Quick Answer: Since the March 2026 amendment, FSSAI licences and registrations in India stay valid unless they are suspended, cancelled or surrendered, so a licence issued on or after 1 April 2026 never needs renewal, only the yearly fee. If your older certificate still shows an expiry date, FoSCoS continues to offer renewal: file before that date to be safe. An FSSAI order lets you renew up to 180 days after expiry, with a penalty of three to five times the annual fee.
The FSSAI certificate is needed by every food establishment in the country to prove adherence to the food safety norms. The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026, notified on 10 March 2026, brought in perpetual validity: FSSAI's FAQs say food businesses are not required to renew their licences or registrations, but must keep paying the annual fee. FSSAI has confirmed perpetual validity in so many words for licences issued on or after 1 April 2026, and it has not spelt out what happens to older certificates that carry a printed expiry date, while the FoSCoS portal still lets you renew them. This guide explains when renewal still makes sense, how to do it on the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS), and what it costs.
FSSAI Licence Renewal: Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Service | FSSAI Licence / Registration Renewal |
| Regulator | Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, via FoSCoS |
| Portal | foscos.fssai.gov.in |
| Who it's for | FBOs whose older Basic, State or Central licence still shows an expiry date |
| Licences issued on/after 1 April 2026 | No renewal; they stay valid while the annual fee is paid |
| When to file | Before the expiry date on your certificate (the window opens 180 days ahead) |
| Fee | Same as the licence fee: ₹100/yr (Basic), ₹5,000/yr (State), ₹7,500/yr (Central) |
| After expiry | Up to 180 days, with a penalty of 3× the annual fee (days 1–90) or 5× (days 91–180) |
Do I Still Need to Renew My FSSAI Licence?
It depends on when your licence was issued. The amended licensing regulation now says a licence or registration stays valid unless it is suspended, cancelled or surrendered, and FSSAI's FAQ order of 27 March 2026 says any licence or registration issued on or after 1 April 2026 has perpetual validity. For those, there is nothing to renew. You only keep paying the yearly fee, and you can pay several years at once.
If your certificate was issued earlier and shows an expiry date, the safest course is to check your FoSCoS dashboard. The portal still offers a renewal option for such licences. Filing before the printed date costs nothing extra and avoids any question about whether your licence lapsed.
When Can I Renew My FSSAI Licence?
FoSCoS opens the renewal window as early as 180 days before the expiry date. Don't wait for the last week: if an officer raises a query, you want time to answer it before the date passes. Older rules charged ₹100 a day for renewals filed in the final 30 days before expiry. That rule sat in regulation 2.1.7, which the March 2026 amendment replaced, so go by the fee FoSCoS calculates when you file.
What Happens If My FSSAI Licence Expires?
Under FSSAI's order of 29 October 2021, you can still renew an expired licence or registration through FoSCoS for up to 180 days after the original expiry date. The penalty is three times the annual fee if you file between day 1 and day 90, and five times the annual fee between day 91 and day 180. Manufacturers and importers must also have filed their due annual returns.
You cannot run the food business between the expiry date and the grant of the renewed licence, and FSSAI treats business done in that gap as an offence under Section 63 of the FSS Act. After day 180, renewal is not allowed, and you would need a fresh licence or registration.
What Documents Do I Need to Renew an FSSAI Licence?
Typically, renewal needs the same documents you submitted for the original licence, updated for anything that has changed since.
| Applies to | Documents |
|---|---|
| All applicants | Photo ID of the FBO, premises address proof, a signed self-declaration, and the previous FSSAI licence or registration number |
| Manufacturers | Form B, an updated Food Safety Management System (FSMS) plan, product list, unit layout and a water-test report where required |
| Traders, retailers, storage | Form B or Form A, proof of business and premises, and a partnership deed or incorporation paper if the entity changed |
| Basic Registration | Form A, photo ID, address proof and a passport-size photo |
Scans must be clear and within the portal's size limit. Upload the latest version of any document that has changed to avoid delays.
How Do I Renew an FSSAI Licence on FoSCoS?
Renewal is fully online on the Food Safety Compliance System, so in most cases you don't need to visit an office. Log in with your current licence credentials, check your details, and pay.
- Go to the FoSCoS portal and log in with the user ID and password linked to your current licence.
- On your dashboard, find the licence and select the renewal option against it.
- Choose how many years of fee to pay; the portal calculates the amount.
- Review the pre-filled details, then update anything that changed (products, layout, contact) and upload fresh documents.
- Complete the self-declaration and, for manufacturers, attach the updated Food Safety Management System plan.
- Pay online. If you are past the expiry date, the late-renewal penalty is added to the amount.
- Submit, then save the reference number so you can track the application.
Applications can be tracked in the Track Application section of the portal. If the Designated Officer needs an inspection, you are notified; businesses holding a valid food safety audit certificate usually don't need one.
What Are the FSSAI Renewal Fees and Late Penalty?
The renewal fee is the same as the annual licence fee for your tier. Basic Registration costs ₹100 a year, a State Licence ₹5,000 a year and a Central Licence ₹7,500 a year. Our guide to FSSAI licence fees sets out each tier in full, along with the categories that pay nothing.
| Licence type | Who it covers | Fee per year |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Registration | Turnover up to ₹1.5 crore | ₹100 |
| State Licence | Turnover ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore | ₹5,000 |
| Central Licence | Turnover above ₹50 crore | ₹7,500 |
| Renewed 1–90 days after expiry | Any tier | Penalty of 3× the annual fee |
| Renewed 91–180 days after expiry | Any tier | Penalty of 5× the annual fee |
So a State Licence renewed 30 days after its expiry date carries a penalty of three times its ₹5,000 annual fee. Which tier applies depends on your turnover and activity; our guide on which FSSAI licence you need explains the Basic, State and Central split.
How Long Does FSSAI Renewal Take?
FoSCoS says renewal applications have been granted instantly since January 2023, once you file and pay. If the Designated Officer orders an inspection or raises a query, it takes longer, which is one more reason to file well before the expiry date.
Get Help Renewing Your FSSAI Licence
You can complete the renewal yourself. If you run into problems, Jaagruk Bharat's service can help you prepare and file your FSSAI renewal through FoSCoS. The licence itself is issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India; Jaagruk Bharat is a private service that helps with the paperwork and the portal.
You may also want to understand the separate Shop and Establishment (Shop Act) registration that many food outlets also need, and you can browse more guides in the documents and licensing category.
