The Complete Guide to Obtaining FSSAI Approval: India's Food Regulations and Application Process

When exporting food to the Indian market, the first hurdle is FSSAI approval. FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) is the government agency that regulates every food business in India.

To run a food business in India, a market of more than 1.46 billion people, obtaining this FSSAI approval is a legal requirement. FSSAI approval is not just a permit -- it is an essential credential that functions as a kind of "passport" for manufacturing, selling, and importing food within India.

The Indian government has moved the FSSAI approval process online, making it easier to obtain than before. For Japanese companies, however, language and regulatory differences still make it a high hurdle.

This article provides a detailed explanation, based on materials published by FSSAI, of the process for obtaining the FSSAI approval that Japanese food manufacturers need in order to enter the Indian market.

Types of FSSAI approval and how to choose

There are three main types of FSSAI approval, and the type you need to apply for depends on the scale and nature of your business. Choosing the wrong type wastes time and money, so it is important to first identify the approval type that fits your company.

Under India's Food Safety and Standards Act, FSSAI approval is classified into the following three types.

• FSSAI Basic Registration: for small food businesses with annual revenue of 15 million rupees (1.5 crore) or less

• FSSAI State License: for medium-sized food businesses with annual revenue of more than 15 million rupees and up to 500 million rupees (50 crore)

• FSSAI Central License: for large food businesses with annual revenue above 500 million rupees, companies operating across multiple states, or food importers

These revenue thresholds were raised in a revision dated March 13, 2026, effective from April 1, 2026. Previously, basic registration applied up to 1.2 million rupees (12 lakh; 1 lakh = 100,000 rupees), and the state license applied up to 200 million rupees (20 crore). Determining the application category based on the old thresholds results in applying for a higher-tier license than necessary.

As a general rule, companies exporting food from Japan need to obtain an "FSSAI Central License". This is because a Central License is required for handling imported food regardless of turnover.

That said, if you establish a local subsidiary or branch in India and import and sell through it, a State License may suffice depending on that entity's turnover and scope of business.

One thing to be especially careful about is that a Central License is required regardless of turnover if you operate across multiple states or handle imported food is a point to watch for. This is a place where do-overs commonly occur: a business proceeds with a state license application based on revenue alone, only to later discover it handles imported food and is forced to switch to a central license.

The specific procedure for obtaining FSSAI approval

The process for obtaining FSSAI approval is complex, but you won't get lost if you understand the basic steps. Here, we explain the latest process as of 2025, following the actual order of procedures.

Step 1: Create an online application account

First, create an account on FSSAI's official system, FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System). Enter your company information, representative information, and contact details, and register the email address and mobile phone number needed to receive a verification code. Since these are required for logging in and receiving official notifications, be sure to set ones you can reliably manage.

Step 2: Prepare and submit the required documents

Next, gather the documents required for the application and submit them online. As of 2025, the main documents generally required for a Central License (for importers) are as follows.

• Certificate of Incorporation (equivalent to a Japanese certified copy of company registration)

• ID and proof of address for directors/partners/owners (passport, driver's license, etc.)

• Proof of the business location (lease agreement, electricity bill, etc.)

• Detailed information on the food category (must be listed according to FSSAI's category codes)

• Manufacturing process flow chart (if manufacturing in-house)

• Water quality test report (if using drinking water or process water)

• Permits and a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the local government

• Food Safety Management System plan (HACCP or similar is preferred)

• For food imported from Japan: certification and test certificates from the country of origin (such as ISO 17025-compliant ingredient analysis results)

All submitted documents must be prepared in English or Hindi, and any documents in Japanese must be attached along with an official translation.

Step 3: Pay the application fee

Once the documents are ready, pay the application fee through the online portal (FoSCoS). As of 2025, the application fee for an FSSAI Central License is basically 7,500 rupees, although this depends on the food category and the scale of the business (for example, it varies by category, such as dairy products or meat products).

Payment can be made by credit card, debit card, net banking, and other methods. The Application ID issued after payment is completed is required when checking progress or making inquiries, so be sure to keep it safe.

Step 4: Document review and providing additional information

After the application is submitted, FSSAI authorities carry out an initial document review. If there are any deficiencies or additional materials are needed, you will be notified through your registered email address or the portal.

How quickly you respond at this stage greatly affects the time it takes to obtain approval. A delay can send the review back, potentially causing a delay of several weeks to several months, so you need to respond promptly whenever you receive a notification.

Step 5: On-site inspection (if required)

If there are no issues with the document review, an FSSAI officer may carry out an on-site inspection.

• If manufacturing in India: the inspector visits the manufacturing facility to check hygiene conditions and the food safety management system.

• If handling only imported food: the inspection mainly targets warehouses and storage facilities, checking storage conditions and the logistics setup.

Improvement instructions may be issued based on the inspection results, so it is advisable to have hygiene management standards such as HACCP or ISO 22000 in place beforehand.

Step 6: Issuance of approval

Once you are judged to meet all the requirements, an FSSAI license is issued. The license can be downloaded from the online portal, and it may also be mailed to your registered address.

The validity period can be chosen from 1 to 5 years, and you must complete the renewal procedure before it expires. Be careful, because failing to renew results in the license being treated as invalid, requiring a new application.

Common challenges in obtaining FSSAI approval, and how to solve them

In the FSSAI approval process, many Japanese companies face the same challenges. Understanding these challenges in advance and taking the right countermeasures makes it possible to obtain approval smoothly.

The language barrier

Since application documents and communications are mainly conducted in English or Hindi, the language barrier is a major obstacle.

One effective way to address this challenge is to use translators or agency services experienced in Indian business. Working with an India-focused support company like SoJapan can greatly reduce the language barrier.

