What is the difference between FSSAI Registration, State License, and Central License — and which RTI authority should I approach?

FSSAI has three tiers of food business authorisation based on turnover and business type. Registration (annual turnover up to ₹12 lakh): issued by the Designated Officer of the State/UT Food Safety Authority. State License (₹12 lakh to ₹20 crore annual turnover, single-state operations): issued by the State Food Safety Commissioner's office. Central License (annual turnover above ₹20 crore, or importers, exporters, food businesses operating across multiple states, and certain specific categories like milk, meat, and central government canteens): issued by FSSAI Headquarters or a Regional Office. For RTI: Central License issues → file with FSSAI (rtionline.gov.in → Ministry of Health and Family Welfare → FSSAI). State License or Registration issues → file with the State Food Safety Authority through the state RTI portal (e.g., rti.delhi.gov.in for Delhi's Department of Food Safety).

My FSSAI license application has been pending on the FoSCoS portal for months with no update. Can RTI help?

Yes. Under the FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, FSSAI is required to process a license application within 30 days of receipt (or 7 days for certain categories). If inspection is required, it must be conducted within 30 days of application. An RTI to FSSAI can compel a written, on-the-record response on: the current stage of your application, whether an inspection has been scheduled, any deficiency noted, and the name of the Food Safety Officer assigned to your application. This often triggers internal action more reliably than follow-up calls or emails.

Can I get a copy of the food safety inspection report for my premises through RTI?

Yes. The food safety inspection report (FSIR) prepared by the Food Safety Officer after inspecting your premises is information held by FSSAI about your establishment. You can request a copy of it through RTI. The FSIR typically records: the hygiene and sanitation conditions observed, any violations of food safety standards, raw material storage conditions, pest control status, and the FSO's recommendations. If any non-compliance was noted, the FSIR will specify the exact regulation violated — critical information for understanding what rectification is required.

FSSAI suspended or cancelled my food license. What RTI information can help me challenge the action?

Ask for: (1) the specific provision of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA) or the applicable FSS Regulations under which the suspension or cancellation was ordered; (2) a copy of the suspension/cancellation order with the reasons stated; (3) the inspection report or complaint/complaint reference on the basis of which the action was initiated; (4) whether a show-cause notice was issued to you before the action — if yes, a copy, and your response to it; (5) the name and designation of the officer who passed the suspension/cancellation order. A suspension without a prior show-cause notice is generally a procedural violation that can be challenged in an appeal under Section 66 of the FSSA or before the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal.

What if FSSAI does not respond to my RTI within 30 days?

File a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at FSSAI within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. If the FAA's response is absent or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days. FSSAI is a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare — it is a Central Government public authority and the second appeal always goes to the CIC.

Home/Guides/How to File RTI with FSSAI for Food License Delay, Inspection Report and Renewal

Central Government

How to File RTI with FSSAI for Food License Delay, Inspection Report and Renewal

Step-by-step guide to file an RTI with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for Central food license application delays, renewal status, inspection reports, license suspension or cancellation reasons, and food safety audit data. Includes a ready-to-use sample RTI draft.

Updated 24 May 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryMinistry of Health and Family Welfare

Address RTI ToCPIO of the relevant FSSAI Regional Office or FSSAI Headquarters, New Delhi

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days from receipt (Section 7(1), RTI Act 2005). 48 hours if the matter involves life or liberty.

File Online Athttps://rtionline.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the Central Government regulatory body for food safety in India, established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA). Every food business in India — from a street vendor to a large manufacturer — must obtain FSSAI authorisation (Registration, State License, or Central License) before operating. FSSAI is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005.

For food business owners, delays in obtaining or renewing a food license can halt operations, block trade, or cause downstream compliance failures (bank loans, export certificates, e-commerce platform onboarding all require a valid FSSAI number). RTI is a powerful tool to obtain a written, time-bound response on exactly where your application is stuck and why.

The Three Tiers of FSSAI Authorisation

Type	Who It Applies To	Issuing Authority	RTI Authority
Registration	Petty food businesses, turnover ≤ ₹12 lakh/year	State Designated Officer	State Food Safety Dept (state RTI portal)
State License	Food businesses, turnover ₹12 lakh–₹20 crore, single state	State Food Safety Commissioner	State Food Safety Dept (state RTI portal)
Central License	Turnover > ₹20 crore; importers; exporters; multi-state operators; specific categories	FSSAI Regional Office / HQ	FSSAI (rtionline.gov.in)

This guide covers Central License issues, which fall under FSSAI and are accessible on rtionline.gov.in. For State License or Registration issues in Delhi, file through rti.delhi.gov.in with the Department of Food Safety, GNCTD.

