Since 1 April 2026, a home baker or food seller in Chennai with annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore needs only a basic FSSAI registration, not a licence. The earlier ceiling was ₹12 lakh. The change was approved by the Union Health Ministry and announced by FSSAI in a press release on 13 March 2026.
That moves almost every home kitchen, cloud-kitchen startup and small sweet shop into the simpler category. Registration is still compulsory, and selling food without it is an offence. Here is what changed and how to register on FoSCoS.
Registration or licence: the 2026 limits
| Category | Annual turnover (from 1 April 2026) | Before |
|---|---|---|
| Basic registration | Up to ₹1.5 crore | Up to ₹12 lakh |
| State licence | Above ₹1.5 crore, up to ₹50 crore | Above ₹12 lakh, with capacity limits |
| Central licence | Above ₹50 crore | Large manufacturers, importers and others |
The new thresholds were brought in through the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026, notified on 10 March 2026, and an FSSAI order of 13 March, according to an analysis by IndiaLaw LLP. Registrations and licences already issued under the old limits remain valid.
Other changes that help small food sellers
- No more renewals. Registrations and licences now have perpetual validity, replacing periodic renewal, though continued validity depends on inspection outcomes.
- Lower fees. The ministry said fees would be reduced for micro and small enterprises. The earlier registration fee was ₹100 a year; check the current fee on FoSCoS when you apply.
- Instant registration, no pre-inspection for micro and small businesses.
- Street vendors registered with a municipal corporation or Town Vending Committee under the Street Vendors Act are treated as registered under FSSAI. In Chennai that means vendors with Greater Chennai Corporation vending certificates.
How to register on FoSCoS
Applications are filed only online on the FoSCoS portal, which replaced the older FLRS system nationwide on 1 November 2020.
- Go to foscos.fssai.gov.in and choose to apply for a new registration. Select Tamil Nadu and enter your kitchen’s address.
- Pick your business type (for example, manufacturer for a home bakery, or retailer or caterer) and the food categories you make, such as bakery products or sweets.
- Fill in the registration form (Form A) with your name, contact details and the nature of the business.
- Upload self-attested documents. The list depends on the kind of business; a photo ID and proof of the premises are typical.
- Pay the fee online and submit. You receive a 17-digit application reference number for tracking.
- Once approved, download the certificate and display it where customers can see it, such as your shop counter or online store page.
The registration carries a 14-digit number. On packaged food, that number must be printed on the label along with the FSSAI logo, according to NIFTEM training material prepared for the PMFME scheme.
Things home bakers often get wrong
- Selling through apps or Instagram. Food delivery platforms ask for your FSSAI number before listing you. Selling through social media does not exempt you.
- Turnover counts everything. Add up all food sales across channels for the year.
- Changing products. If you start making new food categories, update your registration on FoSCoS.
- Moving kitchens. Registration is tied to the premises. If you shift house or move into a rented commercial kitchen, update the address on FoSCoS, and check whether a second kitchen needs its own registration.
- Agents. Plenty of websites charge large fees to “get your FSSAI licence”. The application is short enough to do yourself.
- Other registrations. FSSAI is separate from GST (needed only above the turnover limits), Udyam registration for MSME benefits, and a trade licence from the Corporation for commercial premises.
If you also want Udyam registration or a bank loan for an oven or a delivery van, your FSSAI certificate is one of the first documents lenders and platforms ask to see, so keep a PDF copy handy.
Registration also comes with obligations. You must follow basic hygiene and sanitation practices, use safe water and keep raw and cooked food apart. Food safety officers can inspect registered premises.
Quick answers
Do I need an FSSAI licence to sell cakes from home in Chennai?
If your annual turnover is up to ₹1.5 crore, you need basic registration rather than a licence. Registration is mandatory even for small home kitchens.
My registration was issued under the old ₹12 lakh rule. Is it still valid?
Yes. The 2026 order applies going forward, and existing registrations and licences remain valid.
Do I have to renew my FSSAI registration every year?
The 2026 reforms introduced perpetual validity in place of periodic renewal. Check your status on FoSCoS.
What does registration cost now?
FSSAI said fees for micro and small units would be reduced but did not give amounts in its release. FoSCoS shows the fee when you apply.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Union Health Ministry clears FSSAI reforms, press release 13 March 2026 (FSSAI)
- Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) portal (FSSAI)
- FSSAI registration and licensing: training material under PMFME (NIFTEM, Ministry of Food Processing Industries)
- Analysis of revised FSSAI licensing thresholds, 2026 (IndiaLaw LLP)
