What Is an FSSAI License for Restaurants? Tiers, 14-Digit Number & Rules
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Quick Answer
An FSSAI license is the food-safety registration or licence issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India that every food business — including restaurants — must hold to operate legally. It comes in three tiers based on annual turnover, carries a unique 14-digit number, and must be displayed at the premises. Thresholds change, so confirm current limits at fssai.gov.in.
What FSSAI Is and Why Every Restaurant Needs It
FSSAI stands for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the national regulator established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. It governs the manufacturing, storage, distribution, sale, and serving of food across India.
Any Food Business Operator (FBO) — a term that covers restaurants, cafes, cloud kitchens, takeaway counters, caterers, sweet shops, and even small home-based food sellers — must obtain either an FSSAI registration or an FSSAI licence before commencing operations. There is no exemption for small dine-in restaurants; the only difference by size is which tier applies.
Holding a valid FSSAI registration or licence signals to customers that the establishment meets baseline hygiene and food-safety standards, and it is a legal prerequisite for listing on aggregators, applying for many other trade licences, and issuing compliant bills that display the FSSAI number.
The Three Tiers: Basic Registration, State Licence, Central Licence
FSSAI compliance is structured in three tiers, and which one a restaurant needs is determined mainly by its annual turnover (and, for some categories, by scale of operation or whether it operates across states).
Basic Registration is for the smallest food businesses — typically petty FBOs and very small eateries below a low turnover threshold. State Licence covers mid-sized restaurants, and Central Licence is required for the largest operators, businesses operating in multiple states, and importers/exporters.
The turnover thresholds that separate these tiers are set by FSSAI and have been revised over time, so the figures below are indicative and must be confirmed against the current rules before you apply.
- Basic Registration — commonly cited for businesses with annual turnover up to around ₹12 lakh (smallest eateries, kiosks, petty FBOs).
- State Licence — commonly cited for annual turnover between roughly ₹12 lakh and ₹20 crore (most standalone restaurants fall here).
- Central Licence — commonly cited for annual turnover above roughly ₹20 crore, businesses operating in multiple states, and import/export operations.
Note: These turnover thresholds and category rules are set by FSSAI and change periodically. Do not treat the figures above as final — verify the tier that applies to your restaurant at the official FSSAI portal (fssai.gov.in) or with a qualified consultant before applying.
The 14-Digit FSSAI Number and Mandatory Display
Once registered or licensed, every food business is assigned a unique 14-digit FSSAI number. The first digit indicates whether it is a registration or a licence, and the following digits encode the state, year, and a sequential enrolment code.
This 14-digit number is not just an internal reference — FSSAI regulations require food businesses to display it prominently. Restaurants are generally required to display the FSSAI licence or registration certificate at the premises, and to print the FSSAI number on menus, bills, and — where applicable — food packaging.
Displaying the number lets customers verify a restaurant's food-safety status and lets inspectors confirm compliance at a glance. Aggregators and online marketplaces also require a valid FSSAI number before a restaurant can be listed.
Note: The exact display requirements (menu, bill, packaging, signage) are specified in FSSAI regulations and can vary by category. Confirm what your restaurant must display, and where, at fssai.gov.in or with your consultant.
Penalties for Operating Without a Valid FSSAI Licence
Operating a food business without a valid FSSAI registration or licence is an offence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Penalties can include substantial monetary fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment — and the Act prescribes separate penalties for issues such as sub-standard or misbranded food, unhygienic processing, and misleading claims.
Beyond statutory penalties, an expired or missing licence can get a restaurant delisted from aggregators, blocked from renewing other trade permissions, and exposed to reputational damage if flagged during an inspection.
FSSAI registrations and licences are issued for a fixed term (commonly one to five years) and must be renewed before expiry to remain valid. Lapsing into an expired status is treated similarly to operating without a licence.
Note: Penalty amounts and imprisonment terms are defined in the FSS Act and associated rules and are subject to amendment. For the current penalty schedule and renewal timelines applicable to your case, refer to fssai.gov.in or a qualified legal/CA advisor.
How Restrofi Helps You Stay FSSAI-Compliant on Bills
Restrofi does not issue or process FSSAI licences — that is done directly through the FSSAI portal — but it makes the display side of compliance effortless. You can store your restaurant's 14-digit FSSAI number in your outlet settings, and Restrofi automatically prints it on every generated bill and tax invoice.
Because the FSSAI number sits in the invoice header alongside your GSTIN, staff never have to remember to add it manually, and it stays consistent across QR orders, counter bills, and takeaway receipts.
Restrofi is a paid product — Premium starts at ₹699 per outlet per month, with no free plan — and multi-outlet businesses can store a different FSSAI number per outlet, which matters because each licensed premises has its own number.
FSSAI Tiers Compared: Basic vs State vs Central
| Aspect | Basic Registration | State / Central Licence |
|---|---|---|
| Typical turnover (verify current limits) | Up to ~₹12 lakh/year | State: ~₹12L–₹20Cr; Central: above ~₹20Cr |
| Who it fits | Kiosks, small eateries, petty FBOs | Standalone restaurants (State); large chains, multi-state, import/export (Central) |
| Issuing authority | State/local FSSAI | State FSSAI (State licence) or FSSAI HQ (Central licence) |
| 14-digit number | Yes — issued on registration | Yes — issued on licensing |
| Multi-state operation | Not intended for it | Central licence required for multi-state / import-export |
| Display on bill/premises | Required | Required |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an FSSAI licence mandatory for a small restaurant?
Yes. Every food business in India, including the smallest restaurant or kiosk, must hold at least an FSSAI Basic Registration before operating. Larger restaurants need a State or Central licence instead. There is no size exemption — only different tiers. Confirm which tier applies at fssai.gov.in.
What is the 14-digit FSSAI number?
It is the unique identifier issued to every registered or licensed food business. The first digit shows whether it is a registration or licence, and the remaining digits encode the state, year, and enrolment code. Restaurants must display it on the premises and generally print it on menus and bills.
What happens if I run a restaurant without an FSSAI licence?
Operating without a valid FSSAI registration or licence is an offence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and can attract significant fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment, plus delisting from aggregators. Penalty amounts change over time — verify the current schedule at fssai.gov.in or with a legal advisor.
Can Restrofi print my FSSAI number on bills?
Yes. Store your 14-digit FSSAI number in your Restrofi outlet settings and it is automatically printed on every bill and tax invoice, alongside your GSTIN. Restrofi does not apply for the licence itself — that is done on the FSSAI portal — but it handles the mandatory display on invoices.
See how Restrofi handles FSSAI License for Restaurants
QR ordering, KDS, and GST invoicing — all in one platform from ₹699 per outlet per month.
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