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HomeBlogFSSAI License Fees in India: Cost, Types & How to Save
FSSAI

FSSAI License Fees in India: Cost, Types & How to Save

Joel Dsouza
Updated:
9 min read
fssai license cost

FSSAI registration and license fees range from ₹100 to ₹7,500 per year, depending on the type and scale of the food business. Basic Registration costs ₹100 annually, a State License costs ₹2,000–₹5,000, and a Central License costs ₹7,500. FSSAI determines the applicable category based on turnover, business activity, and operating scale.

The government fee is only part of the total cost. Consultancy, documentation, testing, and other business-specific requirements can increase the overall expense. Licenses now have perpetual validity, but an annual government fee still applies. If you prepay five years of annual fees, a State License works out to about ₹10,000–₹25,000 and a Central License to ₹37,500, before any professional or testing charges.

Key Takeaways

  • FSSAI fees start at ₹100/year for Basic Registration, ₹2,000–₹5,000/year for a State License, and ₹7,500/year for a Central License.
  • FSSAI determines the required category based on turnover, business activity, and operating scale, not the applicant’s preference.
  • State License fees vary by business activity, including manufacturing, storage, distribution, and food service.
  • The total cost of FSSAI registration can include professional fees, documentation, testing, and other business-specific expenses beyond the government fee.
  • Choosing the correct FSSAI category at the outset helps avoid delays, penalties, and additional application costs.

FSSAI License Cost in India

The current government fee structure varies by the type of registration, license, and applicable business activity:

FSSAI CategoryAnnual Government FeeValidity
Basic FSSAI Registration₹100Perpetual
State FSSAI License₹2,000–₹5,000Perpetual
Central FSSAI License₹7,500Perpetual

The FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026, prescribe the applicable fees based on the relevant Kind of Business and its eligibility criteria. Some specialized categories follow separate eligibility rules and may require a Central License regardless of turnover. 

Change in FSSAI Cost by Turnover: Which License Do You Need in 2026-27?

For many food businesses, FSSAI uses the following revised turnover thresholds from 1 April 2026:

Annual TurnoverCategoryPrevious Limit
Up to ₹1.5 croreRegistrationUp to ₹12 lakh
Above ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 croreState LicenseAbove ₹12 lakh to ₹20 crore
Above ₹50 croreCentral LicenseAbove ₹20 crore

FSSAI applies these thresholds to new applications submitted from 1 April 2026. The authority also provides migration provisions for existing businesses affected by the revised thresholds. Although turnover is a major factor in determining FSSAI cost, it is not the only one. Business activity, operating scale, and the applicable business criteria can also determine the required category and fee.

FSSAI Fees for Different Food Products

FSSAI links the applicable fee to the business activity and the applicable Kind of Business (KoB). FSSAI does not prescribe a separate government license fee for every individual food product, such as biscuits, dairy products, spices, beverages, meat, or bakery products.

FSSAI’s revised 2026 eligibility document sets out the applicable Kind of Business categories and eligibility criteria for different types of food businesses. These include categories such as dairy units, vegetable oil processing units, meat and fish processing, general manufacturing, proprietary food, food or health supplements and nutraceuticals, non-specified food, substances added to food, and radiation processing of food.

Accordingly, the applicable FSSAI fee should be determined based on the relevant business activity, KoB classification, and applicable eligibility criteria, rather than the individual food product itself.

