FSSAI License

An FSSAI License is the legal permit that every food business operator (FBO) in India must obtain before commencing operations. FSSAI issues three tiers based on business size: Basic Registration for businesses with annual turnover below Rs 12 lakh, State License for turnover between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 20 crore, and Central License for turnover above Rs 20 crore or businesses operating across multiple states. Most FMCG distributors require a State License; national brands and large distributors need Central Licenses.

The license is tied to specific premises and must be renewed every 1-5 years. It mandates that the FBO maintains hygiene standards, employs a trained food safety supervisor (for Central License holders), follows traceability norms, and complies with labelling regulations including batch number, manufacturing date, and best-before date display. The 14-digit FSSAI license number must be printed on every product label.

Non-compliance penalties include fines up to Rs 5 lakh, product seizure, license suspension, and in severe cases involving unsafe food, imprisonment up to 6 years. Distribution platforms store FSSAI license details as part of the distributor and retailer onboarding profile for compliance tracking.