What Is FSSAI Certification? Guide for International Buyers

By Aethon Overseas Export Team  |  Published: March 2026  |  Category: Compliance Guide

What Is FSSAI?

FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) is the apex regulatory body governing food safety in India, established under the Food Safety Act 2006. An FSSAI license confirms the exporter operates under Indian food safety regulations.

Why It Matters for Importers

• Legal compliance: No food can be legally exported from India without FSSAI licensing
• Quality assurance: Sets standards for hygiene, contamination limits, labelling
• Traceability: Every license has a unique 14-digit number verifiable online

License Types

How to Verify

• Ask for 14-digit FSSAI number
• Visit foscos.fssai.gov.in
• Search by license number
• Verify: active status, company name, product categories

FSSAI vs Other Certifications: What Each One Proves

FSSAI is often confused with or conflated with other food certifications. Understanding the scope of each helps importers build the right verification checklist:

FSSAI Standards That Directly Affect Your Import

FSSAI sets specific food safety standards that determine what can be legally exported from India. For importers, the most relevant are:

For spices (FSSAI Food Products Standards Regulations): moisture limits, volatile oil minimums, extraneous matter maximums, aflatoxin limits (B1 ≤5 µg/kg for most spices), pesticide MRLs aligned with Codex Alimentarius, and prohibition of any artificial colouring. Adulterated spices — a problem that FSSAI actively monitors — include turmeric adulterated with lead chromate and chilli adulterated with Sudan dyes. A legitimate FSSAI-licensed exporter conducts incoming testing to prevent these issues from entering their supply chain.

For dry fruits (nuts and seeds): FSSAI sets aflatoxin limits (total ≤10 µg/kg) and moisture maximums. For imported nuts processed in India, FSSAI governs the processing facility standards.

For fresh produce: Pesticide residue compliance under FSSAI Regulations 2011, with MRLs that are broadly aligned with Codex but not always identical to EU/USA standards. This is why importers to EU or USA must specifically request COAs tested against their destination market's MRL schedule, not just FSSAI/Codex MRLs.

Common FSSAI-Related Issues That Affect Exports

Importers regularly face three FSSAI-related issues with Indian suppliers:

1. Expired FSSAI license: FSSAI Central Licenses are valid for 1–5 years. Verify the expiry date on the license, not just that it exists. A license that expired 2 months ago makes the shipment technically non-compliant.
2. Wrong license category: Some smaller operators hold a State license but not a Central license — they cannot legally export. The foscos.fssai.gov.in portal will show "State" or "Central" against the license number. Only "Central" is valid for exporters.
3. FSSAI-compliant ≠ destination-compliant: FSSAI standards are not always identical to EU, USA, or Japan import standards. An FSSAI-compliant product may still fail EU MRL tests if the testing parameters differ. Always request a COA specifically testing against your destination country's standards.

How to Use FSSAI for Ongoing Supplier Due Diligence

For importers working with Indian suppliers on a recurring basis, FSSAI verification should be part of an annual supplier audit checklist — not just a one-time check. License renewal dates change; companies expand into new product categories requiring updated licenses; ownership changes may trigger new registration requirements. Request updated FSSAI documentation with each new contract or at minimum annually. For high-volume, regulated markets (EU, USA, Japan), supplement FSSAI verification with an independent third-party audit (SMETA, SEDEX) every 2–3 years to ensure ongoing compliance behind the paperwork.