Is surplus food donation mandatory in India?

— No — surplus food donation is **voluntary** for FBOs. However, FBOs with annual turnover ≥ ₹2 crore that **choose to donate** surplus food must comply with the FSS (Food Recovery) Regulations 2019 and **report annually** to FSSAI via the IFSA portal.

What is the Indian Food Sharing Alliance (IFSA)?

— IFSA is a network of surplus food donors (FBOs), food recovery agencies, and distribution organisations — launched by FSSAI on 16 September 2019 alongside the Regulations. Registration on the [IFSA portal](https://ifsa.fssai.gov.in) is voluntary but recommended.

Can surplus food be sold at a discounted price?

— No — Regulation 5 mandates that surplus food must be **distributed free of cost** to charitable institutions, religious institutions, NGOs, shelters, etc. Selling at a discounted price attracts penalty under s.51 (misleading advertisement) and s.56 (unsafe food — if quality is compromised).

What records must be maintained?

— Under Regulation 8 — source, quantity, date of preparation, donor FBO name, receiver charitable institution name, distributed quantity — for **3 years** from the date of donation.

What are the labelling requirements for donated food?

— Under Regulation 10 — name of food, date of preparation, "best before" time, vegetarian / non-vegetarian logo, donor FBO name and address — must be labelled on the food package or container.

What is the time limit for transporting cooked food?

— Cooked food must be transported within **2 hours of preparation** OR maintained at **≤5°C** throughout transportation. Cold-chain compliance is mandatory for perishable food (Regulation 6).

Can households donate surplus food?

— Yes — domestic households donating surplus food to neighbours / domestic helpers are exempt from the Regulations. The Regulations apply only to FBOs, recovery agencies, and distribution organisations.

What is the penalty for non-compliance?

— Penalty under the corresponding sections of the FSS Act — s.51 (misleading advertisement) up to ₹10 lakh; s.53 (unhygienic processing) up to ₹1 lakh; s.56 (unsafe food) up to ₹10 lakh + imprisonment up to 7 years for death cases; s.59 (unlicensed food business) up to ₹5 lakh + imprisonment up to 6 months; s.55 (other contraventions) up to ₹2 lakh for failure to file annual report.

Editor's pickLicenses & Reg

Food Recycling License

Get professional Food Recycling License services with I-Pro Solutions. Transparent fees, fast turnaround, expert guidance.

Statutory basis: Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006; FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

Turnaround

7–14 Working Days

₹

Starts from

₹1,599

Money-back accuracy

Guaranteed

Total starting from

₹1,599

Professional + estimated government fee

Professional fee₹1,499 starts with

Government fee (est.)₹100

Turnaround7–14 Working Days

Money-back accuracy. CA/CS specialist. Tracked client portal.

CONFIRMEDverified 25 Aug 2026

Dedicated specialist

CA-led, named point of contact

Tracked client portal

Real-time status, end-to-end

Money-back accuracy

Refile-free if our error

Flat-fee pricing

No hidden charges, ever

About this service

FSSAI Registration is a mandatory statutory authorization issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the FSS Act, 2006. Every Food Business Operator (FBO)—ranging from cloud kitchens, food manufacturers, transporters, distributors, to retail outlets—must secure registration or licensing prior to commencing operations. Applications are filed digitally via the FoSCoS portal with mandatory hygiene disclosures.

Eligibility & thresholds

Minimum

Valid identity & address proof of applicant
Active PAN & registered business premises
Authorized representative authorization

Maximum

Compliant under applicable regulatory laws
No pending statutory disqualifications
Valid across authorized operational jurisdictions

Statutory floor

Pre-filing statutory documentation verification
Official statutory fee schedule as per authority
Mandatory periodic compliance filings post-approval

What's included

Everything in one transparent fee — no add-ons, no surprises.

Investor-Centric AOA Drafting

If you plan to raise institutional funding, standard Articles of Association (AOA) will not suffice. Venture capitalists demand specific clauses regarding right of first refusal (ROFR), tag-along/drag-along rights, and anti-dilution provisions. Our elite corporate lawyers draft sophisticated AOAs that anticipate future funding rounds, preventing costly and time-consuming structural overhauls when you secure term sheets.

