Legal & Compliance
FSSAI, on the right licence.
Basic registration, a State licence or a Central licence: three different things that get called "the FSSAI licence" interchangeably, with different fees and different consequences for getting it wrong. We work out which one you need first.
₹299 professional fee
+ government charges at actuals
Who needs it
Anyone who manufactures, stores, transports, distributes or sells food: restaurants, cafeterias, caterers, cloud kitchens, retailers, traders and home-based food businesses.
Which of Basic registration, a State licence or a Central licence applies depends on your turnover and where you operate, and the government fee differs for each. Tell us your turnover and we will tell you which one you need before you pay anything.
What we need from you
- Photo ID and address proof of the proprietor, partners or directors
- Proof of business premises
- List of food products or categories handled
- Layout plan and a water test report, where the category calls for one
In detail
FSSAI registration & licence
Basic, State or Central
Which one applies is decided mostly by turnover and partly by what you do. Very small operators take Basic registration. Most restaurants, caterers, cloud kitchens and mid-sized manufacturers fall into the State licence. A Central licence is required above the upper turnover limit, and also regardless of turnover for importers and exporters, for operations at ports, airports and on the railways, and for businesses operating across several states from a head office. Tell us your turnover and where you operate and we will tell you which of the three you are before you pay for any of them.
What the government charges
Unlike GST and Udyam, FSSAI carries a real government fee, and it differs by licence type and by the number of years you take it for. Taking a licence for multiple years at once is usually cheaper per year than renewing annually. We quote the exact government figure for your category up front, charge it at actuals with nothing added, and keep it on a separate line of the invoice from our own fee.
Displaying and using the number
The 14-digit FSSAI number is not just a certificate for a drawer. It has to be displayed at your premises, and it belongs on your packaging, your menu and your bills depending on the kind of business you run. Aggregators will ask for it before they list you. Customers increasingly check it. We tell you where yours has to appear once it is issued.
Inspections and renewals
Some categories draw a premises inspection before the licence is granted, and the officer looks at the things you would expect: layout, storage, water, hygiene practice and pest control. We tell you in advance whether your category is likely to be inspected and what is typically looked at, so the visit is not the first time you hear about it. Licences run for one to five years and lapse if they are not renewed in time, with a penalty for late renewal, so we flag the date well before it arrives.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Which FSSAI licence do we need?
It follows your turnover and your operations. Small operators take Basic registration; most restaurants, caterers and cloud kitchens take a State licence; importers, exporters, multi-state operations and larger manufacturers take a Central licence. Tell us your annual turnover and where you operate and we will tell you which one applies before you spend anything.
What are the government charges?
They vary by licence type and by the number of years you take the licence for, and they are payable on top of our ₹299 professional fee. We give you the exact figure for your category before you commit, and charge it at actuals with nothing added on.
Do home-based food businesses need FSSAI?
Yes. Selling food from home is a food business, and it needs at least Basic registration. Delivery platforms will ask for the number before they list you, and so will most customers ordering in any quantity.
Will there be an inspection?
For some categories, yes, usually before the licence is granted. The officer looks at layout, storage, water, hygiene practice and pest control. We will tell you whether your category typically draws one and what is normally looked at, so you can be ready rather than surprised.
How long is the licence valid?
From one to five years, whichever you choose at the time of application. Longer terms usually work out cheaper per year. A licence that lapses cannot simply be continued and attracts a late renewal penalty, so we flag the renewal date to you ahead of time.
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