What Can You Achieve with RTI to FSSAI?

Get the current stage of your Central food license application and identify what is blocking it
Obtain a copy of the food safety inspection report (FSIR) prepared after inspection of your premises
Know the specific deficiencies noted by the Food Safety Officer and the rectification required
Get the legal basis for a license suspension, cancellation, or rejection — the provision of the FSSA or Regulations cited
Obtain the prescribed processing timeline under the FSS (Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2011, and establish whether FSSAI has exceeded it
Get the name of the Food Safety Officer assigned to your application or inspection

Statutory Timeline You Can Cite

Under the FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011:

FSSAI should process a Central License application within 30 days of receipt of a complete application
If a physical inspection is required before granting a license, it should be completed within 30 days
Renewal applications must be submitted before the license expiry — FSSAI is required to process renewals on time

If FSSAI has exceeded these timelines, your RTI can establish this on the record — a basis for escalation or a writ petition.

Where to File

For Central License issues: file on rtionline.gov.in:

Select Ministry of Health and Family Welfare → Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
Choose the relevant Regional Office (FSSAI has offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Guwahati, Cochin, and other cities) or FSSAI Headquarters, New Delhi

For State License / Registration (Delhi): file on rti.delhi.gov.in with the Department of Food Safety, GNCTD.

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

Application status:

Current status of FSSAI food license application No. XXX — stage of processing and any pending requirement
Prescribed statutory timeline for processing this category of license and the date from which the clock started
Whether a Food Safety Officer has been assigned to this application — name and designation

Inspection: 4. Whether physical inspection of premises at address was conducted — date, FSO name, and copy of the FSIR 5. Specific deficiencies noted in the inspection and the relevant regulation violated

Suspension / cancellation: 6. Copy of the suspension / cancellation order with reasons, and the FSSA / Regulation provision cited 7. Whether a show-cause notice was issued before the action — if yes, copy of the notice

Appeals

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): File with the FAA at FSSAI within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): File with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days. FSSAI is a Central Government body — second appeal is CIC, not any State Information Commission.

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI),
[Regional Office Address / FSSAI HQ: FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi – 110002]

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Status of FSSAI Central Food License Application

Sir/Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], [Proprietor / Director / Authorised Signatory] of [Business Name], at [Registered Business Address], submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, to seek the following information:

License / Application details:
  Type of License: [Central License / State License / Registration]
  Application Reference Number (from FoSCoS / FLRS portal): [Application No.]
  FSSAI License Number (if already issued or renewal): [License No., if applicable]
  Nature of Business: [e.g., Food Manufacturer / Importer / Exporter / Distributor / Restaurant / Cloud Kitchen]
  Date of Application Submission: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Information sought:

1. The current status of the above FSSAI food license application bearing Reference Number [XXX] — whether approved, pending inspection, pending document review, pending payment, or rejected — and the stage at which it is currently held.

2. If the license has not been issued — the specific reason(s) for delay or non-issuance, including any deficiency in documents submitted, any requirement for physical inspection, or any other ground.

3. Whether a physical inspection of the above premises was conducted by a Food Safety Officer (FSO). If yes: (a) the date of inspection; (b) the name and designation of the FSO; (c) a copy of the Food Safety Inspection Report (FSIR) / audit report prepared after the inspection.

4. If any deficiency, non-compliance, or improvement requirement was noted in the inspection — the specific deficiencies listed and the compliance deadline given.

5. If the license application was rejected, or the license was suspended or cancelled — the specific provision of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA) or applicable Regulations under which the action was taken, and a copy of the rejection / suspension / cancellation order.

6. The average time taken by this FSSAI office to process Central food license applications of this category in the last 12 months, and the prescribed statutory timeline for granting a license under the FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 [via online payment; Reference No.: [Payment Ref]].

I request the above information within 30 days as required under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rather have us file it for you?

We research your case, identify the right department, draft the RTI with proven language, and file it on your behalf. Pay ₹149 + GST only after we've done the work.

File RTI — it's free to start