FSSAI Manufacturing License Costs

Manufacturing businesses can fall under different FSSAI categories. The revised 2026 framework generally uses turnover for several manufacturing categories, while certain specialized activities have their own eligibility rules:

Manufacturing BusinessAnnual Turnover / CriterionLicense or RegistrationFee
Dairy UnitsUp to ₹1.5 croreRegistration₹100
Dairy UnitsAbove ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 croreState License₹5,000
Dairy UnitsAbove ₹50 croreCentral License₹7,500
Vegetable Oil ProcessingUp to ₹1.5 croreRegistration₹100
Vegetable Oil ProcessingAbove ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 croreState License₹5,000
Vegetable Oil ProcessingAbove ₹50 croreCentral License₹7,500
Meat ProcessingUp to ₹1.5 croreRegistration₹100
Meat ProcessingAbove ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 croreState License₹5,000
Meat ProcessingAbove ₹50 croreCentral License₹7,500
Fish and Fish ProductsUp to ₹1.5 croreRegistration₹100
Fish and Fish ProductsAbove ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 croreState License₹5,000
Fish and Fish ProductsAbove ₹50 croreCentral License₹7,500
General Food ManufacturingUp to ₹1.5 croreRegistration₹100
General Food ManufacturingAbove ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 croreState License₹5,000
General Food ManufacturingAbove ₹50 croreCentral License₹7,500

The revised FoSCoS document states these turnover-based categories for the listed manufacturing businesses. It also provides specific provisions for grain, cereal, and pulse milling units and specialized manufacturing activities.

FSSAI License Cost for Specialized Food Products

Some food categories require a central license regardless of the normal turnover-based classification:

Specialized Food CategoryFSSAI RequirementFee
Proprietary FoodCentral License₹7,500
Food or Health Supplements and NutraceuticalsCentral License₹7,500
Non-specified FoodCentral License₹7,500
100% Export-Oriented Food ManufacturingCentral License₹7,500
Exporter-ManufacturerCentral License₹7,500
ImporterCentral License₹7,500
E-CommerceCentral License₹7,500
Head Office / Registered Office for food businesses in two or more States/UTsCentral License₹7,500
Food business at Central Government premisesCentral License₹7,500
Food business at Airport / Seaport premisesCentral License₹7,500

FSSAI identifies these activities separately in its revised Kind of Business eligibility framework and does not apply the general turnover thresholds to activities that carry a specific Central License requirement.

FSSAI License Cost for Storage, Transport and Distribution

FSSAI also regulates businesses that store or move food products. The revised 2026 framework applies the turnover thresholds to several of these activities:

Food Business ActivityAnnual TurnoverLicense / RegistrationFee
Cold / Refrigerated StorageUp to ₹1.5 croreRegistration₹100
Cold / Refrigerated StorageAbove ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 croreState License₹5,000
Cold / Refrigerated StorageAbove ₹50 croreCentral License₹7,500
Controlled Atmosphere StorageUp to ₹1.5 croreRegistration₹100
Controlled Atmosphere StorageAbove ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 croreState License₹5,000
Controlled Atmosphere StorageAbove ₹50 croreCentral License₹7,500
Other Storage / WarehousingUp to ₹1.5 croreRegistration₹100
Other Storage / WarehousingAbove ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 croreState License₹5,000
Other Storage / WarehousingAbove ₹50 croreCentral License₹7,500
TransportationUp to ₹1.5 croreRegistration₹100
TransportationAbove ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 croreState License₹5,000
TransportationAbove ₹50 croreCentral License₹7,500
WholesalerUp to ₹1.5 croreRegistration₹100
WholesalerAbove ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 croreState License₹5,000
WholesalerAbove ₹50 croreCentral License₹7,500
DistributorUp to ₹1.5 croreRegistration₹100
DistributorAbove ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 croreState License₹5,000
DistributorAbove ₹50 croreCentral License₹7,500
RetailerUp to ₹1.5 croreRegistration₹100
RetailerAbove ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 croreState License₹5,000
RetailerAbove ₹50 croreCentral License₹7,500

The revised FoSCoS document applies the ₹1.5 crore and ₹50 crore turnover thresholds to these activities and assigns the corresponding ₹100, ₹5,000, and ₹7,500 fees.

