FSSAI Grants Perpetual Validity to Food Licenses

India's Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) announced on March 13 a series of regulatory reforms granting perpetual validity to its registrations and licenses for food businesses, eliminating the need for periodic renewals. The changes, approved by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, aim to simplify compliance while upholding stringent food safety standards across the country.

The reforms, developed after consultations with states, union territories, and stakeholders, align with recommendations from the High-Level Committee on Non-Financial Regulatory Reforms set up by NITI Aayog. Previously, FSSAI registrations and licenses lasted from one to five years and required renewal, involving significant paperwork and costs for operators. Under the new framework, these documents will remain valid indefinitely, allowing food business operators to focus on operations rather than administrative tasks.

Additional measures include raising the annual turnover threshold for basic registration from 12 lakh rupees to 1.5 crore rupees, effective April 1, 2026. Businesses with turnover up to 50 crore rupees will need state-level licensing, while those exceeding that limit fall...