Central FSSAI
License Online India —
For Large Food Businesses
Mandatory for large food manufacturers, importers, exporters, and multi-state FBOs with turnover above ₹20 crore. India's highest FSSAI credential — issued by the Central Licensing Authority, FSSAI HQ, New Delhi.
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What is a Central FSSAI License?
The Central FSSAI License is the highest level of food safety certification in India, issued directly by the FSSAI Central Licensing Authority headquartered in New Delhi under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
- Required for FBOs with annual turnover above ₹20 crore
- Mandatory for all food importers and exporters regardless of size
- Covers businesses operating across more than one state
- Required for dairy, meat, seafood processing plants above specified capacity
- Airport, seaport, railway station caterers must obtain Central License
- Govt. fee: ₹7,500/year — valid for 1 to 5 years
When Your Food Business Grows Beyond State Borders
As a large food manufacturer, processor, or multi-state operator, a Central FSSAI License is not optional — it's the law. Issued directly by FSSAI HQ, it demonstrates your compliance with India's highest food safety standards and opens doors to export markets, government tenders, and large retail chains.
Unlike Basic Registration or State License, the Central License involves a mandatory site inspection by a designated food safety officer, a detailed factory audit, and stringent documentation — making it the most credible food safety credential a business can hold.
Regardless of turnover, every food importer and exporter in India must hold a Central FSSAI License. This applies even to startups importing specialty ingredients for D2C brands. TaxClue's FSSAI specialists handle the complete Import Licenser (IL) documentation for all food categories.
Food Businesses That Must Have a Central FSSAI License
The Central License covers India's largest and most complex food operations across manufacturing, trade, logistics, and hospitality.
Food Importers
Any business importing food products into India — ingredients, packaged foods, additives, supplements — regardless of turnover.
Food Exporters
Businesses exporting food products from India. Also a prerequisite for APEDA registration and export incentive schemes.
Large Manufacturers
Food processing companies with annual turnover exceeding ₹20 crore — packaged snacks, beverages, dairy, confectionery, etc.
Multi-State Operators
FBOs operating food businesses — manufacturing, distribution, warehousing — across more than one state in India.
Large Dairy Plants
Milk processing plants handling more than 50,000 litres/day or milk solids above 2,500 MT/year need Central License.
Meat & Seafood Processors
Slaughterhouses and meat processing plants above prescribed capacity, and all seafood exporters (MPEDA registered).
Airport / Port Caterers
Catering units operating at international airports, seaports, and railway stations serving more than one jurisdiction.
E-Commerce Food Platforms
Online food businesses operating across multiple states — including food aggregators, cloud kitchen networks, and D2C food brands.
Why a Central FSSAI License Is a Business Asset
Export Clearance
Central FSSAI License is a prerequisite for exporting food products from India. Required by APEDA, MPEDA, Spices Board, and Customs for export NOC and health certificates.
National Retail Chains
Big Bazaar, Reliance Fresh, DMart, Spencer's, and all major modern trade chains require Central FSSAI License for vendor empanelment and product listings nationally.
Amazon, Flipkart Large Sellers
High-volume food sellers on Amazon and Flipkart with pan-India distribution need Central License for continued listing and scaling to large catalogue SKUs.
Government Tenders & NDDB
Supplying to government institutions, defence canteens, railways, or dairy cooperatives (AMUL, NDDB) requires a Central FSSAI License as mandatory eligibility criteria.
Institutional Investment Readiness
PE firms, VCs, and strategic investors during due diligence validate Central FSSAI compliance. It's a key marker of operational maturity for food & beverage companies.
Product Innovation Compliance
Proprietary food products, nutraceuticals, novel foods, and health supplements require Central License and FSSAI product approval — mandatory before market launch.
Types of Central FSSAI License by Business Category
Central FSSAI License applications are category-specific — each type of food business files under a different Annexure of Form B. TaxClue identifies the correct annexure for your business.
Manufacturer / Processor
For large food manufacturing units, processors, packers, repacker and proprietary food manufacturers with central jurisdiction.
Importer
For all food importers bringing products through Indian customs — mandatory regardless of company size or import volume.
Exporter
For businesses exporting food from India. Works alongside APEDA, EIC (Export Inspection Council), and MPEDA certifications.
