Under the FSSAI 2026 amendment (gazette 10 March 2026), a registration or licence is now valid indefinitely — there is no 1–5 year term and no renewal; you keep it active by paying an annual fee, and it is deemed suspended if the fee is unpaid. Separately, effective 1 April 2026, the turnover thresholds rose to: Basic Registration up to ₹1.5 crore, State Licence ₹1.5–50 crore, and Central Licence above ₹50 crore.
What changed in the FSSAI 2026 amendment?
The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026 were notified in the Gazette of India on 10 March 2026, with the revised turnover thresholds implemented by an FSSAI order dated 13 March 2026 and effective from 1 April 2026. Two changes matter most to every food business: licences became perpetual (renewal was abolished), and the turnover limits that decide your category were raised.
The table below sets the old rules against the new ones. If you have read about FSSAI on an older website, note that many still show the 2011 figures — the ₹12 lakh / ₹20 crore limits and the 1–5 year renewal cycle no longer apply.
| What | Old rule (pre-2026) | New rule (from 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Registration | Turnover up to ₹12 lakh | Turnover up to ₹1.5 crore |
| State Licence | ₹12 lakh – ₹20 crore | ₹1.5 crore – ₹50 crore |
| Central Licence | Above ₹20 crore | Above ₹50 crore |
| Validity | 1 to 5 years, then renew | Perpetual — no expiry, no renewal |
| Staying active | Renew before expiry | Pay the annual fee (else deemed suspended) |
| Inspections | Routine | Risk-based (by risk & compliance history) |
Perpetual validity — is FSSAI renewal really abolished?
Yes. Under the amended Regulation 2.1.7, a registration or licence now remains valid and subsisting indefinitely unless it is suspended, cancelled or surrendered. The fixed 1–5 year term is gone and there are no renewal applications to file.
In its place, the holder pays an annual fee to keep the licence active. If the annual fee is not paid, the licence is deemed suspended and the business cannot legally operate until it is paid and the licence is reactivated. So the recurring obligation is now 'pay the annual fee on time', not 'renew before expiry'.
One transition point: licences issued before April 2026 may still show a printed expiry date on FoSCoS while the system catches up. If that is you, keep your annual fee paid and treat the licence as active — CAREALL can confirm your status and handle the annual filing so nothing lapses.
The new turnover limits — many businesses now need a smaller licence
Because the Basic Registration ceiling jumped from ₹12 lakh to ₹1.5 crore, a large share of small and mid-sized single-state businesses that previously needed a State Licence now qualify for a simpler Basic Registration. A single-outlet restaurant, cloud kitchen, bakery or tiffin service turning over, say, ₹40 lakh is now a Basic Registration, not a State Licence.
The State band runs from ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore within one state; a Central Licence applies above ₹50 crore, or — regardless of turnover — to importers, exporters, e-commerce food operators, nutraceutical/proprietary-food makers, 5-star hotels and multi-state businesses. If you are unsure which tier now applies to you, our free checker or a quick WhatsApp message will settle it.
What should you do now?
If you are applying fresh: file under the new tiers (Basic up to ₹1.5 crore, State ₹1.5–50 crore, Central above ₹50 crore) and plan for a one-time issuance plus a recurring annual fee — there is no multi-year term to buy.
If you already hold a licence: keep your annual fee paid so it is never deemed suspended, and if your certificate still carries an old expiry date, let us confirm your live status on FoSCoS. Either way, CAREALL prepares and files everything on the Government FoSCoS portal for you, with documents collected on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
When did the FSSAI 2026 rules take effect?
The amendment regulations were notified in the Gazette of India on 10 March 2026 (perpetual validity in force from publication), and the revised turnover thresholds took effect on 1 April 2026 by an FSSAI order dated 13 March 2026.
Do I still need to renew my FSSAI licence?
No. Renewal has been abolished — licences are now perpetual. You keep yours active by paying the annual fee; if it is unpaid the licence is deemed suspended until you pay. Older pre-2026 licences may still show an expiry date during the transition, so confirm your live status on FoSCoS.
My business was a State Licence before — has that changed?
Possibly. With the Basic Registration ceiling now ₹1.5 crore, many single-state businesses that were State Licence under the old ₹12 lakh limit now qualify for a Basic Registration. We check your turnover and activity and file the correct, current tier.
Are FSSAI government fees published now?
Government fees are set by the authority and depend on your category and capacity; they are separate from any consultant fee. CAREALL confirms your exact, all-in cost on WhatsApp before anything is filed.
This guide is kept current for 2026. It is general information, not legal advice — for your specific case, talk to a CAREALL consultant.