FSSAI License Renewal in 2026: Renewal Is Gone, the Annual Fee Isn't

FSSAI licences and registrations no longer need to be renewed. An amendment to the licensing regulations, notified on 10 March 2026, made them valid "unless otherwise suspended, cancelled or surrendered". But the same amendment added a catch most renewal guides haven't caught up with: if you don't pay the annual fee, or don't file a required return on time, your licence is "deemed suspended" automatically, and you can't trade until you pay.

So the job has changed. You used to renew every one to five years. Now you keep the fee paid.

Key takeaways

• Since the March 2026 amendment, FSSAI licences and registrations stay valid unless suspended, cancelled or surrendered. There is no renewal application.
• The annual fee still applies. FSSAI's FAQ says you can pay it for any number of years at once, at any time of the year.
• An unpaid annual fee, or a required return not filed on time, makes the licence "deemed suspended" automatically, and you must stop food business until you pay with any penalty.
• New turnover limits apply from 1 April 2026: Basic Registration up to ₹1.5 crore, State Licence to ₹50 crore, Central Licence above that.
• Street food vendors registered under the Street Vendors Act are now deemed registered under FSSAI.

What changed, and where it's written

Three FSSAI documents set this out, and they're worth knowing because many pages still describe the old renewal process.

The new regulation 2.1.7 says: "A license and registration certificate granted under these regulations shall be valid and subsisting, unless otherwise suspended, cancelled or surrendered." FSSAI's FAQ puts it plainly: "FBOs are not required to renew their Licenses/ Registrations."

The catch: deemed suspension

This is the part to act on. The same regulation continues:

Any food business operator fails to pay the annual license fee or registration fee as specified by the Food Authority or fails to submit the return on or before the due date, wherever applicable, the license or registration shall be deemed suspended.

During that suspension, the regulation says, "the food business operator shall not involve in any food business activity", and anything you do sell during the suspension is treated as non-compliant and can attract penalties. The suspension is lifted once you pay the due fee, or file the return, along with any penalty.

In other words, the deadline has moved. Under the old system, a renewal date was something you planned for every few years. Under the new one, a fee you forgot to pay can quietly put you out of compliance.

The simple protection: FSSAI's FAQ says businesses "have the option to select fee for any number of years at once" and that the "fee can be paid at any time of the year". Paying several years ahead removes the risk entirely. The amounts are small; see FSSAI license fee for what each category pays.

Do older licences need renewal?

The regulation's wording covers any licence or registration "granted under these regulations", and FSSAI's FAQ confirms that anything issued on or after 1 April 2026 has perpetual validity. FSSAI's FAQ doesn't separately address licences issued before April 2026, so log in to FoSCoS and check what your dashboard shows. If it still lists an expiry date or a renewal prompt, ask your licensing or registering authority before letting it lapse, rather than assuming either way.

The new turnover limits

These apply from 1 April 2026:

If you hold a State Licence but your turnover is now within the registration limit, FSSAI's FAQ says the move happens "automatically ... by the system at the backend based on self-declarations", with no approval needed and no modification fee. Your licence number doesn't change, and the fee you've already paid is adjusted against the registration fee.

What else changed

Street vendors. Street food vendors, hawkers, food trucks and carts registered under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 are now deemed registered under the Food Safety and Standards Act, with no separate FSSAI application. They still have to meet FSSAI's hygiene and sanitary requirements. We cover what that means for a stall in how to start a tea stall business.

Inspections. FSSAI is moving to risk-based inspections, using your compliance history, test results and audits to decide how often you're inspected. Compliant businesses should see fewer visits. Keeping hygiene records, from fridge temperatures to cleaning logs, is how you stay on the right side of that; our opening and closing checklist has the FSSAI figures built in.

Closing down. If you close the business, you must tell your licensing or registering authority in writing and surrender the licence within 30 days. Fees already paid aren't refunded.

What to do this week

1. Log in to FoSCoS and check your licence or registration status, and whether any fee is due.
2. Pay the annual fee for several years ahead if you can.
3. If you manufacture or import under a licence, put the annual return's 31 May due date in your calendar; see FSSAI annual return.
4. If your turnover now fits a lower category, check that the migration has happened on your dashboard.
5. Keep your hygiene records up to date for inspections.

Setting up a new kitchen as well? Our licence guide covers the other permits, and restaurant kitchen layout covers FSSAI's design rules.

FAQ

Is FSSAI license renewal still required in 2026?

No. Under the amendment notified on 10 March 2026, FSSAI licences and registrations remain valid unless suspended, cancelled or surrendered, and FSSAI's FAQ says businesses are not required to renew them. The annual fee still has to be paid, and an unpaid fee leads to automatic suspension.

What happens if I don't pay the FSSAI annual fee?

Your licence or registration is deemed suspended automatically. During suspension you must not carry on any food business, and anything you do is treated as non-compliant and can attract penalties. The suspension is lifted once you pay the due fee along with any penalty. Paying several years ahead avoids this.

Can I pay the FSSAI fee for more than one year?

Yes. FSSAI's FAQ on the 2026 amendment says businesses can select the fee for any number of years at once and pay it at any time of the year. Paying ahead is the simplest way to avoid an accidental suspension under the new rules.

Does my old FSSAI licence need renewal?

The new rule covers licences granted under the licensing regulations, and FSSAI confirms perpetual validity for anything issued from 1 April 2026. Its FAQ doesn't separately address older licences, so check your FoSCoS dashboard and ask your licensing authority if it still shows an expiry date.

What is the FSSAI turnover limit for Basic Registration?

From 1 April 2026, Basic Registration covers food businesses with annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore, up from ₹12 lakh. A State Licence covers turnover above ₹1.5 crore and up to ₹50 crore, and a Central Licence applies above ₹50 crore.

What to do next

Spend ten minutes on FoSCoS this week: check your status, pay the fee for a few years ahead, and note any return due date. Under the new rules, that's the whole of what renewal used to be, and skipping it costs more than it used to.