Guide
FSSAI Licence for Ecommerce and Online Food Sellers
Complianceer Team · Sep 6, 2026 · 5 min read
FSSAI rules for online food sellers in 2026: licence for Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy and D2C sellers, Central Licence for platforms, shelf-life and label rules.
Quick answer: Anyone selling food online needs FSSAI registration or a licence based on their own turnover and activity: Basic Registration up to ₹1.5 crore, a State Licence up to ₹50 crore, and a Central Licence above that. Ecommerce platforms that facilitate food orders need a Central Licence. Every seller must display a valid FSSAI number on the platform, and products must reach customers with at least 30% or 45 days of shelf life left.
Online food sales grew fast, and FSSAI has tightened rules to match. Marketplaces now delist sellers without valid numbers, and FSSAI's December 2024 advisory set clear expectations on labels, claims and shelf life. This guide covers what sellers, brands and platforms need to know.
Who needs what
| Role | FSSAI requirement |
|---|---|
| D2C brand or seller on its own website | Registration or licence by turnover and activity |
| Seller on Amazon, Flipkart, JioMart or Blinkit | Registration or licence by turnover and activity |
| Restaurant or cloud kitchen on Swiggy or Zomato | Registration or licence for each kitchen |
| Home baker selling via Instagram or WhatsApp | Basic Registration (up to ₹1.5 crore) |
| Ecommerce platform facilitating food orders | Central Licence |
| Directory listing food businesses without taking orders | May not need a licence if not a food business |
| Importer selling imported food online | Central Licence |
The Licensing Regulations say ecommerce food business operators must obtain a Central Licence, and that listing directories which also facilitate orders need FSSAI licences. Sellers on those platforms hold their own registration or licence.
Choosing your category as a seller
| Turnover (from 1 April 2026) | Category | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Up to ₹1.5 crore | Basic Registration | ₹100 |
| Above ₹1.5 crore up to ₹50 crore | State Licence | ₹5,000 for most KoBs |
| Above ₹50 crore | Central Licence | ₹7,500 |
Your activity matters too. A brand that gets products made by a contract manufacturer is a relabeller or marketer and needs its own licence, and the manufacturer's licence number also goes on the label. Importing ingredients or finished products for sale triggers a Central Licence. Use Basic vs State vs Central to check.
Platform rules every seller must follow
FSSAI's rules and its December 2024 advisory to ecommerce food businesses set out these duties:
- Display your licence. No platform should list a seller without displaying a valid FSSAI licence or registration number.
- Show the label. Sellers must provide a clear image of the principal display panel of pre-packed food, except batch number, best-before, manufacturing date and MRP which vary by unit.
- Match claims to the label. Product claims online must match the physical label. Unsubstantiated claims are not allowed.
- Shelf life at delivery. Products must have at least 30% of shelf life or 45 days before expiry at the time of delivery.
- Agreements. Platforms sign agreements with sellers confirming FSS Act compliance, so sellers carry liability for their products.
- Hygiene rating. Platforms are encouraged to show hygiene ratings for food service sellers.
On the ONDC network, FSSAI split these duties between seller apps and buyer apps from 1 April 2026, with all such entities requiring a Central Licence.
Labels for online products
Online buyers cannot pick up the pack, so the listing and the label must both be accurate. Every pre-packed product needs the product name, ingredients, nutrition information, veg or non-veg symbol, net quantity, dates, the brand owner's name and address, and the FSSAI logo with licence number. If the manufacturer differs from the brand owner, its licence number goes on the label too. Use our label compliance checklist and packaging and labelling service.
GST and other registrations
Selling goods through an ecommerce operator that collects TCS has traditionally required GST registration even below the usual turnover threshold, and inter-state online sales still generally do. Since 2023, small suppliers making only intra-state sales through marketplaces can operate without registration under conditions, so check before you list. Restaurant services through Swiggy or Zomato follow a different rule, where the platform pays GST. Packaged food sold by weight may also need Legal Metrology registration for packers. Read GST for food businesses and see our Legal Metrology registration service.
Launch checklist for an online food brand
- Decide your role: manufacturer, relabeller, importer or reseller.
- Get the right FSSAI registration or licence for that role and turnover.
- Get GST registration before listing on marketplaces.
- Finalise compliant labels and photograph the principal display panel.
- Upload your FSSAI number and label images to each platform.
- Set up stock rotation so deliveries meet the 30% or 45-day shelf-life rule.
- Track annual fees and returns so your number never lapses.
Common mistakes
- Using the contract manufacturer's licence instead of getting your own
- Listing claims like "sugar-free" online that are not on the pack
- Shipping near-expiry stock that breaks the shelf-life rule
- Selling imported products under a State Licence
- Mismatched business name across FSSAI, GST and marketplace accounts
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an FSSAI licence to sell food online?
Yes. Every online food seller needs FSSAI registration or a licence based on turnover and activity. Marketplaces will not list food without a valid FSSAI number.
Which FSSAI licence do I need for Amazon?
Sellers on Amazon need registration or a licence matching their turnover: Basic Registration up to ₹1.5 crore, a State Licence up to ₹50 crore, and a Central Licence above that or for imports.
Do ecommerce platforms need a Central Licence?
Yes. Ecommerce food business operators that facilitate food orders or transactions must obtain a Central Licence from FSSAI.
What is FSSAI's shelf-life rule for online food delivery?
FSSAI requires food delivered through ecommerce to have at least 30% of its shelf life or 45 days before expiry at the time of delivery.
Can I use my manufacturer's FSSAI licence for my brand?
No. The brand owner needs its own licence. The label must show the brand owner's FSSAI number and, if different, the manufacturer's number too.
Do Instagram food sellers need a licence?
Yes. Social media sellers are food businesses and usually need Basic Registration if turnover is up to ₹1.5 crore.