Cold Storage / Warehouse
For multi-state cold chain operators, food warehousing companies, and temperature-controlled logistics providers.
Transporter
Food transportation companies operating refrigerated fleets across more than one state for large FBOs and dairy chains.
Retailer / Distributor
Wholesale distributors, C&F agents, and retailers with multi-state operations and turnover above ₹20 crore.
How Central FSSAI Differs From a State License
The Central License is not just a bigger version of the State License. It's a different regime — with stricter standards, mandatory inspection, and direct oversight from FSSAI HQ in New Delhi.
- Authority FSSAI Central Licensing Authority, New Delhi (not State)
- Inspection Mandatory physical inspection of premises by Designated Officer
- Audit Docs Factory layout, FSMS plan, lab testing reports mandatory
- Importers Only Central License is valid — State License not accepted at customs
- Renewal Renewal must be filed 30 days before expiry to avoid penalty
- FOSCOS Filed on FSSAI's FoSCoS portal — Central module with DO approval
Basic Registration vs State License vs Central License
| Parameter | Basic Registration | State FSSAI License | Central FSSAI License |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Turnover | Below ₹12 Lakh | ₹12 Lakh – ₹20 Crore | Above ₹20 Crore |
| Importers / Exporters | Not valid | Not valid | Mandatory — always |
| Govt. Annual Fee | ₹100/year | ₹2,000–₹5,000/year | ₹7,500/year |
| Issuing Authority | State Commissioner | State Authority | FSSAI Central, New Delhi |
| Physical Inspection | Not required | May be required | Mandatory by DO |
| Processing Time | 7 days | 30 days | 30–60 days |
| FSMS Plan Required | No | Sometimes | Yes — mandatory |
| Multi-State Operations | Not covered | Single state only | All India coverage |
| Modern Trade / Export Eligible | No | Limited | Full eligibility |
TaxClue's Central FSSAI License Process — End to End
The Central License involves more steps than State or Basic — but TaxClue handles every stage, from documents to DO inspection to final certificate.
Free Assessment
CA confirms Central License eligibility, identifies correct Annexure type, and prepares a complete document checklist.
Documents & FSMS
We help draft the Food Safety Management System (FSMS) plan, water test report, layout, and all Form B annexures.
FoSCoS Portal Filing
Application submitted on FSSAI's FoSCoS portal under the Central module with full document package and fee payment.
DO Inspection
Designated Officer (DO) schedules a physical site inspection of your food premises. TaxClue prepares you fully for this.
License Issued
Post successful inspection and approval, Central FSSAI License certificate issued. Valid for 1–5 years. Display at premises.
📄 Documents Required for Central FSSAI License
Note: Central License requires significantly more documentation than Basic or State. TaxClue assigns a dedicated FSSAI specialist who prepares every document, including the FSMS plan, with you.
Entity / Business Documents
- Certificate of Incorporation / Partnership Deed
- MOA & AOA (for companies)
- PAN Card of the entity
- GST Registration Certificate
- IEC Code (importers / exporters)
- MSME / Udyam certificate (if applicable)
Premises / Factory Documents
- Proof of ownership or rent/lease deed
- Blueprint / layout plan of food premises
- NOC from Municipality / Panchayat
- Electricity bill / water connection proof
- Fire NOC (where applicable)
- Pollution control NOC (for manufacturing)
Proprietor / Directors
- PAN and Aadhaar of all directors/partners
- Passport-size photographs
- Address proof of all key persons
- List of directors with DIN (for companies)
Technical / Food Safety Documents
- Food Safety Management System (FSMS) plan
- List of food products & categories
- Water test report (ISI / NABL lab)
- Medical certificates of food handlers
- Machinery list with capacity details
- Import / export licence (IEC for importers)
FSMS Plan: Food Safety Management System documentation is mandatory for Central License. TaxClue's food safety consultants draft a complete FSMS plan tailored to your specific food product category and plant operations.
🌍 Central FSSAI for Food Importers — Special Requirements
Food importers are subject to the most stringent FSSAI requirements. A valid Central License is mandatory before any food product can clear Indian customs — including samples.
