Which FSSAI licence do you need?
Three questions. The licence your business needs, what it costs, the documents you’ll be asked for and what keeps it valid — worked out from FSSAI’s kind-of-business table updated 1 April 2026.
2026 tableBased on FSSAI’s kind-of-business table updated 01.04.2026. One premises, one licence — we confirm the exact kind of business on FoSCoS before anything is filed.
Six rules, and where each comes from.
If your business does more than one thing at one premises, the heaviest activity sets the licence. Where FSSAI hasn’t said how fees combine for several activities, we confirm the figure with the licensing authority before quoting it.
Up to ₹1.5 crore: Registration. ₹1.5–50 crore: State Licence. Above ₹50 crore: Central Licence. Capacity (litres a day, tonnes a day) no longer decides it.
FSSAI Kind of Business eligibility table, updated 01.04.2026Importers, the three export kinds of business, e-commerce food businesses and health supplement or nutraceutical makers.
FSSAI Kind of Business eligibility table, updated 01.04.2026The petty food business definition expressly excludes caterers, so the smallest option for a caterer is a State Licence.
Reg. 1.2.1(4), as substituted 10.03.20265-star and above: Central. Up to 4-star: State. Hotels without a star rating follow turnover like a restaurant.
FSSAI Kind of Business eligibility table, updated 01.04.2026Grain, cereal and pulses milling stays on a State Licence at any turnover above ₹1.5 crore.
FSSAI Kind of Business eligibility table, updated 01.04.2026Operating in two or more States or UTs adds a Central Licence for the head or registered office, on top of each premises’ own licence.
FSSAI Kind of Business eligibility table, updated 01.04.2026About the finder
Is the result final?
It’s the classification the 2026 table gives for what you told it. Before anything is filed we confirm the exact kind of business on FoSCoS against your documents — a licence with the wrong kind of business looks valid right up until it’s checked.
I do two things — make and sell online. Which counts?
Every activity is scored separately and the heaviest one carries the application. A manufacturer under ₹1.5 crore that also runs its own online store needs a Central Licence, because e-commerce food businesses are licensed centrally at any turnover.
I’m just starting. What turnover do I pick?
Use what you expect in your first year. If you cross ₹1.5 crore or ₹50 crore later, you move up a tier through a fresh application — we flag it before you get there.
Do I need a separate licence for each outlet?
Yes. A licence covers one premises. Two kitchens are two applications, and operating in more than one state adds a head-office Central Licence.
Want us to double-check the answer?
Send us what the finder said. We’ll confirm the kind of business against your documents and tell you exactly what we’d file.
- Government fee paid by you, directly to FSSAI
- Filed under your own FoSCoS login
- Fixed fee, confirmed in writing before we start
Not ready to talk? Get the free 2026 checklist or find your licence yourself.