FSSAI Basic Registration in India: Eligibility, ₹100 Fee, Documents and Online Process

What Is FSSAI Basic Registration?

FSSAI basic registration is the entry-level food business registration issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. It is meant for small food businesses, which the regulations call petty food business operators, and it is the first of three levels: basic registration, the state licence and the central licence.

From 1 April 2026, basic FSSAI registration covers food businesses with annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore, raised from ₹12 lakh. That single change brought a very large number of small restaurants, cafés, sweet shops, bakeries, grocers and home food businesses within basic registration instead of a state licence. The application is made on Form A, the annual government fee is ₹100, and the registration is granted by the registering authority of your district. In India, that is the State Drug Licensing Authority, and every application is filed on ONDLS or your state drug licensing portal.

Once granted, you receive a registration certificate with a 14-digit FSSAI registration number. Registrations issued on or after 1 April 2026 have perpetual validity: they stay valid unless suspended, cancelled or surrendered. Instead of renewing every few years, you keep the annual fee paid and follow the basic hygiene rules for small food businesses.

Who Needs FSSAI Basic Registration in India?

Any food business at a premises with annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore needs FSSAI basic registration, unless its kind of business requires a licence whatever its turnover. Common examples in India:

• Home-based food businesses: home bakers, tiffin and meal services, pickle, papad and snack makers selling through WhatsApp, Instagram or local groups
• Small restaurants, cafés, dhabas and fast-food outlets, including single-outlet cloud kitchens
• Tea, juice and snack stalls, sweet shops and small bakeries
• Kirana stores, grocery shops and small supermarkets selling packaged food
• Small manufacturers and processors, such as spice grinding, flour chakki, namkeen and confectionery units within the registration criteria
• Small distributors, wholesalers and retailers of food products
• Milk vendors and small dairy outlets, within the capacity criteria for their kind of business
• Temporary stalls at fairs, melas, exhibitions and events
• Canteens, mess and small institutional kitchens within the turnover limit
• Food transporters and small storage units within the turnover limit

If your turnover is above ₹1.5 crore up to ₹50 crore, you need a state FSSAI licence. Above ₹50 crore, or if you import food, run an e-commerce food marketplace or fall in another central-only category, you need a central FSSAI licence. For an overview of all three, see our FSSAI registration hub.

FSSAI Basic Registration Eligibility Under the 2026 Limits

Eligibility for FSSAI basic registration rests on two tests: your turnover, and your kind of business. Both must point to registration.

The turnover test

Turnover is counted for the food business at that premises over a financial year. A new business uses its expected turnover for the first year. If your turnover is close to ₹1.5 crore and growing, plan the upgrade to a state licence before you cross the limit, not after.

The kind-of-business test

FoSCoS asks you to choose your kind of business from its own list, and that choice decides whether registration is available. Some kinds of business need a central licence whatever their turnover, such as food importers, e-commerce food business operators, merchant exporters, 100% export-oriented units, five-star hotels and food businesses on central government premises like airports and seaports. For certain higher-risk activities, such as milk chilling, dairy processing, slaughtering and meat processing, FoSCoS also applies capacity criteria, so a small unit by turnover can still need a licence. Regovex checks your kind of business against the current FoSCoS list before filing.

Street vendors and hawkers

FSSAI's FAQs of 27 March 2026 say that street food vendors, hawkers, food carts, food trucks and similar businesses registered under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 are deemed registered under the FSS Act, 2006. They do not need a separate FSSAI basic registration or pay a second fee, but they must still follow the hygiene and sanitary practices in Schedule 4 of the licensing regulations. Vendors not registered under the Street Vendors Act should take FSSAI basic registration in the usual way.

One registration per premises

FSSAI basic registration is tied to a premises. A business with a shop and a separate kitchen, or two small outlets, needs a registration for each premises, each judged on its own turnover. Online sellers register the actual kitchen or store where food is made or kept, not a billing office.

Benefits of FSSAI Basic Registration for Small Food Businesses

Basic FSSAI registration costs little, but it opens doors that an unregistered food business cannot.

• It makes your business legal. Every food business in India must be registered or licensed before it operates; registration removes the risk of penalties and forced closure.
• It gets you listed on delivery apps. Swiggy, Zomato and other platforms ask for a valid FSSAI number before listing a kitchen or restaurant.
• It wins buyer trust. Customers, retailers and corporate buyers increasingly check the FSSAI number before they buy.
• It lets you sell packaged food. The FSSAI number must appear on the label of every pre-packaged product.
• It supports loans and tenders. Banks, government schemes and institutional buyers often ask for the registration certificate.
• It is the base for growth. As turnover grows, the same number migrates to a state licence, so your history and listings stay intact.

