Who needs FSSAI to sell food online
If you make, pack or sell food as a business, you need FSSAI registration or a licence. That includes a home kitchen selling pickles, cakes or snacks through its own website or Instagram. FSSAI ties the registration to your premises, so your kitchen is the place that gets registered. Online platforms are told not to list any food seller without a valid FSSAI number. The good news is that the 2026 reforms made the entry level much easier.
Basic registration vs state licence
FSSAI has three tiers: registration, state licence and central licence. From 1 April 2026, basic registration covers food businesses with turnover up to ₹1.5 crore a year. That limit used to be ₹12 lakh. A state licence covers ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore, and a central licence applies above that. FSSAI says small businesses now get instant registration with no pre-inspection. Registrations and licences also have perpetual validity, so you no longer renew them.
The two tiers side by side
| Point | Basic registration | State licence |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover band from 1 April 2026 | Up to ₹1.5 crore a year | Above ₹1.5 crore, up to ₹50 crore |
| Fee | The lower of the two - check FoSCoS for the current fee | Higher, and set by business type - check FoSCoS |
| Validity | Perpetual under the 2026 reforms | Perpetual under the 2026 reforms |
| Speed | Instant, with no pre-inspection | Takes longer than registration |
Documents
The exact list depends on your kind of business. FoSCoS shows it under Documents Required, so check it before you start. Keep clear scans ready. FSSAI asks for every document to be self-attested by the proprietor or authorised signatory before you upload it. You do not need to visit an office with paper copies.
How to apply
You apply online on FoSCoS, FSSAI's Food Safety Compliance System. Pick your kind of business, enter your premises and products, upload the documents and pay the fee. Selling through your own website counts as an e-commerce activity. FSSAI's FAQ says businesses selling on their own platform must cover that too. So choose the kind of business carefully, and check it on FoSCoS as you apply.
Labels and the licence number
Packaged food must follow the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. The label must carry the FSSAI logo and your licence number, in a colour that contrasts with the background. It also needs items like the ingredients, veg or non-veg mark, net quantity and date marking. FSSAI has told e-commerce food businesses that every claim made online must match the physical label. Buyers can check your number on FoSCoS or the Food Safety Connect app.
Selling across states
Shipping to buyers in other states raises two separate questions. For FSSAI, what matters is your premises. If you add a kitchen or warehouse in a second state, FSSAI's FAQ says you need a Central Licence for your head office, plus a licence or registration for each unit. For GST, inter-state sales can need registration regardless of turnover. On The Storemate, you can add your FSSAI number to your About page with the page builder. GST-correct invoicing is a setting when you register. For your own case, check with a CA.