Products Covered Under Import
- Packaged food & beverages
- Food ingredients & additives
- Nutraceuticals & health supplements
- Organic food products
- Alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, spirits)
- Specialty & gourmet foods
Import Compliance Requirements
- Central FSSAI License (mandatory, always)
- IEC (Import Export Code) from DGFT
- FSSAI prior intimation for each shipment
- Lab testing by NABL-accredited lab on arrival
- Customs clearance only after FSSAI NOC
- Product must meet FSSAI Standards & regulations
⚠️ Warning for Importers: Attempting to clear food shipments at customs without a valid Central FSSAI License results in immediate seizure and destruction of goods — no exceptions. Ensure your Central License is active before placing any import orders.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — absolutely. For food importers, Central FSSAI License is mandatory regardless of turnover. Even if you're a first-time importer or a startup bringing in a single product, you must hold a valid Central FSSAI License before the shipment arrives at the Indian port. There's no turnover threshold exemption for importers.
The Food Safety Management System (FSMS) plan is a documented system showing how your business identifies, prevents, and controls food safety hazards. It covers HACCP principles, hygiene practices, supplier management, recall procedures, and employee training. For most manufacturing businesses, TaxClue's food safety consultants prepare a complete FSMS plan tailored to your product category — it typically takes 3–5 days to draft.
The DO (Designated Officer) from FSSAI will visit your food premises to verify: factory layout matches submitted blueprint, hygiene and sanitation standards, food handler health compliance, machinery and storage conditions, availability of FSMS documentation, and water quality test reports. TaxClue provides a detailed inspection readiness checklist and walkthrough 7 days before your inspection date.
A single Central FSSAI License covers your registered head office address. However, each manufacturing plant at a different location requires a separate Central License — one license per premises. For companies with multiple plants, TaxClue manages all license applications in parallel to minimise processing time and ensure consistent compliance.
Operating with an expired Central FSSAI License carries penalties of up to ₹10 lakh and potential product recall, seizure, and business closure. For importers, customs will reject and return shipments. TaxClue sends renewal reminders 120 days, 60 days, and 30 days before expiry, and files renewal applications proactively to ensure zero compliance gap.
Typically 30 to 60 working days after successful application submission. This includes: application review by FSSAI (7–10 days), Designated Officer inspection scheduling (10–20 days), post-inspection report submission and approval (10–20 days). Delays often happen due to incomplete documents or inspection discrepancies. TaxClue's meticulous preparation significantly reduces rejection and re-inspection risk.
India's Most Trusted Central FSSAI License Consultants
FSMS Plan Prepared
Our food safety consultants draft a complete, inspection-ready FSMS plan for your specific product category and plant type — included in our service.
DO Inspection Prep
We conduct a mock inspection walkthrough at your premises, identify gaps, and ensure full compliance before the Designated Officer arrives.
Importer / Exporter Experts
From IEC code to FSSAI import category classification to customs prior intimation — we manage the full import-export compliance chain.
Multi-Plant Management
Managing Central FSSAI applications for multiple plants across different states simultaneously — with a single point of contact at TaxClue.
Proactive Renewal
We file renewal applications 60 days before expiry, ensuring continuous compliance — critical for importers who cannot afford any license gap.
1,000+ Central Licenses
Across dairy processors, spice exporters, food importers, large restaurant chains, and packaged food manufacturers — we know every edge case.
Other FSSAI & Export Compliance Services
Basic FSSAI Registration
For small food businesses with turnover below ₹12 lakh — home bakers, vendors, petty FBOs. Just ₹100/year.
Learn More →State FSSAI License
For mid-size restaurants, processors, and distributors with turnover ₹12 lakh to ₹20 crore within one state.
Learn More →FSSAI License Renewal
Renew your Central FSSAI License before expiry. We track and file 60 days in advance to maintain continuous compliance.
Learn More →IEC Registration (Import Export Code)
Get your IEC from DGFT — mandatory for all importers and exporters. Applied online in 3 working days.
Learn More →GST Registration
GST registration for large food businesses — including GST for importers, RCM compliance, and e-way bill setup.
Learn More →APEDA / MPEDA Registration
Export authority registration for agricultural products (APEDA) and marine products (MPEDA) — linked to Central FSSAI.
Learn More →Get Your Central FSSAI License — Inspection-Ready, First Time
From FSMS plan to DO inspection to final certificate — TaxClue handles every step of your Central FSSAI License application. 1,000+ central licenses obtained across all food categories.
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