Last updated: 17 September 2026
Quick Answer: You get an FSSAI Central Licence online by filing Form B on FoSCoS, FSSAI's portal, and paying ₹7,500 a year. It's needed above ₹50 crore annual turnover, or at any turnover for importers, exporters, e-commerce food businesses and multi-state head offices. Licences issued from 1 April 2026 don't expire.
The Central Licence is the top licence tier of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), granted by an FSSAI Designated Officer, not your state food department. Your Kind of Business, the category you pick on FoSCoS, can require it even at a small turnover.
Overview
| Item | What applies |
|---|---|
| Issued by | Central Licensing Authority: a Designated Officer appointed by FSSAI |
| Who needs it | Turnover above ₹50 crore, or a Central-only Kind of Business at any turnover |
| Form | Form B, filed online on FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System) |
| Government fee | ₹7,500 a year (₹2,000 for railway-station and Central Government catering) |
| Processing time | Up to 60 days from a complete application |
| Validity | No expiry for licences issued on or after 1 April 2026 |
Who needs an FSSAI Central Licence?
You need an FSSAI Central Licence if your annual turnover is above ₹50 crore, or your business type is on FSSAI's Central-only list, whatever your turnover.
Which turnover needs a Central Licence?
FSSAI's 13 March 2026 order on turnover thresholds set these bands from 1 April 2026:
| Annual turnover | What you need | Fee per year |
|---|---|---|
| Up to ₹1.5 crore | Registration | ₹100 |
| Above ₹1.5 crore, up to ₹50 crore | State Licence | ₹5,000 |
| Above ₹50 crore | Central Licence | ₹7,500 |
Which businesses need a Central Licence at any turnover?
FSSAI's Kind of Business eligibility list, updated 1 April 2026, marks these with "No restriction on turnover threshold":
| Business type | Central Licence at any turnover? |
|---|---|
| Importer | Yes |
| Exporter-manufacturer, and trader or merchant exporter | Yes |
| 100% export-oriented unit (EOU) with a Ministry of Commerce certificate | Yes |
| E-commerce food business | Yes |
| Head office or registered office of a business in two or more states or UTs | Yes |
| Health supplements, nutraceuticals, proprietary or non-specified food, Ayurveda Aahara, radiation processing | Yes |
| Storage, wholesale or retail at airports, seaports or Central Government agency premises | Yes |
| Five-star and above hotel | Yes; hotels up to four star follow State or Registration |
| Food business at a railway station, or caterer in a Central Government unit | Only above ₹1.5 crore, at ₹2,000 a year |
| Grain, cereal and pulses milling unit | No; State Licence at any turnover |
Otherwise, the turnover bands decide.
What documents do you need for an FSSAI Central Licence?
You need a signed Form B, photo ID and address proof of the people who run the business, proof of premises and your constitution papers; manufacturers add technical documents. This list is from Annexure 2 of the licensing regulations; FoSCoS shows the exact set for your Kind of Business.
| Who | Documents |
|---|---|
| Every applicant | Signed Form B; photo ID and address proof of proprietor, partners or directors; list of directors or partners with addresses; proof of premises (sale deed, rent agreement or electricity bill); partnership deed, affidavit or Memorandum and Articles of Association |
| Manufacturers | Unit layout plan; equipment list with installed capacity; food categories; letter nominating a responsible person; water analysis report from a recognised lab; food safety management system plan; recall plan where applicable |
| Importers | Import Export Code (IEC), which FoSCoS authenticates with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) |
| Some other cases | NOC from the manufacturer (relabellers); milk procurement plan (dairy units); raw-material source (meat units); pesticide residue report (packaged drinking water); NOCs from the local body and State Pollution Control Board outside notified industrial areas |
Keep your GST, PAN or CIN ready; Form B asks for them where they apply.
What is the FSSAI Central Licence fee for 1 year and 5 years?
The government fee for an FSSAI Central Licence is ₹7,500 a year, so paying for 5 years at once comes to ₹37,500. FSSAI's 27 March 2026 FAQs let you pay for any number of years at once, at any time of year.
Railway-station and Central Government catering businesses pay ₹2,000 a year instead, above ₹1.5 crore turnover. Confirm the amount FoSCoS shows before paying; any assisted-service charge is separate from this government fee.
How do you apply for an FSSAI Central Licence on FoSCoS?
You apply online on FoSCoS: choose your state, pick your Kind of Business, fill Form B, upload documents and pay the fee. You then get a 17-digit reference number to track it from the FoSCoS homepage.
The licensing regulations say the licence should be issued within 60 days of a complete application. If officers raise a query, you get 30 days to reply, or the application stands rejected. Our step-by-step FSSAI food licence guide walks through each screen.
If you'd rather not file alone, Jaagruk Bharat, a private paid helper, offers assisted FSSAI licence filing. FSSAI alone issues the licence, through FoSCoS.
Do you need a Central Licence if you operate in more than one state?
Yes. A food business in two or more states or UTs must declare one head office or registered office, which needs a Central Licence at any turnover. Each factory, kitchen or warehouse also needs its own licence or registration, based on that unit's turnover and business type.
Does an FSSAI Central Licence need renewal?
No, not if it was issued on or after 1 April 2026. The 2026 amendment makes a licence valid "unless otherwise suspended, cancelled or surrendered", and FSSAI's FAQs on the 2026 reforms say licence holders are not required to renew.
The ₹7,500 is still an annual fee. If you don't pay it, or a required annual return isn't filed on time (licensed manufacturers and importers file Form D-1 by 31 May), "the license or registration shall be deemed suspended" until you pay or file. If your licence was issued before 1 April 2026, check its status on your FoSCoS dashboard. Browse our food and licensing guides.
What mistakes should you avoid with an FSSAI Central Licence?
- Trusting old limits. Older websites still show the replaced ₹12 lakh and ₹20 crore limits; use the 1 April 2026 bands.
- Checking turnover only. Importers, exporters and e-commerce sellers need a Central Licence at any turnover; check your business type.
- Licensing only the head office. Each factory, kitchen or warehouse needs its own licence or registration.
- Giving contact details you don't check. FoSCoS sends all communication there; an unanswered query means rejection after 30 days.
- Skipping the yearly fee. Unpaid, even a licence with no expiry is deemed suspended.