Incomplete or missing documents

Applications are very often sent back due to a poor understanding of the required documents or insufficient preparation.

As a countermeasure, we recommend having an expert do a pre-check before applying. It is also important to designate a person in charge of managing the list of documents to submit and their submission status whenever dealing with Indian authorities.

Delayed responses after applying

If you are slow to respond to requests for additional information or questions from FSSAI authorities, the entire approval process is significantly delayed.

To prevent this, get into the habit of regularly checking the online portal after applying and checking your registered email address every day. Having a trusted contact or partner on the ground in India also makes a fast response possible.

Meeting product label requirements

India's food labeling regulations are extremely strict, and differ from Japanese standards in many ways.

As a countermeasure, we recommend having an expert familiar with India's food labeling regulations check your label design before applying. Ingredient lists, nutrition labeling, and allergen information in particular need to be checked closely.

Delays in the renewal process

It is not uncommon for companies to fail to notice that their FSSAI approval has expired, delaying the renewal process.

To prevent this, we recommend adding the renewal date to your calendar as soon as you obtain approval and starting preparations three months before it expires. The renewal process is simpler than a new application, but you still need to allow plenty of time.

Frequently asked questions and countermeasures for FSSAI license applications

The latest FSSAI regulatory trends and points to watch in 2025

Because India's food regulations are updated frequently, it is important to stay on top of the latest developments. Here we introduce the regulatory trends to watch as of 2025 and the points Japanese companies should pay particular attention to.

Full digitalization of the online application process

As of 2025, the online application system has been fully built out, and everything from document submission to obtaining approval can be completed online. This has significantly shortened the time from application to approval.

That said, system glitches and temporary downtime have also been reported, so we recommend allowing plenty of time before your application deadline.

Stricter regulation of health and functional foods

Regulations on health foods, supplements, and functional foods have been tightened. In particular, the requirement to submit scientific evidence has become stricter for products that claim "health benefits."

If you export Japan's Foods with Function Claims or Foods for Specified Health Uses (FOSHU) products to India, you may need to review your labeling and prepare additional test data.

New regulations on packaging materials

Regulations on food packaging have been tightened, including restrictions on the use of plastic packaging materials and the promotion of environmentally friendly packaging.

When exporting from Japan, check whether your packaging complies with India's latest packaging regulations, and change your packaging materials or prepare a certificate of conformity as needed.

Stricter inspection of imported food

Since 2025, inspections of imported food at India's major ports have been tightened, and inspections have become especially strict for first-time imports.

It is important to expect that inspections will take time on a first import and to build slack into your delivery schedule. Conducting inspections in Japan beforehand and submitting the results can also help the inspection in India go more smoothly.

Frequently asked questions

When exporting food from Japan, which type of FSSAI approval should we obtain?

As a general rule, businesses handling imported food are required to obtain an FSSAI Central License regardless of turnover. The same applies if you operate across multiple states. If you set up a local subsidiary to sell your products, a State License may suffice depending on that entity's size and scope of business.

What language do FSSAI application documents need to be prepared in?

All submitted documents must be prepared in English or Hindi. Any documents in Japanese should be attached along with an official translation. Since a wide range of documents is required, preparing early helps prevent delays.

In what cases is an on-site inspection carried out after applying?

Once the document review is passed, an FSSAI officer may carry out an on-site inspection. For domestic manufacturing, the hygiene conditions and food safety management of the manufacturing facility are checked; for businesses handling only imported food, the storage conditions and logistics setup of the warehouse are checked. Having hygiene management standards such as HACCP or ISO 22000 in place makes this easier to handle.

What are the common pitfalls Japanese companies run into with FSSAI approval?

The typical challenges are the language barrier, incomplete documents, delayed responses after applying, meeting product label requirements, and delays in the renewal process. India's food labeling regulations differ from Japan's in many ways, and ingredient lists, nutrition labeling, and allergen information need close checking. Having an expert do a pre-check beforehand can reduce the number of applications sent back.

Are there any additional points to watch when exporting health foods or functional foods?

The requirement to submit scientific evidence has become stricter for products that claim health benefits. If you export Japan's Foods with Function Claims or FOSHU products, you may need to review your labeling and prepare additional test data. Regulations pushing toward environmentally friendly packaging are also tightening, so we recommend checking that you comply with the latest standards.

To get FSSAI approval as smoothly as possible, what should we tackle first?

The starting point is to accurately identify the type of approval that fits your business model. On top of that, gather all the required documents without omission, translate them properly into English or Hindi, and build an internal system that can respond quickly to additional requests after applying. Working with a support partner specializing in India can reduce the burden.

Summary: Key points for successfully obtaining FSSAI approval

Obtaining FSSAI approval is an unavoidable and important step in entering the Indian market. Based on what this article has explained, here is a summary of the key points for success.

• Accurately choose the type of FSSAI approval that fits your business model

• Prepare all the required documents without omission, and translate them properly into English or Hindi

• Build a system that can respond quickly to requests for additional information after applying

• Prepare a label design that fully complies with India's food labeling regulations

• Manage your approval's renewal timing to prevent it from expiring

• Continuously watch the latest regulatory trends and take countermeasures as needed

With a population of more than 1.46 billion, the Indian market holds great potential for Japanese food manufacturers. Clear the first hurdle of obtaining FSSAI approval properly, and achieve success in the Indian market.

Using a specialized service focused on entering the Indian market, like ours, can help you move smoothly through the complex FSSAI approval process. Success in Indian business starts with taking that first step with confidence.

[References and sources]
This article is based on the following publicly available information.
-TaxGuru"FSSAI License Registration in India: Types, Process and Fees"
-IndiaFilings"FSSAI Registration vs FSSAI License"
-Shauryam Solutions"Criteria of Identification for Licensing Jurisdiction under FSSAI"