The rules changed on 1 April 2026. FSSAI raised the basic registration threshold from ₹12 lakh to ₹1.5 crore of annual turnover, and made registrations and licences perpetually valid, ending routine renewals. Most published guidance still quotes the old figures.
Which tier you need
| Tier | Annual turnover | Fee per annum | Issued by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic registration | Up to ₹1.5 crore | ₹100 | Local registering authority |
| State licence | Above ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore | ₹2,000–₹5,000 by category | State licensing authority |
| Central licence | Above ₹50 crore | ₹7,500 | FSSAI regional office |
The legal basis is the Licensing and Registration Amendment Regulations 2026, gazetted 10 March 2026, with thresholds set by FSSAI's order of 13 March 2026 effective 1 April 2026. Applications are made through FoSCoS.
Two cautions. Turnover is not the only test: some activities require a Central licence regardless of turnover, including import, export and certain e-commerce food operations, so the category criteria on FoSCoS override the turnover table. And the State licence fee varies by category with sources disagreeing — read the fee off FoSCoS at the point of application.
What this means in practice. A single new outlet almost always now falls under basic registration at ₹100 a year. Operators quoted ₹15,000 by a consultant for a "restaurant licence" are paying for form-filling.
Primary sources