FSSAI Registration for Small Food Business: 2026 Limits and Fees

FSSAI registration for small food business is compulsory for every food business operator, including home bakers, tiffin services and cloud kitchens. From 1 April 2026, basic FSSAI registration covers annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore (up from ₹12 lakh), a State licence covers turnover above ₹1.5 crore up to ₹50 crore, and a Central licence is needed above ₹50 crore. New registrations and licences issued from 1 April 2026 do not expire, and you apply online on the FoSCoS portal (foscos.fssai.gov.in).

Who needs FSSAI registration

Section 31 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 says no one shall start or carry on a food business except under a licence, while petty food businesses (small manufacturers, retailers, hawkers, temporary stall holders and similar small operators) register instead. In practice, “food business” is wide. It covers anyone who makes, processes, packs, stores, transports, sells or serves food, whether from a shop, a cart, a kitchen at home or an Instagram page.

• Home bakers and cake sellers, pickle and papad makers.
• Tiffin and dabba services, cloud kitchens, small cafes and dhabas.
• Sweet shops, kirana stores selling packaged food, fruit and vegetable sellers with fixed premises.
• Online sellers on food delivery apps, which generally insist on a valid FSSAI number before listing.

Street vendors: under the 2026 amendment, vendors registered under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 are deemed to be registered under the FSS Act. They no longer need a second registration, but must still follow the hygiene requirements.

FSSAI turnover limits after the 2026 amendment

The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026 were notified on 10 March 2026, and an FSSAI order of 13 March 2026 revised the turnover thresholds. The new limits apply from 1 April 2026 to applications made on or after that date.

• FSSAI basic registration: annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore. The old limit was ₹12 lakh.
• State licence: above ₹1.5 crore and up to ₹50 crore.
• Central licence: above ₹50 crore. Some kinds of business need a Central licence regardless of turnover under the FSSAI’s kind-of-business rules, importers being the standard example.

Existing operators are being migrated on FoSCoS, and FSSAI has said no fee is charged for a migration caused by the revised thresholds. Registrations and licences issued from 1 April 2026 have perpetual validity: you no longer renew them, but you must still apply for modification when your address, product category, capacity or ownership changes.

FSSAI licence for home food business: how to apply

1. Check your turnover band. A home kitchen with turnover up to ₹1.5 crore needs basic registration, not a licence.
2. Open FoSCoS (foscos.fssai.gov.in) and use the eligibility wizard, which asks your kind of business and turnover and tells you whether you need registration, a State licence or a Central licence.
3. Fill Form A for registration (Form B is for licences). Upload a photograph, ID proof and proof of premises, and give the list of food products.
4. Pay the fee online. Basic registration is ₹100 a year, and the 2026 changes let you pay for several years at once. Licence fees vary by category and capacity.
5. Wait for the decision. The registering authority must grant or reject the application, or order an inspection, within 7 days. If it inspects, it decides within 30 days. If no decision is communicated in that time, the regulations allow the applicant to start business, subject to any later improvement orders.
6. Display the number. Keep the certificate at the premises and print the 14-digit FSSAI number on labels, menus, packaging and online listings as required.

Common mistakes small food businesses make

• Thinking a home kitchen is exempt. It is not. Size decides the type of registration, not whether one is needed.
• Using a look-alike website. Many private sites charge ₹1,000 or more for a ₹100 registration. FoSCoS is the official portal.
• Not updating after growth. If turnover crosses ₹1.5 crore, move to a State licence.
• Forgetting hygiene rules. Registration does not end your duties. Schedule 4 of the 2011 Regulations sets hygiene and sanitary conditions, and food safety officers can inspect.
• Ignoring other registrations. FSSAI does not replace GST, a trade licence or Udyam.

Real-life example

Sneha bakes cakes at home in Vadodara and takes orders on Instagram and a delivery app. Her turnover is about ₹9 lakh a year. Before April 2026 she held basic registration; under the new limits she still needs only basic registration, which now covers up to ₹1.5 crore. Her friend Arjun runs a cloud kitchen in Hyderabad with turnover of ₹2.2 crore, which is above the new basic limit. He needs a State licence and applies on FoSCoS in Form B.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FSSAI registration limit for small food business in 2026?

From 1 April 2026, basic FSSAI registration covers annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore. Above that, up to ₹50 crore, you need a State licence, and above ₹50 crore a Central licence.

Do I need an FSSAI licence for a home food business?

You need at least basic FSSAI registration, whatever the size. A licence is needed only if turnover crosses ₹1.5 crore or your kind of business requires one.

Does FSSAI registration need renewal now?

Not for registrations and licences issued on or after 1 April 2026, which have perpetual validity unless suspended, cancelled or surrendered. Changes in particulars still need a modification application.

What is the fee for FSSAI basic registration?

₹100 per year, paid online on FoSCoS. Licence fees are higher and depend on the category and capacity of the business.

Quick quiz

Running a food business from home or a shop? Law for Shopkeepers and Small Businesses walks through every registration you need, and the Business Compliance Pack, ₹799 gives ready formats. The certificate is a Lexfolio certificate of completion, not a professional qualification.

Sources

• Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, ss.31 and 63
• Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, regulation 2.1 and Schedules 2 to 4
• Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026 (notified 10 March 2026); FSSAI orders of 13 March and 27 March 2026
• Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 29 October 2026.