FSSAI Central Licence
Central food licence for large FBOs, importers and multi-state operators
- 1Category checkWe confirm whether turnover or activity puts you in the central category.
- 2Technical fileFSMS plan, recall plan, test reports and product list assembled.
- 3FilingCentral application filed on FoSCoS with the ₹7,500 annual fee.
- 4Queries and inspectionWe respond to the regional office and support any inspection.
Share your details. We’ll reply on WhatsApp with the next steps and a checklist.
Pick a plan — the fee is adjusted if you hire us within 30 days.
About FSSAI Central Licence
A clear overview, in simple terms — what it is, why it matters, and how we handle it.
An FSSAI central licence is needed by food businesses with annual turnover above ₹50 crore (from 1 April 2026), and by importers and some other activities regardless of turnover. It is issued by FSSAI's central licensing authority through FoSCoS, with a government fee of ₹7,500 a year.
The central licence is FSSAI's top tier. Turnover is the main test since the April 2026 revision, but certain activities are central-category whatever their size — food import is the most common example — and businesses operating in more than one state often need a central licence for their head office.
Applications go to the central licensing authority (a FSSAI regional office) through FoSCoS. Manufacturing units must submit a food safety management plan and laboratory test reports, and premises can be inspected before grant.
Because the central licence carries the most scrutiny, product categorisation, the FSMS plan and the technical documents need to be right before filing; corrections later mean a modification application.
| Turnover band (from 1 Apr 2026) | Above ₹50 crore |
|---|---|
| Always central | Food importers and other notified central-category activities |
| Government fee | ₹7,500 per year |
| Issued by | Central Licensing Authority (FSSAI regional office) |
| Annual return | Form D-1 by 31 May for manufacturers, importers, exporters, repackers and relabellers |
Who this is for
Common scenarios where this service is a good fit.
- Food businesses with turnover above ₹50 crore
- Importers of food and food ingredients
- Head offices of food businesses operating in two or more states
- Large manufacturers, exporters and e-commerce food operators in the central category
What you get
Clear deliverables so you know exactly what's included.
- Central vs state eligibility assessment
- FSMS plan and technical documentation
- Product categorisation and FoSCoS filing
- Coordination with the regional office and inspection support
- D-1 annual return and annual fee tracking
Expert review before every submission — not just data entry.
Working notes and reconciliations you can rely on in future notices.
Resident Indians, NRIs, expats and cross-border businesses — all served.
Documents required
A practical checklist. We'll tell you if anything else is needed based on your case.
* This is a base checklist. After a quick pre-check, we may ask for additional items specific to your case.
Process
A simple, trackable workflow — designed to avoid back-and-forth.
We confirm whether turnover or activity puts you in the central category.
FSMS plan, recall plan, test reports and product list assembled.
Central application filed on FoSCoS with the ₹7,500 annual fee.
We respond to the regional office and support any inspection.
Annual fee, D-1 return and modifications tracked.
Get a quote
We share a clear quote on WhatsApp after a quick checklist pre-check.
- Fixed quote on WhatsApp after a short look at your facts and documents.
- Government fees, if any, are paid at actuals and shown separately.
| Factor | DIY | Indus Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Expert review | ❌ | ✅ |
| Notice risk reduction | ❌ | ✅ |
| Deduction optimisation | ❌ | ✅ |
| Audit-ready records | ❌ | ✅ |
| AIS/26AS reconciliation | ❌ | ✅ |
Share your facts and deadline. We'll reply with the right checklist and a clear quote.
Fee adjusted against our service fee if you go ahead within 30 days.
- Priority CA Call-backSkip the queue — a CA calls you within 30 minutes.₹255
- RecommendedCA Consultation (30 min)Talk one matter through properly with a CA.₹755
- In-depth CA Review (60 min)Documents reviewed before the call, written action plan after.₹1,155
Call-backs run Mon–Sat, 9 AM–6 PM IST. Booked outside these hours? We call you first thing the next working morning.
Compare the 3 plansFrequently asked questions
Answers to the most common questions we get.
This page also covers
- FSSAI licence for food exporters
- Exporters apply through the central licence route; see our import–export licence page for IEC and port clearance.
Official sources
Indus Tax is a private professional services firm and is not affiliated with any government authority. Rules and fees change — we confirm current positions before filing.
