FSSAI labelling and display rules require every food business to print its 14-digit FSSAI number on all packaging, menus, invoices and website, and to declare mandatory label details such as name, ingredients, nutrition, veg/non-veg mark, and dates. Non-compliance attracts penalties, so accurate labels are essential under the 2020 Labelling Regulations.
Is displaying the FSSAI licence number mandatory?
Yes, displaying the 14-digit FSSAI licence or registration number is legally mandatory for every food business in India. Under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration) Regulations, the number must be printed on all food packages, and it must be displayed prominently at your premises, on your menu, on invoices and cash memos, and on your website or app listing.
The requirement applies regardless of your category, from a Basic Registration home kitchen to a Central Licence importer. The number reassures customers that your establishment is registered with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and it is one of the first things a food safety officer checks during inspection. Missing or hidden number display is a common and avoidable ground for penalty.
What must appear on a packaged food product label?
A packaged food label under FSSAI rules must carry the product name, complete ingredient list, nutritional information, the FSSAI logo with licence number, manufacturer or packer details, net quantity, batch/lot number, manufacturing and expiry/best-before dates, and the veg (green) or non-veg (brown) symbol. These are governed by the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020.
The declarations must be legible, in English or Hindi (additional languages permitted), and not misleading. Allergen information and specific declarations (such as added flavours, or 'contains added colours') apply where relevant. The table below lists the core mandatory components you should verify on every label before it goes to print.
| Label element | What it must show |
|---|---|
| Name of food | Common or generic name that is not misleading |
| FSSAI logo + number | 14-digit licence/registration number below the logo |
| Ingredient list | In descending order of weight at time of manufacture |
| Nutritional information | Energy, protein, carbohydrate, sugar, fat per 100g/100ml/serving |
| Veg / non-veg mark | Green filled circle (veg) or brown filled triangle (non-veg) |
| Net quantity | Weight or volume as per Legal Metrology rules |
| Dates | Date of manufacture and use-by/best-before/expiry |
| Batch / lot number | For traceability of the production run |
| Manufacturer details | Name and complete address of manufacturer/packer/importer |
Where must a food business display its FSSAI number?
A food business must display its FSSAI number at the business premises (on a board), on every food package, on the menu card, on all bills, invoices and cash memos, and on any website, app or e-commerce listing that sells its food. For online sellers, the number must be visible on the platform listing itself.
This multi-point display rule catches many businesses off guard because they print it on packaging but forget the premises board, the menu, or the online listing. The table below summarises where the number is required by common business type.
| Business type | Required display points |
|---|---|
| Restaurant / hotel | Premises board, menu card, bills/invoices |
| Packaged food manufacturer | Every package label + premises board |
| Cloud kitchen / Swiggy-Zomato seller | Aggregator listing, packaging, invoices |
| E-commerce seller (Amazon/Flipkart/ONDC) | Product listing page + packaging |
| Importer / exporter | Package label + import documentation |
What are the FSSAI display rules for restaurants and menus?
Restaurants and food service establishments must display the FSSAI logo and licence number prominently on the menu card and on a board at the premises, and print it on all bills and invoices. Menus must also clearly mark each dish as vegetarian or non-vegetarian using the standard green and brown symbols.
Any nutritional or health claims on the menu (for example 'low fat' or 'sugar-free') must be truthful and comply with the labelling and claims regulations. Displaying allergen information for common allergens is good practice and increasingly expected. If you also sell any pre-packaged item, that packaging must independently carry a full FSSAI-compliant label.
What are the penalties for wrong or missing FSSAI labelling?
Penalties for incorrect, misleading or missing FSSAI labelling can be significant and are imposed by the food safety authority under the Food Safety and Standards Act, with misbranding and misleading labels carrying higher penalties. Operating without a valid displayed licence is a separate and more serious offence.
Beyond fines, non-compliant labels can lead to product seizure, delisting from e-commerce platforms, and reputational damage. Separately, an FSSAI licence must be kept active by paying its recurring annual fee — if that fee goes unpaid the licence is deemed suspended — so keeping both your label and your licence current is essential. CAREALL reviews your label artwork and licence status together to close these gaps.
How does CAREALL help with FSSAI labelling compliance?
CAREALL is an FSSAI consultancy that reviews your label artwork and premises display against the current Labelling and Display Regulations, obtains or corrects your FSSAI licence on the government FoSCoS portal, and ensures your number appears correctly across packaging, menus, invoices and online listings. The licence itself is issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
Our team checks each mandatory label element, flags misleading claims, confirms your veg/non-veg marks and date formats, and files any licence modification needed if your product range or address changes. We track every application to issuance and keep your annual fee on schedule so your licence is never deemed suspended. Professional fees are separate from the standard government fees.
Frequently asked questions
Is the FSSAI logo compulsory on food packaging?
Yes. The FSSAI logo along with the 14-digit licence or registration number is compulsory on all pre-packaged food products in India. It must be printed clearly on the label, usually near the manufacturer details. Displaying the number without the logo, or the logo without a valid number, does not meet the requirement and can attract a misbranding penalty.
What is the veg and non-veg symbol rule?
Every packaged food and menu item must carry a symbol indicating its nature. A filled green circle inside a green square denotes vegetarian food, while a filled brown triangle inside a brown square denotes non-vegetarian food. The mark must appear close to the product name so consumers can identify the food type instantly, as required by the Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020.
Do online food sellers need to display the FSSAI number?
Yes. Sellers on Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit and ONDC must display a valid FSSAI number on the platform listing, and it must also appear on packaging and invoices. A valid FSSAI number is mandatory to list at all. E-commerce platforms routinely verify the number and may delist sellers whose licence is missing, invalid or expired.
What happens if my food label is misleading?
A misleading or false food label is treated as misbranding under the Food Safety and Standards Act and can attract a substantial penalty imposed by the food safety authority, along with possible product seizure and platform delisting. False health or nutrition claims are viewed seriously. CAREALL reviews your artwork before printing to remove misleading declarations and keep your label compliant.
Does the FSSAI number need to be on invoices too?
Yes. The FSSAI licence or registration number must be printed on all bills, invoices and cash memos issued by a food business, in addition to packaging, the premises board and any online listing. This is a frequently overlooked requirement that inspectors check, so it is worth confirming your billing software prints the number on every document.
This guide is kept current for 2026. It is general information, not legal advice — for your specific case, talk to a CAREALL consultant.