Quick answer: Anyone who makes or sells food from home, including tiffin services, home bakers and pickle or masala makers, needs an FSSAI registration or licence. From 1 April 2026, basic registration (₹100 a year) covers businesses with annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore, a state licence covers ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore, and a central licence applies above ₹50 crore. Registrations and licences issued from 1 April 2026 no longer need renewal. Figures are as of October 2026.
Who needs it and which category you fall in
The Food Safety and Standards Act applies to every food business operator (FBO), however small, whether you sell from your kitchen, on Instagram or WhatsApp, or at a weekend market.
The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026 were notified on 10 March 2026. An FSSAI order of 13 March 2026 told licensing authorities to apply new turnover thresholds from 1 April 2026:
| Category | Old turnover limit | New limit from 1 April 2026 | Fee per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic registration | Up to ₹12 lakh | Up to ₹1.5 crore | ₹100 |
| State licence | ₹12 lakh to ₹20 crore (most businesses) | Above ₹1.5 crore up to ₹50 crore | ₹2,000 for most traders and caterers; ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 for manufacturers |
| Central licence | Above ₹20 crore | Above ₹50 crore | Mostly ₹7,500 |
The fee figures come from FSSAI’s FoSCoS “kind of business” eligibility sheet. That sheet still shows the old turnover limits, so use it for fees only and rely on the March 2026 order for thresholds.
What this means for a home business: almost every tiffin service, home bakery, pickle maker or small caterer now fits within basic registration. Some activities, such as dairy, meat, packaged drinking water, infant food and fish processing, are treated as high risk and still carry stricter hygiene and testing duties. If your business involves these, read the category rules on FoSCoS carefully before you apply.
Two cases where you may not need your own registration:
- If you cook at home as a member of a self-help group, Mahila Udyog, Gruh Udyog or a cooperative that is itself registered or licensed with FSSAI, the FSSAI FAQ says you do not need a separate registration.
- Street vendors, hawkers and food carts registered under the Street Vendors Act, 2014 are now deemed registered under the food safety law.
Documents to keep ready
FoSCoS shows the exact documents for your kind of business on its “Documents Required” page, and all uploads must be self-attested. For basic registration (Form A), keep ready:
- A recent passport-size photograph
- Photo identity proof (Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID or passport)
- Proof of address of the premises where you cook (electricity bill, rent agreement, or a consent letter if the home belongs to a spouse or parent)
- A list of the food items you will make or sell
- Your mobile number and email for OTPs and the certificate
You will also need a PAN for GST, Udyam and a business bank account, so get one early if you do not have it.
How to apply on FoSCoS, step by step
- Go to foscos.fssai.gov.in and click Apply for Licence/Registration.
- Choose your state and district.
- Select your kind of business from the list (for example, “petty retailer”, “manufacturer” for bakery and pickles, or “caterer” for tiffin services). Read the definition and pick the one that matches what you actually do.
- Answer the eligibility questions on turnover. If you are within ₹1.5 crore, the portal should route you to registration (Form A).
- Fill Form A: your name, address of the premises, food categories, and expected turnover.
- Upload your documents and pay the fee online. You can pay for more than one year at a time.
- Save the 17-digit reference number shown on the receipt and use it to track the application on the FoSCoS home page.
- Download your registration certificate with its 14-digit FSSAI number once it is approved.
Timelines: The registering authority must issue the certificate within 7 days of a complete application. If it decides to inspect the premises, the inspection must happen within 30 days. If the authority does not respond in time, FoSCoS auto-generates the certificate. If you do not answer a query within 30 days, the application is auto-rejected, though you can ask online for it to be reactivated.
Labelling basics for packed food
If you sell packed food, such as jars of pickle, boxes of cookies or packets of masala, the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 apply. FSSAI’s labelling FAQ lists these main declarations:
- Name of the food on the front, using the standard or common name (a brand name can be added)
- Veg or non-veg logo on the front of the pack (small packs are not exempt)
- List of ingredients, with additives and flavours declared by class name
- Allergen declaration where relevant (nuts, gluten, milk and so on)
- Nutritional information, unless the product is a raw, minimally processed or single-ingredient food
- Name and full address of the brand owner
- FSSAI logo and your licence or registration number, printed in a colour that contrasts with the background
- Date marking, such as date of manufacture and “best before” or “use by”
- Net quantity and other details required under weights and measures rules
FSSAI’s FAQ also says the 14-digit FSSAI number must appear on cash receipts, invoices and bills. For tiffins served fresh and loose, the detailed pack labelling rules do not apply in the same way, but you should still show your FSSAI number on bills and on your menu or WhatsApp catalogue.
