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FSSAI State License for Growing Food Businesses

A State License is the middle tier of FSSAI approval. It is meant for food businesses that have outgrown Basic Registration but operate inside one state.

Turnover ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore Form B on FoSCoS Usually 30 to 60 days

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Who Needs an FSSAI State License?

You need a State License if your food business has an annual turnover above ₹1.5 crore and up to ₹50 crore and works from premises in a single state. Typical holders are:

  • Mid-size food manufacturers and processors
  • Hotels and larger restaurants
  • Wholesalers, distributors and suppliers
  • Storage units and cold storages
  • Food transporters with a regional fleet

Turnover is the main test but not the only one. Some kinds of business are also classed by production capacity, and importers and e-commerce food businesses need a Central License whatever their size.

How to Apply for a State License

The application is made in Form B on the FoSCoS portal

1. Confirm the category

Check turnover, kind of business and capacity so the application is filed in the right category.

2. Prepare the documents

Premises proof, layout plan, list of products and business papers. A missing page is the usual cause of delay.

3. File Form B

The form and documents go in on FoSCoS and the government fee is paid online.

4. Scrutiny

The licensing authority reviews the file and may ask for clarification, with a deadline to reply.

5. Inspection, if ordered

An officer may visit the premises to check hygiene and layout before approval.

6. Licence issued

You receive the certificate with your 14-digit number. Most cases take 30 to 60 days.

What You Need and What It Costs

ItemDetails
Application formForm B, signed by the owner, partner or authorised signatory
PremisesProof of possession such as a rent agreement or utility bill, plus a layout plan
Business papersPartnership deed, incorporation certificate or similar, with ID of the people in charge
ProductsList of food categories you will make or handle
Government fee₹2,000 to ₹5,000 a year, by category
Our service fee₹2,999

See the full documents checklist and the cost breakdown.

Renewal and Annual Compliance

State Licenses used to be issued for one to five years and had to be renewed before expiry. That ended on 1 April 2026. A State License is now valid for life, as long as you keep it in good standing:

  • Pay the annual fee on FoSCoS on time
  • File the annual return if your kind of business has to, which mainly means manufacturers and importers
  • Apply for a modification when your address, products or capacity change
  • Display the licence at the premises and print the number on your packs

If the fee or return is missed, the licence can be treated as suspended, and running the business during a suspension counts as operating without a licence.

FSSAI State License: Common Questions

From 1 April 2026 a State License applies to food businesses with annual turnover above ₹1.5 crore and up to ₹50 crore. Below that you need Basic Registration, and above it a Central License.

Existing licences move to the new category automatically, based on your declared turnover. Your licence number stays the same and you do not need to apply again.

Not any more. It has lifetime validity. You must still pay the annual fee and file the annual return if your kind of business requires one.

You can sell your products to customers in other states. If you run premises in two or more states, the head office needs a Central License and each unit needs its own licence.

There may be. The licensing authority can inspect the premises before granting a State License, which is one reason it takes longer than Basic Registration.

Related FSSAI Guides

Last reviewed: October 2026. Based on the FSSAI rules in force from 1 April 2026.

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