Last updated: 26 August 2026
Quick Answer: You can run an FSSAI licence check free on the FoSCoS portal using the 14-digit number printed on the packet, menu or premises. The lookup returns the business name, the licence type and its validity dates. If those details do not match the business in front of you, treat the number as unreliable.
An FSSAI licence check matters whether you're a customer wondering about a cloud kitchen, a landlord screening a tenant, or a business confirming a supplier is legitimate. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) makes the whole register searchable, and it costs nothing.
Overview: FSSAI Licence Check at a Glance
| Detail | What applies |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) |
| Where to verify | FoSCoS, the Food Safety Compliance System |
| What you need | The 14-digit FSSAI licence or registration number |
| Cost | Free |
| Time | Under a minute |
| What you see | Business name, licence type, address, validity dates, status |
How Do You Check an FSSAI Licence Number Online?
In order to make sure that the data you are evaluating is accurate, you have to enter the 14-digit identification number on the FoSCoS portal. FoSCoS is FSSAI's own compliance system and is the only register that carries authoritative licence data.
- Note the 14-digit number from the food packet, the menu, the bill, or the certificate displayed at the premises.
- Open the FoSCoS portal and go to the licence or registration verification option.
- Enter the number exactly, with no spaces.
- Read the result carefully. Check the business name, the address, the licence type and the validity period.
- Compare against reality. A number that returns a different business name, or a different city, is the point at which you stop.
Does the Check Cost Anything?
The check is free, and it does not require you to log in or create an account.
What Do the 14 Digits of an FSSAI Number Mean?
The number is not so random. According to the FSSAI, the first digit signifies the nature of the approval, while the second and third digits provide information about the state or union territory that granted it. Just by knowing the number, you can already get a good amount of information before even searching.
| Digits | What they indicate |
|---|---|
| 1st | Type of approval: 1 means a licence, 2 means a registration |
| 2nd–3rd | State or union territory code where it was issued |
| 4th–5th | Year the licence or registration was issued |
| 6th–8th | Code of the issuing or enrolling authority |
| 9th–14th | The individual food business operator's permit number |
Why Does the First Digit Matter Most?
That first digit is the most useful one to know. A basic registration and a full licence are different levels of approval with different conditions attached, so a business claiming to hold a licence while displaying a number that starts with 2 is describing itself inaccurately. In case you are not familiar with the level of particular company's identifier, please refer to our guide choosing between a Basic, State and Central FSSAI licence.
What If You Only Have the Business Name?
The verification process for FoSCoS makes use of the number thus there is no possibility of getting a specific outlet with a mere name search. Hence, the solution is very simple because a name search is not needed in fact as displaying the number is compulsory.
Must the Number Be Displayed?
A food business operator is required to display its FSSAI number, and packaged food must carry it on the label. If a restaurant, cloud kitchen or seller cannot produce a number when asked, that refusal is itself the answer, and it's a stronger signal than any search result would have been.
How Do You Spot a Fake or Expired FSSAI Licence?
Four checks catch almost everything, and none of them takes long.
- The number does not verify at all. A genuine 14-digit number always returns a record. Nothing found means the number is invented or mistyped.
- The details do not match. The register returns a different business name, a different address, or a different city from the one you are dealing with.
- The validity date has passed. An expired licence is not a valid one, and this is the commonest real-world problem rather than outright forgery.
- The approval type is wrong for the operation. A large multi-state operation displaying a basic registration number is a mismatch worth questioning.
What Is the Clearest Warning Sign?
One further tell: a business that shows you a photocopy of a certificate but will not let you note the number down. The number is meant to be public.
Where Should the Number Appear?
For packaged food, the number usually appears on the packaging label, next to the FSSAI symbol. For food establishment/cafe, the registration number has to be displayed at a prominent spot for the customers to see; it also appears on the menu and on the bill. With online orders, the license number is typically mentioned in the listing of the restaurant.
What If You Cannot Find It Anywhere?
If it appears in none of those places, ask. You're entitled to.
How Do You Check the Status of Your Own Application?
Once your application has been submitted, please remember to use your application reference number instead of any license number since a license number will not be provided until your application is approved. You can verify the progress of your application through your account in FoSCoS.
Is a Pending Application the Same as a Licence?
Many applicants often confuse an application being considered with a license that has been granted. Until FoSCoS shows the licence as issued and returns it on a public lookup, the business does not yet hold one, and trading on that basis carries risk. If your application is still pending, please refer to the guidelines regarding getting an FSSAI food licence online. If you are approaching your own deadline, please take action as per renewing an FSSAI licence.
What to Do If a Licence Looks Fake
Report it. FSSAI runs consumer grievance channels through the official FSSAI portal, and food-related complaints can also be raised through the National Consumer Helpline. Include the number you were given, the business name and the address, since a complaint without those is hard to act on.
Where Does Jaagruk Bharat Fit In?
If you are on the other side of this, running a food business and wanting your own paperwork to stand up to a customer check, Jaagruk Bharat can help you apply for or correct an FSSAI food licence so your displayed number verifies cleanly.
