Every food and nutraceutical business operating in India needs the correct FSSAI credential before it manufactures, stores, distributes, imports or sells — but "an FSSAI licence" is not one thing. Depending on turnover, capacity and activity, your business needs Basic Registration, a State Licence, or a Central Licence, and applying in the wrong class is one of the most common reasons applications stall or get rejected on the FoSCoS portal.
We assess your operation, determine the correct licence class and Kind of Business, prepare the complete documentation set, and manage the application through approval — including inspections, clarifications and post-approval compliance.
Who is this service for?
- New food or health-supplement businesses applying for their first FSSAI credential
- Manufacturers scaling past State-licence thresholds who must migrate to a Central Licence
- Importers, e-commerce sellers and storage/transport operators needing Central Licences
- Businesses with expiring, suspended or incorrectly-classed licences
What is included?
- Licence-class and Kind-of-Business (KoB) assessment against your actual operations
- Complete FoSCoS application preparation and filing
- Documentation: Form B, layout plans, water reports, FSMS plan, NOCs as applicable
- Response handling for FSO queries and inspection support
- Renewals, modifications (address, products, capacity) and annual-return support (Form D-1)
How does the process work?
- 1Scoping call: activity, capacity, turnover, locations
- 2Licence-class determination and document checklist issued
- 3Document collection and application preparation
- 4FoSCoS filing and fee payment
- 5Inspection/query handling until the licence is granted
Which documents will you need?
- Business constitution documents (incorporation/partnership/proprietor KYC)
- Premises proof (ownership or rent agreement) and layout plan for manufacturers
- Product list mapped to FSSAI categories
- Food Safety Management System (FSMS) plan
- Water test report and equipment list for manufacturing units
How long does it take?
Basic Registration is typically granted in about 7–10 working days. State and Central licences generally take 30–60 days depending on inspection scheduling and how quickly departmental queries are resolved. These are typical ranges from our practice, not statutory guarantees.
Common mistakes we correct
- Applying for a State licence when turnover or activity requires a Central licence
- Product lists that do not match the FSSAI category codes actually manufactured
- Missing FSMS plan or water report at inspection stage
- Letting a licence lapse — late renewal attracts daily penalties and can require a fresh application
Frequently Asked Questions
Which FSSAI licence does my business need — Registration, State or Central?
It depends on annual turnover, production capacity and the nature of the activity. Broadly: small businesses under the turnover threshold need Basic Registration; mid-size manufacturers and distributors need a State Licence; large manufacturers, importers, e-commerce operators and multi-state businesses need a Central Licence. We determine the correct class as the first step of every engagement.
Can I sell nutraceuticals with a normal food licence?
Health supplements and nutraceuticals must be licensed under the correct Kind of Business with products that comply with the Nutraceutical Regulations. Selling supplement SKUs under a generic food licence class is a common and correctable compliance gap.
What happens if my FSSAI licence expires?
Operating on an expired licence is an offence under the FSS Act 2006. Renewal should be filed before expiry; late renewal attracts penalties and beyond the grace window a completely fresh application may be required. We track renewal dates for retained clients.
Regulations that apply
- Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
- FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011
- FoSCoS portal (foscos.fssai.gov.in) — official filing system