Last updated: 17 September 2026
Quick Answer: Packaged food labels must show the FSSAI logo with the 14-digit licence number, and a breach can bring a penalty of up to ₹3 lakh. The logo has no set minimum size, but the digits must meet a minimum letter height. Misbranded food carries that ₹3 lakh cap; other label breaches carry up to ₹2 lakh.
Printing the FSSAI logo with licence number is required by the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020.
Overview: the FSSAI logo and number rule at a glance
| Detail | What applies |
|---|---|
| Rule | Regulation 5(7), FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 |
| Authority | Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) |
| What to print | FSSAI logo plus the 14-digit licence number, in a colour that contrasts with the background |
| Size | No size for the logo; digits at least 1 mm to 6 mm high, by label area |
| Whose number | Brand owner, plus the manufacturer or packer if different; importer for imported food |
| Exempt | Packs of 100 cm² or less (the multi-unit pack must carry it) |
| Penalty | Up to ₹3 lakh (section 52) or ₹2 lakh (section 58), FSS Act, 2006 |
What Must the FSSAI Logo With Licence Number Look Like on a Label?
The label must show the FSSAI logo with your licence number next to it, printed in a colour that contrasts with the background. The sample in regulation 5(7) of the FSSAI labelling regulations reads "Lic. No." followed by 14 digits. A licence number starts with 1, while a Basic Registration number starts with 2.
Before you send artwork to print, check these four points:
- Logo and number together: the FSSAI logo with "Lic. No." and all 14 digits beside it.
- Contrast: any colour that stands out from the background, as FSSAI's labelling FAQ explains.
- Legibility: clear, prominent, indelible and readily legible, like every mandatory label detail.
- Placement: grouped with your other mandatory label information, not hidden under a fold, seal or sticker.
Is There a Minimum Size for the FSSAI Logo and Number?
No, the regulations don't set a minimum size for the FSSAI logo. The digits of your licence number do: regulation 6(3) fixes a minimum height for every required letter and number, based on the area of the principal display panel. That's the part of the pack a buyer looks at; for a rectangular pack, count it as 40% of the height × width of its largest face.
| Principal display panel area | Minimum digit height (printed) | If blown, moulded or embossed |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 200 cm² | 1 mm | 2 mm |
| Above 200 cm² up to 500 cm² | 2 mm | 4 mm |
| Above 500 cm² up to 2,500 cm² | 3 mm | 5 mm |
| Above 2,500 cm² | 6 mm | 8 mm |
Each character must be at least one-third as wide as it is tall. The separate size table for the veg and non-veg symbol doesn't cover the FSSAI logo.
Whose Licence Number Goes on the Label?
The FSSAI number on a label must always include the brand owner's logo and licence number. If a different business manufactures, markets, packs or bottles the food, its licence number goes on the label too.
Say a namkeen brand uses a contract manufacturer: the pack shows the FSSAI logo with the brand's number and the manufacturer's number. The second number can instead sit in a barcode or GTIN, and FSSAI's FAQ counts a QR code as a barcode.
For imported food, the importer displays the FSSAI logo, its own licence number, and its name and address.
What Is the Penalty for a Missing or Wrong FSSAI Number on a Label?
A labelling breach can bring a penalty of up to ₹3 lakh where the food is treated as misbranded, or up to ₹2 lakh for other breaches. An Adjudicating Officer decides which applies. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 sets these caps:
| Situation | Section | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Misbranded food (for example, a false or misleading label) | Section 52 | Penalty up to ₹3 lakh; the officer can also order corrective action or destruction |
| Breaking a labelling rule with no specific penalty of its own | Section 58 | Penalty up to ₹2 lakh |
| Selling food with no licence at all, where one is required | Section 63 | Up to six months' imprisonment and a fine up to ₹5 lakh |
Section 63 doesn't apply to small businesses exempted from licensing under section 31(2), which register instead. A repeat offence can draw twice the penalty.
Which Packs Don't Need the FSSAI Logo and Number?
The FSSAI logo on packaging with a surface area of 100 cm² or less isn't required, and neither is the licence number, under regulation 8(1). The multi-unit pack they're sold in must carry both. Bulk containers meant for non-retail sale aren't exempt either.
Do Shops, Restaurants and Online Sellers Have to Show the Number Too?
Yes. Every food business must display its registration or licence number, or the Food Safety Display Board where one is specified, at a prominent place on every premises where food is stored, processed, distributed or sold.
If you sell packaged food online, the mandatory label details must reach the buyer before the sale. Batch number and dates are the only exceptions.
How Do You Get an FSSAI Number to Print on Your Label?
FSSAI issues the 14-digit number when it grants your registration or licence on FoSCoS. The 17-digit reference number you get on applying is not your licence number, so never print it.
Our guide to applying for an FSSAI food licence online covers the tiers and forms. If you'd rather not file it alone, Jaagruk Bharat can help you apply for your FSSAI food licence. To confirm a number you already hold, check an FSSAI licence number online.
If your business changed category under the 1 April 2026 thresholds, FSSAI says your licence number doesn't change, so printed labels stay valid.
What Mistakes Should You Avoid When Printing Your FSSAI Number?
- Printing the application number: the 17-digit reference number only tracks your application; print the 14-digit number FSSAI issues.
- One number on a contract-made pack: add the manufacturer's or packer's number to the brand owner's, or give it in a barcode or QR code.
- Digits too small: the logo has no set size, but the digits must meet the minimum height for your panel area.
- Skipping the outer pack: packs of 100 cm² or less are exempt, but multi-unit packs and bulk non-retail containers still need both.