FSSAI License Cost for Hotels, Restaurants, and Caterers

Food service businesses follow the revised 2026 framework, with some categories retaining activity-specific eligibility rules. Caterers are licensed by activity rather than by the general registration threshold: a State License (₹5,000) applies up to ₹50 crore turnover, and a Central License (₹7,500) applies above ₹50 crore. The table below covers the applicable State and Central License requirements and fees for these food service businesses:

Food Service BusinessApplicable CriterionLicense / RegistrationFee
Hotel, up to 4-starApplicable hotel categoryState License₹5,000
Five-Star and above HotelApplicable hotel categoryCentral License₹7,500
RestaurantUp to ₹1.5 crore turnoverRegistration₹100
RestaurantAbove ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 croreState License₹5,000
RestaurantAbove ₹50 croreCentral License₹7,500
Club / CanteenUp to ₹1.5 crore turnoverRegistration₹100
Club / CanteenAbove ₹1.5 croreState License₹5,000
CatererUp to ₹50 crore turnoverState License₹5,000
CatererAbove ₹50 croreCentral License₹7,500
Dhaba / Food Vending Establishment / Dabba ServiceUp to ₹1.5 croreRegistration₹100
Dhaba / Food Vending Establishment / Dabba ServiceAbove ₹1.5 croreState License₹5,000

The revised FoSCoS eligibility document specifically lists hotels, restaurants, clubs/canteens, caterers, and other food service establishments with their applicable criteria and fees.

FSSAI Government Fees for Importers, Exporters, and E-Commerce

Certain food businesses require a Central License without applying the general turnover thresholds.

Business ActivityFSSAI CategoryFee
Food ImporterCentral License₹7,500
Food ExporterCentral License₹7,500
E-Commerce Food BusinessCentral License₹7,500
100% Export-Oriented ManufacturerCentral License₹7,500
Exporter-ManufacturerCentral License₹7,500
Head Office / Registered OfficeCentral License₹7,500
Food Business at Central Government PremisesCentral License₹7,500
Food Business at Airport / SeaportCentral License₹7,500

FSSAI lists importers, exporters, e-commerce businesses, head offices, and several location-specific food businesses under Central Licensing.

Cost for FSSAI License Modification 

FSSAI charges a prescribed government fee when a business modifies its license or registration. The current FoSCoS fee structure lists the following charges:

ApplicationGovernment Fee
Registration modification₹100
Central License modification₹7,500
State License modificationApplicable State License fee
Duplicate Registration Certificate10% of the applicable certificate fee
Duplicate License10% of the applicable license fee

The applicable modification fee can depend on the license category and the nature of the application.

FSSAI Costs Beyond the Government Fee

The government fee does not necessarily represent the entire amount a business may spend on obtaining an FSSAI license.

A business may incur additional expenses for:

  • Professional assistance: A consultant or service provider may charge separately for application assistance.
  • Food testing: Certain businesses and products may require testing or compliance reports.
  • Documentation: Some applications require additional business, premises, product, or technical documents.
  • Other compliance requirements: Specialized food businesses may need additional approvals, testing, or technical documentation.

FSSAI does not prescribe a single nationwide consultancy or documentation charge for these services. Therefore, this page should not present fixed private-service ranges as official FSSAI fees.

How to Save on FSSAI License Fees? 

Follow these smart tips to keep your FSSAI certification costs under control:

  • Choose the Correct Category: Apply under the FSSAI category that matches your business activity and eligibility criteria to avoid unnecessary changes later.
  • Understand Perpetual Validity: FSSAI registrations and licenses now have perpetual validity, so there is no renewal application. However, an annual government fee still applies; keep paying it on time (you can prepay several years at once), since non-payment can lead to deemed suspension of your license. You must also continue to meet all applicable compliance requirements.
  • Submit Accurate Details: Provide correct business, premises, and product information to reduce the need for modifications and the related government fees.
  • Maintain Compliance: Keep your license information updated and meet applicable requirements to avoid penalties and additional regulatory costs.