FSSAI Revised Turnover Threshold 2026: New Limits for Registration, State License & Central License

Published Date: 04 August 2026

If you run a food business in India whether that's a home kitchen, a mid-size processing unit, or a national brand a new order from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India changes the annual turnover limits that decide whether you need Basic Registration, a State License, or a Central License. The revised thresholds took effect from 1st April 2026, under an order dated 13th March 2026, and they replace classification criteria that had barely moved since 2011.

This isn't a minor administrative tweak. For a large number of food businesses, it means a lower compliance burden, simpler paperwork, and in many cases, a category downgrade they can apply for straightaway. If your turnover sits anywhere near the old thresholds, it's worth checking where you now stand.

At Absolute Veritas, we help food business operators across India get their FSSAI registration and licensing right the first time here is exactly what this revision means for you.

Overview

FSSAI functions under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and requires every Food Business Operator (FBO) manufacturers, traders, warehouses, transporters, caterers, retailers, importers, exporters, and street vendors alike to hold a valid registration or license before commencing operations. The classification between the three tiers has always been based primarily on annual turnover.

This latest order recalibrates those turnover bands under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026. It does not remove the underlying obligation to register or license your food business it changes which tier you fall into, and in several respects, how that credential is maintained going forward.

What the New Order Changes

Why FSSAI Revised These Thresholds

The amendment also gives FSSAI the flexibility to revise these thresholds by order alone going forward, rather than needing a full regulatory amendment each time so businesses should expect these numbers to be reviewed periodically rather than treated as permanent.

Old vs New Turnover Thresholds

In practical terms: a business earning ₹80 lakh a year, which previously needed a State License, now only needs Basic Registration. A company with ₹25 crore turnover, which used to require a Central License, now only needs a State License. This order supersedes all earlier FSSAI classification criteria under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

Eligibility: Which Category Applies to You

FSSAI Basic Registration

Applies if your annual turnover is up to ₹1.5 crore. This covers:

• Small food retailers, street vendors, and petty food manufacturers
• Home-based food businesses, including home bakers and homemade food sellers
• Small dhabas, tea stalls, and juice shops
• Hawkers and itinerant food vendors
• Small catering businesses serving local functions or offices
• Small distributors, transporters, or storage operators under ₹1.5 crore turnover
• Temporary stall holders at events and fairs

FSSAI State License

Applies if your annual turnover is above ₹1.5 crore and up to ₹50 crore. This covers:

• Mid-size food manufacturers or processors
• Restaurant chains operating within a single state
• Food trading companies with moderate turnover
• Hotels, restaurants, and catering businesses with significant revenue
• Cold storage operators within the State License turnover range
• Food retailers operating multiple outlets within a state
• Cloud kitchen brands and meal-kit companies in growth phase

FSSAI Central License

Applies if your annual turnover is above ₹50 crore, or if your business falls into certain categories regardless of turnover:

• Large food manufacturers or processors
• Importers and exporters of food products
• Food businesses operating in more than one state
• Businesses supplying food to railways, airlines, or defence establishments
• Large e-commerce food platforms or marketplaces

Note: Even below ₹50 crore, importers, exporters, and certain multi-state operators may still require a Central License based on the nature of their operations rather than turnover alone. It's worth verifying your specific situation with a compliance consultant.

Documents Required for Each Category

For Basic Registration (Form A):

• Photo ID proof Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, or Passport of the applicant
• Address proof of the business premises electricity bill, rent agreement, or ownership document
• Passport-size photograph of the proprietor, partner, or director
• Completed Form A application
• Where applicable: partnership deed, certificate of incorporation, local body NOC, or turnover proof

For State License (Form B):

• Photo ID and address proof of proprietor, partners, or directors
• Business address proof and constitution documents (partnership deed / incorporation certificate / MOA & AOA)
• Completed Form B, list of food products, and layout plan of the premises
• Food Safety Management System (FSMS) plan, municipal NOC, and water testing report
• Self-declaration form, plus business-type-specific documents (machinery list for manufacturers, sourcing proof for dairy units, temperature records for cold storage)

For Central License (Form B, expanded):

• All documents required for a State License
• Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT, for importers and exporters
• NOC from the Pollution Control Board, for large manufacturing units
• CA-certified statement of annual turnover above ₹50 crore
• Food Safety Management System certification such as ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000, where applicable
• Third-party audit report and a full list of all premises or branches

Application Process on the FoSCoS Portal

• Determine your category based on current annual turnover, using the revised thresholds
• Create an account on foscos.fssai.gov.in using your mobile number or email, and verify via OTP
• Select the correct form Form A for Basic Registration, Form B for State or Central License
• Fill in business, product, and turnover details accurately
• Upload the required documents (PDF, JPG, or PNG, generally under 1–2 MB each)
• Pay the applicable fee online through the portal
• Submit the application and track its status using the reference number provided
• Undergo inspection where applicable mandatory pre-grant for State and Central License, risk-based post-registration for Basic Registration
• Download the issued certificate, display it at your premises, and add your 14-digit FSSAI number to labels and packaging

If you already hold a registration or license and your turnover has shifted categories, there's no automatic cancellation. You can apply to modify, upgrade, or downgrade your credential through FoSCoS to reflect your current turnover.

Perpetual Validity and Risk-Based Inspections

Risk level is assessed against a few consistent factors:

• Nature of the food product ready-to-eat versus raw, processed versus unprocessed, perishable versus shelf-stable
• Vulnerability of consumers products for infants, the elderly, or hospital patients carry higher scrutiny
• Scale of operation larger businesses with wider reach attract more frequent checks
• Compliance history prior violations lead to closer monitoring
• Type of operation manufacturing and processing are treated as higher risk than retail or storage

Penalties for Non-Compliance

The revised thresholds make compliance easier to achieve, but the penalty framework under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 hasn't changed, and it applies equally regardless of which tier you hold.

What Businesses Should Do Now

• Recalculate which category Basic Registration, State License, or Central License applies to your current annual turnover
• If you already hold a credential and your category has changed, apply for modification on FoSCoS rather than leaving it as is
• Check whether special triggers apply to you regardless of turnover, such as import/export activity or multi-state operations
• Gather the correct document set for your applicable tier well before you plan to apply
• Understand that perpetual validity does not reduce your food safety obligations risk-based inspections still apply

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming your old license category is still correct without checking it against the revised thresholds
• Treating perpetual validity as freedom from inspection altogether risk-based checks still apply
• Ignoring the special Central License triggers for importers, exporters, and multi-state operators, even below ₹50 crore turnover
• Delaying registration entirely because the process seems complex Basic Registration in particular is designed to be simple
• Forgetting to update your FSSAI number on labels and packaging after a category change

Note: This content is for guidance only. In case of any inconsistency, the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, the Amendment Regulations, 2026, and FSSAI's order dated 13th March 2026 shall prevail.

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