In India, running a distribution business within the food supply chain comes with a range of responsibilities. Food distributors serve the purpose of a link between manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers, facilitating the transfer of safe and compliant products to consumers. In such a case, maintaining food safety standards, having an FSSAI license for food distributor is critical. This is no business formality, but a legal prerequisite since the enactment of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. This blog by Lawfinity seeks to shed light on the FSSAI for distributors with regard to, eligibility, process, documentation, fees, and compliance norms.

WHY FSSAI COMPLIANCE MATTERS FOR DISTRIBUTORS

The food distribution sector is one of the most critical points within the supply chain. The chances of contamination and mismanagement Are dire. The fSSAI for food distributor licenses ensures that the distributor does not violate any national food safety norms related to storage, transportation, labeling, and packaging of food products.

The mere absence of FSSAI for distributors can lead to severe legal consequences, business suspension, and lack of market reputation. On the other hand, having this license improves one’s market credibility, fosters consumer trust and strengthens collaboration with manufacturers.

As a matter of fact, having a license lowers the potential legal issues. Also, regulatory bodies perform routine evaluations to ensure FSSAI compliance for distributors which confirms that having a license is important.

FSSAI REGISTRATION VS. LICENSE FOR FOOD PRODUCT DISTRIBUTORS

$C:\Users\lenovo\Desktop\1 october 2025\FSSAI LICENSE REQUIREMENTS FOR DAIRY PRODUCT MANUFACTURER.jpg$

Not every distributor is required to have the same classification of a license. It depends on the turnover and the scale of the operation.

Basic Registration: For distributors whose turnover is not more than ₹12 lakh in a financial year.
State License: For distributors whose turnover is between ₹12 lakh to ₹20 crore and are within a single state.
Central License: For distributors whose turnover is more than ₹20 crore, or are in interstate food distribution.

It is important to understand the right classification before applying for an FSSAI License for food distributor. Failure to do so may result in lengthy approval processes as well as compliance issues. The difference between registration and license is a part of the FSSAI requirements for distributors.

ELIGIBILITY AND DOCUMENTATION FOR DISTRIBUTOR FACILITIES

Each entity that handles the storage, transportation and/or distribution of food products must hold an active FSSAI for distributors license. Eligible businesses include:

Wholesale food distributors
Cold storage distributors
Food logistics operators
Food warehousing companies

Documents required for FSSAI license for food distributor:

Passport photographs of the applicant
Identity and Address Proof (Aadhar, Voter ID, Passport)
Proof of business address (leasing contract or property documents)
Registration partnership deed/incorporation certificate LLP memorandum
Types of food products handled
Layout of storage facilities
NOC from local Municipal Council or Panchayat
For Central License: Import export code and the needed documents for proof of turnover

The documents provided allow for more compliance and faster processing and ease in obtaining the food distributor license India.

STEP-BY-STEP: HOW TO APPLY FOR FSSAI REGISTRATION OR LICENSE

The procedure for application to obtain an FSSAI license for food distributor is as follows:

Define the Type – Basic, State or Central based on turnover
Register on the FSSAI ‘FoSCoS’ Portal – The official FSSAI licensing system
Complete Form A or B – Fill as needed for registration or State/Central license.4. Upload documents – Refer to the eligibility section of this guideline.
Pay the prescribed fee – As per the fee schedule according to the type of license granted.
Inspection by authorities – An inspection of the premises may be carried out prior to the approval.
Grant of license – After the documents have been verified, the FSSAI for distributors certificate is awarded.

The introduction of this system has eliminated manual administrative steps and eased the access to FSSAI requirements for distributors compliance.

DISTRIBUTION STANDARDS: STORAGE, HANDLING, PACKAGING, AND LABELING

Obtaining a license is not the only thing that food distributors have to comply with. They need to meet the following operational standards:

Storage: Follow the prescribed temperature and humidity conditions of the products.
Handling: Prevent cross contamination during the loading and unloading, as well as the warehousing.
Packaging: Packaging should be protective, not easily broken, and labeled correctly.
Transportation: Vehicles should be clean, and when needed, temperature controlled, as well as food product dedicated vehicles.

Any failure in this regards will lead to the suspension of FSSAI license for food distributor.

CLAIMS, NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION, AND LABELING REQUIREMENTS

Packaged food distributors must check that all products meet the FSSAI requirements for distributors with respect to claims and labeling.

Nutritional information must be displayed for every 100g/ml contained in the food.
All food categories as well as the ingredients and additives must be listed.
The “expiry” and “manufacturing” dates have to be legibly printed on the outer pack.
All food allergens must be indicated on the label.
All “organic,” “low fat,” and “sugar free” claims must be vetted.
Distributors, as well as manufacturers, can be penalized for non compliance.

FEES, VALIDITY, AND RENEWAL TIMELINES

The FSSAI food distributor license is charged as follows:

Basic Registration: Rs 100 annually
State License: Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 annually
Central License: Rs 7,500 annually

The license is valid for 1 to 5 years, regulatory renewal is required afterward. To prevent penalty and supply chain disruption, renewal applications must be submitted 30 days before expiration.

Comprehensive date-tracking for all renewal applications is a central requirement for compliance.

COMMON VIOLATIONS IN FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

The more frequent violations of FSSAI for distributors which put the license at risk are:

Transporting food that is improperly labeled
Transporting food that has been stored under unsanitary and inappropriate conditions
Transporting food in non-refrigerated vehicles, for all perishable goods
Not having a complete database of suppliers and buyers
Not having a legal license

Compliance with FSSAI requirements for distributors is the only way to avoid the above.

AUDITS, INSPECTIONS, AND HOW TO PREPARE

The audits and checks are a part of the regulatory and compliance components of the ‘FSSAI License for Food Distributor.’ Inspectors may check the following;

Store conditions
The sanitation of the warehouses and vehicles
Labeling and documentation of the products
The validity of the distributor’s license

The distributors, as a matter of preparation, should maintain documents, train employees in hygiene, and apply self-investigative checks. Having internal audits facilitates a positive and better reputation concerning compliance under the ‘Food Distributor License India’ rules.

COMPLIANCE CHECKLISTS AND BEST PRACTICES

For continuous compliance, the distributors should/submitted:

Renew the ‘FSSAI License for Food Distributor’ on time
Update the records for purchases and sales
Train staff on hygiene
Schedule regular pest control and cleaning
Use tamper-evident packaging
Record and manage cold storage

It gives us confidence, and we consider it as positive proof that the distributor will align with ‘FSSAI Requirements of Distributors’ and all of the best practices.