Renewal and staying compliant
No more renewal, with conditions. Under the 2026 amendment, registrations and licences have perpetual validity and stay valid until suspended, cancelled or surrendered. FSSAI’s FAQ of 27 March 2026 confirms that FBOs do not need to renew, and that this applies to licences and registrations issued on or after 1 April 2026.
What you still must do:
- Keep paying the annual fee. A registration or licence can be suspended if the annual fee is not paid. You cannot trade while it is suspended.
- File annual returns if you hold a manufacturing licence. Licensed manufacturers and importers file by 31 May each year on FoSCoS, with a late fee of ₹100 a day. Basic registration holders do not file this return.
- Meet hygiene standards. Registration holders must follow the Schedule 4 hygiene requirements, and FSSAI now uses risk-based inspections.
- Upgrade if you grow. If your turnover crosses ₹1.5 crore, apply for a state licence through a modification application on FoSCoS.
- Close properly. If you shut the business, tell the authority in writing within 30 days and surrender the certificate.
If you already held a state licence below ₹1.5 crore: FSSAI says existing FBOs will be given time to migrate on FoSCoS, that migration is based on self-declaration with no fee, and that your number does not change. Licence fees already paid are adjusted against the registration fee.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the wrong kind of business. A home bakery or pickle maker is usually a manufacturer, not a retailer. A wrong category means a wrong certificate.
- Paying agents large sums for basic registration. The government fee is ₹100 a year. Help with filing is fine, but compare quotes.
- Not showing the number. The FSSAI number must be on your labels and bills.
- Ignoring queries. Applications are auto-rejected if you do not reply within 30 days.
Tips for home-based women founders
- If the house is in a parent’s, spouse’s or in-law’s name, a signed consent letter with their address proof is the usual way to show you may use the premises.
- Your FSSAI certificate is also useful for your Udyam registration, Mudra loan applications and for getting listed on food delivery apps.
FAQ
Q: I sell homemade cakes only to neighbours and friends. Do I still need FSSAI registration?
A: Yes. The law applies to any food business that sells, regardless of size or channel. Basic registration is the right category for most home bakers.
Q: My turnover is ₹40 lakh. Do I need a state licence?
A: Not if you apply on or after 1 April 2026. Basic registration now covers turnover up to ₹1.5 crore.
Q: Do I have to renew my registration every year or every five years?
A: Registrations issued from 1 April 2026 have perpetual validity, so there is no renewal. You still pay the annual fee, and you can pay several years at once.
Q: Do I need GST as well?
A: Only if you cross the GST turnover threshold or sell goods to other states. See our guide on registering a small business in India.
Q: What happens if I sell without registration?
A: Running a food business without registration is an offence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, and platforms and wholesale buyers will ask for your number. It is cheaper to register.
Official links
- FoSCoS (apply, track, pay fees): https://foscos.fssai.gov.in
- FSSAI main site: https://www.fssai.gov.in
- FSSAI order on revised turnover thresholds (13 March 2026): https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/advisories/2026/03/69b4054bb6cd6Order%20dated%2013thMarch2026_Revised%20Turnover%20threshold.pdf
- FSSAI FAQs on the 2026 amendment (27 March 2026): https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/advisories/2026/03/69c6a23234827order_27032026.pdf
- Fee and kind-of-business sheet: https://foscos.fssai.gov.in/assets/docs/KindofBusinessEligibilityLatest.pdf
Last checked: October 2026. Rules, limits and fees change; confirm with the official source before you apply. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
Sources: FSSAI order on revised turnover thresholds (March 2026); FSSAI FAQs on Licensing and Registration Amendment Regulations, 2026 (March 2026); SCC Online, FSSAI Licensing and Registration Amendment Regulations, 2026 explained (March 2026); Drishti IAS, reforms in India’s food safety framework (March 2026); Mondaq, FSSAI raises turnover limits (March 2026); FoSCoS kind of business and fee sheet (October 2026); FoSCoS, how to apply for a registration certificate (October 2026); FSSAI FAQs on licensing and registration (July 2022); FSSAI FAQs on Labelling and Display Regulations (November 2023); Zerodha Daily Brief, FSSAI’s new licensing rules (2026)