Documents Required for FSSAI Registration (Basic, Form A)

The documents required for FSSAI registration at the basic level are short, but every document must show the same name and the same premises address as the application.

FSSAI registration documents checklist

• Recent passport-size photograph of the applicant (proprietor, or authorised person for a firm or company)
• Identity proof: Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, passport or driving licence
• Proof of possession of the premises: sale deed, rent or lease agreement, or a recent electricity or water bill
• NOC from the owner if the premises is rented, shared or owned by a family member
• List of food products you make, store, serve or sell, matched to FoSCoS food categories
• Declaration in Form A, signed by the applicant
• Constitution proof where relevant: partnership deed, certificate of incorporation, or society or trust registration
• Self-declaration of turnover for the year

Documents for common small businesses

How Regovex checks your documents

Most returned applications fail on small things: a rent agreement in another person's name with no NOC, an electricity bill with a different address, a blurred ID, or a food list that misses a category you actually sell. We review every document against Form A before filing, so your FSSAI basic registration is not sent back.

How to Apply for FSSAI Basic Registration Online

FSSAI registration online is the only route. Every fssai new registration, whether for a home kitchen or a small manufacturer, is filed on ONDLS or your state drug licensing portal. The steps:

1. Confirm eligibility: turnover up to ₹1.5 crore and a kind of business that allows registration.
2. Choose your food categories from the FoSCoS list, covering everything you sell.
3. Prepare documents with matching names and addresses.
4. Create a FoSCoS account with the applicant's mobile number and email.
5. Fill Form A with business, premises and food category details.
6. Upload documents and pay the fee of ₹100 for each year you choose.
7. Scrutiny by the State Drug Licensing Authority, which may raise a query or order an inspection.
8. Download the registration certificate with your 14-digit FSSAI number from FoSCoS.

FoSCoS registration explained

FoSCoS registration is the first step of every application. FoSCoS stands for Food Safety Compliance System, FSSAI's online portal at foscos.fssai.gov.in. You sign up with a mobile number and email, verify by OTP, and then use the same account for the application, fee payments, modifications and certificate downloads. Keep the login safe, because you will need it every year for the annual fee.

Timeline for FSSAI basic registration

Under the licensing regulations, the registering authority must grant or reject a complete application within 7 days of receipt, or order an inspection. Where an inspection is done, the registration certificate is issued within 30 days of it. If the authority does not act within these periods, the regulations allow the food business to start operating. In practice, most clean applications in India are granted within a few working days, and the main cause of delay is an incomplete reply to a query.

FSSAI Registration Fees in 2026

FSSAI registration fees for basic registration are the same in every state.

The government fee is paid online on FoSCoS to the state. A consultant's professional fee, if you use one, is separate; Regovex gives you a fixed written quote showing both before work begins.

Worked example

A home bakery in India with expected turnover of ₹18 lakh applies for FSSAI basic registration and pays for five years at once: ₹500 in government fees. Three years later, after opening a shop, turnover reaches ₹2 crore. The business must now move to a state licence at ₹2,000 a year, and FSSAI's 2026 FAQs say fees already paid are adjusted on migration.

Compared with state and central licence fees

Basic FSSAI Registration by Kind of Business

The FSSAI basic registration process is the same for everyone, but what you list and what an officer looks for changes with the business.

Small restaurants, cafés and dhabas

Single-outlet restaurants, cafés, dhabas and quick-service outlets with turnover up to ₹1.5 crore need basic FSSAI registration. List every food category you serve, from cooked meals to beverages and desserts, and register the actual kitchen address. Show the FSSAI number on the menu card or display board and on bills.

Sweet shops and bakeries

Sweet shops and bakeries that make and sell from the same premises register as a small manufacturer and retailer. List sweets, savouries, bakery products and any milk-based items. If you sell packed sweets or cakes, the label must carry the FSSAI logo and registration number, along with the other labelling details required for packaged food.

Kirana stores and small retailers

Grocery shops, general stores and small supermarkets selling packaged food need basic FSSAI registration as retailers. The food category list can be broad, covering staples, packaged foods, beverages and confectionery. Retailers should also check that the brands they stock carry valid FSSAI numbers.

Small manufacturers and processors

Spice grinders, flour chakkis, pickle and papad makers, namkeen and snack units, and small packaged food makers can take basic registration when turnover and any capacity criteria allow. List each product category, keep basic production and purchase records, and print the FSSAI number on every pack.

