Food & Nutraceuticals
FSSAI State Licence and Basic Registration without the back and forth
The right tier, the right documents and a file that does not come back with queries.
- Authority
- State Food Safety Commissioner or the Designated Officer of the district, through FoSCoS
- Governing rules
- FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011 as amended in 2026
- Typical timeline
- Registration is often instant; State Licence takes 21 to 45 working days
- Government fees
- Indicatively Rs 100 for Basic Registration and Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 for a State Licence depending on activity. Confirm the applicable amount on FoSCoS before filing.
FSSAI State Licence & Basic Registration: what it involves
From 1 April 2026 the turnover slabs changed substantially. Basic Registration now covers food businesses with annual turnover up to Rs 1.5 crore, a large jump from the earlier Rs 12 lakh ceiling. A State Licence applies above Rs 1.5 crore and up to Rs 50 crore, for businesses operating within one state and not carrying out any activity that independently triggers Central Licensing.
The practical effect is that many businesses which previously needed a State Licence now qualify for instant Basic Registration, and many that held a Central Licence can move down a tier. We check where you actually sit, handle the migration on FoSCoS where a category change is involved, and make sure the change does not disturb your existing supplier or marketplace onboarding.
Who needs this
- Small manufacturers, repackers and relabellers under Rs 50 crore turnover
- Restaurants, cloud kitchens, caterers and canteens
- Retailers, distributors, wholesalers and marketers
- Storage units, cold stores and transporters within one state
- Petty food manufacturers and small vendors needing Basic Registration
- Existing licence holders migrating tiers after the 2026 threshold revision
Documentation
Documents required
Arrange these and the file moves. We tell you exactly which format each one has to be in, and we draft the technical annexures ourselves.
- Form A for Registration or Form B for a State Licence
- Photo identity of the proprietor, partners or directors
- Passport size photograph of the applicant
- Proof of possession of premises such as rent agreement or utility bill
- Layout plan of the processing unit, for manufacturers
- List of equipment and machinery with capacity, for manufacturers
- Water test report from an accredited laboratory, for manufacturers
- Partnership deed, certificate of incorporation or self declaration
- List of food products or categories handled
- Food safety management system plan, for manufacturing and processing units
- NOC from the local body where the state authority asks for it
How we work
The process, stage by stage
Indicative durations for a file where documents arrive on time. We tell you at the outset which stage is most likely to slip in your case.
- 1
Tier check against the revised thresholds
1 to 2 daysWe confirm your turnover band, premises type and activities, and tell you plainly whether you need Registration, a State Licence, or in fact a Central Licence.
- 2
Document pack preparation
3 to 7 daysWe prepare and verify every attachment, including layout and equipment schedules for manufacturers, so the file is complete at first submission.
- 3
Filing on FoSCoS
1 dayThe application is submitted with the statutory fee and the acknowledgement is shared with you immediately. Basic Registration is generally granted instantly.
- 4
Designated Officer follow-up
15 to 40 daysWe track the file with the Designated Officer, answer reversions and coordinate the inspection where the state authority orders one.
- 5
Grant and compliance handover
On grantYou receive the licence along with the display copy for your premises and a short compliance note covering records, returns and the food safety supervisor requirement.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What are the revised FSSAI turnover thresholds?
With effect from 1 April 2026, Registration covers turnover up to Rs 1.5 crore, a State Licence covers turnover above Rs 1.5 crore and up to Rs 50 crore, and a Central Licence applies above Rs 50 crore. Activity based triggers such as import, export, e-commerce and multi-state operations still require a Central Licence regardless of turnover.
I hold a State Licence but my turnover is now under Rs 1.5 crore. What happens?
FSSAI has provided for migration through FoSCoS based on self declaration by the food business operator, and the system handles the change at the backend without a separate approval from the licensing authority. We can complete the declaration and confirm the resulting category for you.
Do I need a licence for a cloud kitchen?
Yes. Any food business operator preparing food for sale needs at least a Registration, and most cloud kitchens listed on delivery aggregators are asked for a State Licence. If you operate the same brand across states through a central entity, the head office needs a Central Licence.
Is a water test report compulsory?
For manufacturing and processing units, yes. It must come from an NABL accredited or FSSAI notified laboratory and cover the water actually used in the process, including water used for cleaning food contact surfaces.
Related services
Often taken together with this
FSSAI Central Licence
For turnover above Rs 50 crore, importers, exporters, e-commerce sellers and businesses operating in more than one state.
Typical timeline · 30 to 60 working days in a clean file
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Label artwork review, nutrition panels, claim substantiation and approval routes for products outside standard categories.
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Read moreTell us what you are manufacturing. We will tell you what you need.
Share your product category, premises and turnover. You will get a written scope covering the exact licences that apply, the documents to arrange, and a realistic timeline.