Choose by turnover and scale: Basic Registration if annual turnover is under ₹1.5 crore, State Licence for ₹1.5 crore–₹50 crore within a single state, and Central Licence above ₹50 crore or if you import, export, operate in multiple states, or run a large e-commerce food operation.
What is the difference between FSSAI Basic, State and Central Licence?
The difference is scale and reach: Basic Registration is for the smallest food businesses (annual turnover under ₹1.5 crore), the State Licence covers mid-sized single-state businesses (₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore), and the Central Licence is for large businesses (over ₹50 crore) as well as any importer, exporter, multi-state operator or large e-commerce food seller.
All three are applied for on the same government FoSCoS portal (foscos.fssai.gov.in), which replaced the older FLRS system, and all three produce a 14-digit FSSAI number you must display and print on packaging. The tier you qualify for is not a matter of preference — it is fixed by your eligibility, and applying under the wrong tier is one of the most common reasons applications are returned.
The table below summarises the three tiers side by side.
| Factor | Basic Registration | State Licence | Central Licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual turnover | Under ₹1.5 crore | ₹1.5 crore – ₹50 crore | Above ₹50 crore |
| Geographic reach | Single state, small scale | Single state | Multi-state, import/export, e-commerce |
| Typical business | Petty vendor, home kitchen, small stall | Mid-size restaurant, manufacturer, distributor | Large manufacturer, importer, chain, online seller |
| Issuing authority | State/local food authority | State food authority | Central food authority (FSSAI) |
| Relative cost | Lowest | Higher (varies by capacity) | Highest |
| Validity | Indefinite (annual fee) | Indefinite (annual fee) | Indefinite (annual fee) |
Which FSSAI licence do I need based on my turnover?
Use annual turnover as the primary filter: below ₹1.5 crore you need Basic Registration, between ₹1.5 crore and ₹50 crore you need a State Licence, and above ₹50 crore you need a Central Licence. This is the single most important test for most food businesses.
Turnover means the annual value of the food business, and for manufacturers there are additional production-capacity limits that can push you into a higher tier even if your rupee turnover is modest — for example a manufacturing or processing unit above a defined daily capacity requires a State or Central Licence regardless of sales. Dairy and vegetable-oil units have their own capacity thresholds too.
If you are close to a threshold, plan ahead. Crossing ₹1.5 crore or ₹50 crore mid-year means you must upgrade your licence to the higher tier. It is usually cleaner to apply at the correct tier from the start than to migrate later.
- Under ₹1.5 crore/year → Basic Registration
- ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore/year, single state → State Licence
- Over ₹50 crore/year → Central Licence
- Manufacturer above prescribed capacity → State or Central regardless of turnover
Do I need a Central Licence if I operate in more than one state?
Yes. If your food business operates across two or more states — for example a head office or manufacturing unit in one state supplying or operating branches in others — you need a Central Licence for the head office, even if each individual unit's turnover is small.
The rule works in layers. Each physical premises still needs its own licence appropriate to that unit's turnover (often a State Licence for a single branch), but the central/registered office that ties a multi-state operation together must hold a Central Licence. A single-state business, however large its turnover up to ₹50 crore, stays on the State Licence.
This catches many growing brands by surprise: opening your first outlet or warehouse in a second state is the moment your central head office crosses into Central Licence territory.
Which FSSAI licence is needed for import, export or online selling?
A Central Licence is mandatory for all importers and exporters of food products, and it is the licence expected for large e-commerce food operations. Importers and exporters must hold a Central Licence irrespective of turnover — the smallest importer still needs it.
Importers and exporters also need an Import-Export Code (IEC) from the DGFT in addition to the FSSAI Central Licence; the two are separate registrations. If you deal in packaged drinking water or mineral water, you additionally require BIS/ISI certification alongside your FSSAI licence.
For selling on marketplaces such as Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit or ONDC, a valid FSSAI number is required to list at all — the platforms will not activate you without it. A small single-location seller may satisfy this with a Basic or State Licence, but businesses running large or multi-state online food operations fall under the Central Licence.
- Importer or exporter → Central Licence (plus IEC)
- Packaged drinking water → licence plus BIS/ISI
- Listing on Swiggy/Zomato/Amazon/Flipkart/Blinkit/ONDC → valid FSSAI number required
- Large or multi-state e-commerce food seller → Central Licence
How do I decide if I am still unsure which FSSAI tier applies?
Work down four questions in order — turnover, manufacturing capacity, number of states, and import/export/e-commerce — and stop at the first that pushes you up a tier. Whichever tier is highest across all four is the one you must apply for.
In practice the mistakes cluster around edge cases: a home kitchen that quietly crossed ₹1.5 crore, a manufacturer whose capacity (not turnover) triggers a State Licence, or a growing brand that opened a second-state warehouse and still holds only a State Licence. Getting the tier wrong means the application is rejected or, worse, the licence is later found invalid for your actual operations.
CAREALL Digital Services reviews your turnover, product category, premises and expansion plans, confirms the correct tier, and files the application on the government FoSCoS portal on your behalf. The licence itself is issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India; our role is to prepare it correctly and track it to issuance. Our professional fee is separate from the government fee. We never guarantee approval or an exact number of days, but we manage the file end to end and keep you updated at each stage.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start with a Basic Registration and upgrade later?
Yes. If your turnover or scale later crosses the Basic threshold of ₹1.5 crore, you upgrade to a State Licence, and beyond ₹50 crore or on going multi-state, import/export or e-commerce, to a Central Licence. Upgrading is a modification on the FoSCoS portal. It is cleaner to apply at the correct tier from the start where your plans are already clear.
Is a Central Licence harder to get than a State Licence?
It generally requires more documentation — such as detailed unit information, and for importers an Import-Export Code — and is processed by the central authority rather than the state. The application route on the FoSCoS portal is the same. CAREALL prepares the correct document set for your tier and files it for you; we track it to issuance but never guarantee approval or an exact timeline.
Which FSSAI licence do I need to sell on Swiggy or Zomato?
You need a valid FSSAI number to list on Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit or ONDC — the platforms will not activate you without one. A small single-location kitchen usually qualifies for a Basic or State Licence, while large or multi-state online food operations require a Central Licence. Match the tier to your turnover and reach.
Do importers and exporters always need a Central Licence?
Yes. Every importer and exporter of food must hold an FSSAI Central Licence regardless of turnover — even the smallest importer needs it. You also require a separate Import-Export Code (IEC) from the DGFT, and packaged drinking water needs BIS/ISI certification in addition. The Central Licence and IEC are two distinct registrations that must both be in place.
How long is each FSSAI licence valid, and what keeps it active?
All three tiers are now valid indefinitely — there is no fixed term and no renewal. You keep the licence active by paying an annual fee each year on FoSCoS; if it goes unpaid, the licence is deemed suspended until it is cleared. Applicable businesses must also file the annual return, Form D1, by 31 May each year, with Form D2 filed half-yearly by dairy units.
This guide is kept current for 2026. It is general information, not legal advice — for your specific case, talk to a CAREALL consultant.