Milk vendors, meat and fish shops

Small milk vendors and dairy outlets, and meat, poultry and fish shops, are treated as higher-risk businesses. They may have capacity criteria on FoSCoS and are expected to meet stricter storage and hygiene standards. Regovex confirms whether your unit fits basic registration before you apply.

Temporary stalls and event vendors

Stalls at fairs, melas, exhibitions and religious gatherings need registration for the period they operate. Apply early, as authorities often step up checks during large events.

Understanding Your FSSAI Registration Certificate

Once FSSAI basic registration is granted, you download the certificate from FoSCoS. It shows the name of the business and the applicant, the premises address, the kind of business, the food categories covered, and the 14-digit registration number. The first digit of the number shows whether it is a registration or a licence, and the next digits identify the state and the year of grant.

Keep a printed copy displayed at the premises and a digital copy on your phone, because delivery partners, buyers and inspectors may ask for it. Check the details carefully when you download the certificate: a spelling error in the name, a wrong address or a missing food category should be corrected by modification straight away, before it causes trouble with a platform or an inspection.

FoSTaC Training for Registered Food Businesses

FSSAI's Food Safety Training and Certification programme, known as FoSTaC, runs basic-level courses designed for small food businesses, such as basic catering, basic manufacturing, basic retail and distribution, and basic street food vending. The courses are short, cover practical hygiene and safe food handling, and end with a certificate.

For businesses on FSSAI basic registration, FoSTaC training is a simple way to meet the Schedule 4 hygiene expectations, prepare staff for inspections and reassure delivery platforms and customers. Regovex can arrange FoSTaC training for you and your staff in India or online.

Checklist Before You Apply for FSSAI Basic Registration

Use this quick checklist before filing so your application goes through the first time:

• Your expected turnover for the year is up to ₹1.5 crore
• Your kind of business allows registration and is not a central-only or capacity-limited category
• The premises address is the place where food is made, stored or sold
• You have a utility bill or rent agreement for that address, and the owner's NOC if it is not in your name
• Your ID proof and photograph are clear and current
• You have listed every food category you sell now or plan to sell soon
• You have a mobile number and email for the FoSCoS account
• You have decided how many years of the ₹100 fee to pay

How Regovex Handles Your FSSAI Basic Registration

1. Free eligibility call: we confirm that basic registration, not a licence, is right for you.
2. Document checklist: you get a short list for your kind of business, and share scans on WhatsApp or email.
3. Review: we check names, addresses, NOCs and the food list against Form A.
4. Filing on FoSCoS: we fill Form A, upload documents and guide you through the ₹100-per-year payment and OTP.
5. Follow-up: we answer any query from the State Drug Licensing Authority and prepare you if an inspection is ordered.
6. Certificate delivery: you receive the registration certificate with guidance on display and labelling.
7. Ongoing support: annual fee reminders, modifications and the move to a state licence when you grow.

You deal with one point of contact throughout, and can reach us on WhatsApp at +91 90847 06423.

After FSSAI Basic Registration: Keeping It Valid

FSSAI basic registration no longer expires, but it is not "get once and forget". Four things keep it valid in India.

FSSAI registration renewal is now the annual fee

FSSAI registration renewal, as it worked until March 2026, no longer exists for registrations issued from 1 April 2026. Instead you pay ₹100 for each year on FoSCoS before the paid period ends. If the fee is not paid, the registration can be suspended and the business must stop until it is restored, so paying for several years at once is the simplest protection. Registrations issued before April 2026 are brought into the annual fee system through FoSCoS; Regovex can confirm the position for your certificate.

Hygiene rules for small food businesses

Registered food businesses must follow the general hygiene and sanitary practices for petty food business operators in Part I of Schedule 4 of the licensing regulations. In plain terms:

• Clean premises, away from dirty surroundings, with enough light and ventilation
• Safe drinking-quality water for cooking and washing
• Clean, food-grade utensils and containers, and covered storage
• Food handlers in good health, with clean clothes, covered hair and clean hands
• Cooked and raw food kept separate, and perishable food stored cold
• Waste disposed of properly, and pests kept out

Display and labelling

Display the registration certificate at a prominent place in the premises. Print the FSSAI logo and registration number on the label of every pre-packaged product, and show the number on menus, bills, your website and delivery-app listings.

Modifications

If you add new food categories, change the address within the same district, or change the proprietor's details, apply for a modification on FoSCoS. Do not sell a new category until the modification is approved. A move to another district or state usually needs a new registration there.

FSSAI registration check and certificate

Anyone can run an FSSAI registration check on FoSCoS by entering the 14-digit number, to see whether a registration is active and what it covers. Delivery apps, buyers and inspectors do this routinely. If your number shows as inactive, contact us immediately so it can be fixed before it affects sales.

