI Licence for food businesses with turnover ₹18 lakh to ₹20 crore. Professional fees ₹3,600 + Govt fee.
Central FSSAI Licence
Get Central FSSAI Licence for large food businesses. Turnover above ₹20 crore, importers, exporters. Professional fees ₹7,140 + Govt fee.
FSSAI Renewal
FSSAI Licence Renewal services for Basic, State, and Central licences. Timely renewal to avoid penalties. Professional fees start at ₹2,538.