The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) has issued draft amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011, inviting public comments within 60 days. The proposed changes tighten compliance around the annual Food Safety Compliance Return by prescribing graded penalties for delayed filing beyond 31 May and deeming licences suspended if the return remains unfiled after 180 days, with business activity prohibited during suspension. The draft also rationalises operational requirements by limiting daily production and raw material record-keeping to manufacturing food businesses, excluding non-manufacturers. Further, storage practices are strengthened by mandating FIFO/FEFO controls across the supply chain, while exempting retailers. Collectively, the proposals aim to improve regulatory discipline, food safety hygiene, and enforcement clarity, while easing compliance where risks are lower. Stakeholders may submit objections or suggestions to FSSAI before the consultation window closes.
FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 20th January, 2026
F. No. REG-11013/1/2026-Regulation-FSSAI.— The following draft of certain regulations further to amend the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011, which the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, with previous approval of the Central Government, proposes to make in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (o) of sub-section (2) of section 92 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006), is hereby published as required by the sub-section (1) of section 92 of the said Act for the information of all persons likely to be affected thereby and notice is hereby given that the said draft regulations will be taken into consideration after the expiry of the period of sixty days from the date on which copies of the Official Gazette in which this notification is published are made available to the public;
Objections or suggestions, if any, may be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Food and Drug Administration Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi- 110002 or sent on email at regulation@fssai.gov.in;
Objections and suggestions, which may be received with respect to the said draft regulations before the expiry of the period so specified, will be considered by the Food Authority.
Draft Regulations
1. These regulations may be called the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Amendment Regulations, 2026.
2. In the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011, in regulation 2.1,
(a) in sub regulation 2.1.13 related to Food Safety Compliance Return, for the clause 3 and 4 the following shall be substituted, namely,-
“(3) Any delay in filing return beyond 31st May of each year shall attract a penalty and the maximum penalty that can be levied shall be as follows:
i. Upto 90 days: 2 times the annual fees;
ii. 91 to 180 days: 5 times the annual fees;
(4) In case of non-submission of Food Safety Compliance return on 181st day, license shall be deemed suspended. The penalty due shall be payable before the suspension is revoked. During such suspension Food Business Operator shall not involve in any food business activity. Any food business activity carried out during the suspension period shall be deemed non-compliant and shall attract subsequent action including penalty under the FSS Act, 2006.”
(b) in schedule 2, Annexure 2 related to Conditions of License, for S. No. 14, the following shall be substituted, namely,-
“14. Maintain daily records of production, raw materials utilization separately.
Provided this condition shall not be applicable to non-manufacturing food businesses.”
(c) in schedule 4, part II, related to General Requirements on Hygienic and Sanitary Practices to be followed by all Food Business Operators applying for License, for clause 5.2.5, the following shall be substituted, namely,-
“5.2.5 The storage of raw materials, ingredients, work-in-progress and processed /cooked or packaged food products shall be subjected to FIFO (First in First out), FEFO (First Expire First Out). Provided that the same shall not be applicable to retailers.”
RAJIT PUNHANI, Chief Executive Officer
[ADVT.-III/4/Exty./628/2025-26]
Note:- The principal Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011 were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4, vide F. No. 2-15015/30/2010, dated the 1st August, 2011 and last amended vide notification F. No. 2-15015/30/2012, dated 13th July, 2016.