FSSAI Basic Registration for Home-Based and Online Food Businesses

A large share of new FSSAI basic registration applications in India now come from home kitchens and online sellers. A few points matter more for them:

• Register before your first order. Selling food from home through Instagram, WhatsApp or a society group without registration is not allowed, however small the volume.
• Use your home address as the premises, with an electricity bill in your name or the owner's NOC if you rent.
• List every product category, for example bakery products, sweets, savouries and pickles, so you are covered as your menu grows.
• Show the FSSAI number on your labels, social media profile and delivery-app listing.
• Meet basic hygiene: clean water, a clean cooking area, covered storage, and no pets or pests near food.

Delivery platforms match the FSSAI number to the kitchen address they list. A cloud kitchen that registers an office address instead of the kitchen risks having its listing paused.

Upgrading From Basic Registration to a State Licence

When a business registered under FSSAI basic registration crosses ₹1.5 crore turnover, or its kind of business changes to one that needs a licence, it must move to a state licence. Signs that it is time:

• Monthly sales show you will cross ₹1.5 crore in the year
• You start manufacturing at a larger capacity, or add a higher-risk activity such as dairy processing
• You open a larger outlet whose turnover alone crosses the limit
• A buyer or platform asks for a licence rather than a registration

For changes caused by the revised 2026 limits themselves, FSSAI's FAQs of 27 March 2026 say FoSCoS migrates the registration or licence automatically based on the business's self-declared turnover, keeps the same number and charges no modification fee. Many businesses that held a state licence before April 2026 with turnover below ₹1.5 crore have moved down to basic registration this way, and fees they had already paid for the state licence are adjusted against the registration fee. Regovex checks that your declared turnover and kind of business are correct, because a wrong declaration can lead to action on inspection.

Basic registration and state licence side by side

The table shows why the right category matters: basic registration is quicker, cheaper and lighter on paperwork, but only if your business genuinely qualifies. Applying for registration when a licence is needed leads to rejection or, worse, action after an inspection.

Penalties for Running a Food Business Without FSSAI Registration

Running a food business without registration is a contravention of the FSS Act, 2006. Food safety officers can stop the business until it is registered, and the offender can face penalties under the Act; a business that needs a licence and runs without one can be punished with imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to ₹5 lakh under Section 63. Selling unsafe or misbranded food attracts separate penalties. Delivery apps also delist kitchens with missing or inactive FSSAI numbers. With a government fee of only ₹100 a year, FSSAI basic registration is the cheapest protection a small food business can buy.

Common Mistakes in FSSAI Basic Registration Applications

• Choosing the wrong kind of business on FoSCoS, which can make the application invalid or put you in the wrong category.
• Applying for registration when a licence is needed, for example as an importer or e-commerce marketplace, or above ₹1.5 crore turnover.
• No NOC for rented or family-owned premises. This is the most common reason basic registrations are returned.
• Address mismatch between the application, ID and premises proof.
• Missing food categories, so products you actually sell are not covered.
• Late or incomplete reply to a query, which delays the decision.
• Forgetting the annual fee after the certificate is issued.

Why Choose Regovex as Your FSSAI Registration Consultant in India

As an FSSAI registration consultant handling basic registrations, state licences and central licences across India from our office in Aligarh, Regovex makes FSSAI basic registration quick and certain:

• Eligibility check first, so you never pay for the wrong category.
• Kind of business and food categories chosen correctly the first time.
• Document review against Form A, with addresses and NOCs cross-checked.
• Filing on FoSCoS and query handling with the State Drug Licensing Authority.
• After-registration support: annual fee reminders, modifications, label checks and upgrade to a state licence as you grow.
• A track record of a 99.8% approval rate across 100+ clients, rated 4.9/5.

Call or WhatsApp +91 90847 06423 for a free consultation on your FSSAI basic registration.

Related services

• FSSAI registration and licence hub
• State FSSAI license
• Central FSSAI license
• FSSAI annual returns
• Drug license

Areas we serve near India

We help food businesses in India and nearby areas, including .

What Our Clients Say

"Got my approval in committed time with complete transparency and zero hassle." — Baburam, Samarpaan Cloud Kitchen (FSSAI food license)

"I had great experience working with Regovex Consulting on the regulatory side of my product. Since the product category was relatively new and the guidelines were not very clearly defined, it required additional research and careful interpretation of the regulations." — Parichit Dhawan, Director, Feorah Wellness & Cosmetics

Food and import clients include Astro Foods, Astro Naturelles, Sonia Fisheries, Hunger Stop and Project Life, across FSSAI licences and sanitary import permits.