FSSAI
Quick answer: FSSAI Central License is the compliance ceiling for large food businesses in India — and for Gujarat's biggest food manufacturers, distributors, and importers it is not optional. Section 31(3) of the FSSAI Act, 2006 requires any food business operator with annual turnover exceeding ₹20 crore to hold a Central License in Form C. The same…
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We review turnover, multi-state presence, import-export activity, and proprietary food status to confirm Central License applicability under FSSAI norms.
Our team compiles incorporation, GST, IEC, layout plans, water reports, product test reports, and FSMS plans for every manufacturing unit and warehouse.
We file the Central License Form C on FoSCoS 2.0, upload all unit-level documents, and select the correct central FSSAI reviewing officer for your category.
We calculate and pay the FSSAI Central License government fee on FoSCoS 2.0 based on tenure — 1 to 5 years — and share the official payment receipt.
FSSAI designated officers may inspect one or more premises within 60 days. We coordinate site readiness, accompany the inspection virtually, and resolve queries.
FSSAI headquarters issues the Central License Form C with a 14-digit number within the official 60-day SLA under Section 31(3) of the FSSAI Act, 2006.
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| Aspect | DIY / Portal | Local Tax Consultant | FinTax24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing time | 7–14 days (typical) | Varies by availability and workload | 30-60 business days |
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| Support | Email / chatbot | Appointment-based or office hours | WhatsApp + phone, Mon–Sat 10 AM–7 PM IST |
| Pricing | Government fees only | Consultant fee + government fees | Transparent: ₹9,999 + govt fees |
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Food business operators with turnover above ₹20 crore, businesses operating in multiple states, food importers, food exporters, and manufacturers of proprietary or novel food must obtain FSSAI Central License in Form C under Section 31(3) of the FSSAI Act, 2006 issued by FSSAI headquarters in Delhi.
Under FSSAI norms, the apex authority must dispose of a complete Central License Form C application within 60 days. FinTax24 completes document preparation and FoSCoS 2.0 filing within 10–15 days, leaving ample buffer for inspection and approval.
Yes. Every food importer must obtain FSSAI Central License under the FSSAI Act, 2006 — without it, customs will not clear the consignment. The Central License also acts as a precondition for product-specific FSSAI product approval on FoSCoS 2.0.
The Central License is valid for 1 to 5 years based on tenure selected at filing. Multi-state and import-export operators typically choose 5 years for compliance continuity. Renewal is filed on FoSCoS 2.0 at least 30 days before expiry.
State License is for food businesses with turnover up to ₹20 crore operating within a single state and is issued in 30 days. Central License is for turnover above ₹20 crore, multi-state operations, importers, exporters, and proprietary food — issued in 60 days.
FoSCoS 2.0 is the upgraded FSSAI portal launched in 2024. Central License applications, multi-unit declarations, product approvals, and annual returns for turnover above ₹20 crore are now filed exclusively on FoSCoS 2.0 with integrated inspection scheduling.
Under Section 63 of the FSSAI Act, 2006, operating without a valid Central License attracts a fine up to ₹5 lakh and imprisonment up to 6 months. Repeat offences and aggravated cases — such as misbranded or unsafe imports — attract doubled penalties and product recall.
While HACCP or ISO 22000 documentation is strongly recommended for all manufacturers, it is mandatory for food businesses applying for Central License with multiple units, high-risk product categories, or import/export operations under FSSAI norms.
FSSAI Central License is the compliance ceiling for large food businesses in India — and for Gujarat's biggest food manufacturers, distributors, and importers it is not optional. Section 31(3) of the FSSAI Act, 2006 requires any food business operator with annual turnover exceeding ₹20 crore to hold a Central License in Form C. The same applies if you operate across more than one Indian state. It applies if you import food articles into India. The certificate is issued by FSSAI headquarters in Delhi. It is filed exclusively on the FoSCoS 2.0 portal. Without it, a business cannot legally clear food shipments through Indian customs. Operating with a State License when a Central License is required is one of the most commonly enforced violations during a regulatory inspection.
The difference between a State License and a Central License is not administrative. It is jurisdictional. A State License is issued by the Food Safety Commissioner of a single state. It covers food businesses operating within that state's borders with turnover up to ₹20 crore. A Central License covers turnover above ₹20 crore. It also covers multi-state operations. It covers specific categories like food importers, food exporters, proprietary food manufacturers, and businesses handling novel food ingredients or health supplements. These always fall under central jurisdiction regardless of turnover.
A Surat-based diamond and food gem exporter shipping edible glitter or flavour compounds to Europe needs a Central License. This is because the export operation spans more than one regulatory territory. A Jamnagar dairy processor distributing ultra-high-temperature milk across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra needs one for the same reason. The Central License covers every manufacturing unit, warehouse, and branch office declared in Form C under a single 14-digit number.
The 60-day processing SLA is a statutory ceiling under FSSAI norms. It is not a service guarantee. A complete Form C application is scrutinised by a Designated Officer. It may schedule inspections of one or more premises before the license is issued. Applications that arrive incomplete restart the clock when the query is resolved. FinTax24 compiles the full document package across all units before filing. The clock starts with a complete submission.
FSSAI Designated Officers inspecting a Central License applicant focus on three areas that routinely cause deficiencies. These are water quality documentation at each manufacturing unit, the FSMS or HACCP plan's actual implementation versus what is documented, and the product category list matching the food articles actually manufactured or traded. A common deficiency is a business that listed six product categories on Form C but only had test reports for three. For food importers, the inspection extends to storage conditions at the customs-bonded warehouse. It also extends to the cold chain documentation for perishable shipments.
Section 63 of the FSSAI Act, 2006 prescribes a penalty up to ₹5 lakh. It also prescribes imprisonment up to six months for operating without a valid Central License. For food importers, customs seizes the consignment at the port of entry. They issue a detention notice. This is because customs checks FSSAI Central License validity before releasing imported food articles. The annual return (Form D-2) must also be filed on FoSCoS 2.0 by 31 May each year for every Central License holder. This applies regardless of whether the business had any imports or exports in the preceding year. FinTax24 manages the complete cycle from initial Form C filing through inspection coordination and annual return filing.
Key sources: FinTax24 Compliance Desk.
Reviewed by FinTax24 Compliance Desk · Review date
Step-by-step guides that cover FSSAI in more depth.
Plain-English definitions for terms that come up in FSSAI.
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