Complex Multi-Founder Structuring

Co-founder disputes are the leading cause of early-stage startup failure. We don't just register your company; we advise on optimal equity splits, director roles, and authorized capital distribution. We provide templates for Co-Founder Agreements and vesting schedules, ensuring that the foundational relationship between partners is legally documented and aligned for long-term stability.

Rapid SPICe+ Processing Engine

Time is of the essence for startups. We utilize an advanced compliance engine that preemptively validates all data entered into the SPICe+ (INC-32) form. By cross-referencing PAN databases, checking DIN eligibility, and formatting registered office proofs perfectly, we eliminate typographical errors that typically cause frustrating ROC resubmission delays, ensuring first-pass approval.

Strategic Authorized Capital Advisory

Determining your initial Authorized Share Capital is a delicate balance. Set it too low, and you'll immediately face high fees to increase it during your first seed round. Set it too high, and you pay unnecessary upfront government stamp duty. We analyze your 12-to-18-month funding roadmap to recommend the exact optimal capital structure that minimizes immediate costs while accommodating your immediate growth.

ESOP Implementation Framework

Attracting top-tier talent in the startup ecosystem often requires offering Employee Stock Ownership Plans. A Private Limited Company is the only structure that efficiently supports this. As part of our premium advisory, we structure your initial cap table to accommodate a future ESOP pool seamlessly, ensuring you are ready to incentivize your founding team.

Comprehensive Post-Incorporation Toolkit

Receiving the Certificate of Incorporation is just the starting line. Within the first 30 to 180 days, you must open a bank account, appoint a statutory auditor (ADT-1), and file the Commencement of Business (INC-20A). We provide a complete post-incorporation execution service, handling these mandatory compliance milestones so you can focus entirely on product development and sales.

Government Fee Breakdown

Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. All figures verified as of 25 August 2026.

Fee Component	Amount (₹)	Basis / Authority
Food Recycling License Statutory Fee	₹100	Official government fee schedule (separate from professional fee)Statutory Authority
Total Government Fee	₹100	(for default assumptions stated below)

Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. Verified 25 August 2026.

Required documents

Each list identifies exactly what to provide — and what you do not need to submit. Use the accordions to expand.

›**FSSAI Licence / Registration** (mandatory precondition — Form B State / Central Licence for FBOs > — **FSSAI Licence / Registration** (mandatory precondition — Form B State / Central Licence for FBOs >₹12 lakh turnover; Form A Basic Registration for petty FBOs);
›**IFSA Registration Form** — for food recovery agencies and distribution organisations (online via I — **IFSA Registration Form** — for food recovery agencies and distribution organisations (online via IFSA portal — name of organisation, address, contact, FSSAI licence number, area of operation, list of vehicles for transportation, list of charitable institutions served);
›**PAN of organisation**; — **PAN of organisation**;
›**Aadhaar of authorised signatory**; — **Aadhaar of authorised signatory**;
›**Certificate of Incorporation / Registration** (for NGOs, trusts, societies, Section 8 companies); — **Certificate of Incorporation / Registration** (for NGOs, trusts, societies, Section 8 companies);
›**MOA / AOA / Trust Deed / Society Registration Certificate**; — **MOA / AOA / Trust Deed / Society Registration Certificate**;
›**List of food recovery vehicles** with registration numbers (for recovery agencies); — **List of food recovery vehicles** with registration numbers (for recovery agencies);
›**List of charitable institutions served** (with their addresses and contacts); — **List of charitable institutions served** (with their addresses and contacts);
›**Photographs of storage / transportation facility**; — **Photographs of storage / transportation facility**;
›**Self-declaration** of compliance with hygiene and safety requirements under Schedule 4 of FSS (L&R — **Self-declaration** of compliance with hygiene and safety requirements under Schedule 4 of FSS (L&R) Regulations

How it works

Each step is labelled with who performs it — Customer, I-Pro, or the Regulator. Form names are linked to the official portal.

1
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 1: **I-Pro**
2
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 2: **I-Pro**
3
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 3: **I-Pro**
4
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 4: **I-Pro**
5
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 5: **FSSAI**
6
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 6: **FBO / Recovery Agency**
7
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 7: **FBO ≥ ₹2 crore turnover**
8
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 8: **FBO / Recovery Agency**
9
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 9: **FSSAI**
10
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 10: **I-Pro**

Post-registration compliance

What to file next. I-Pro handles these as part of the annual compliance package.

Filing	Form	Deadline
Timely Statutory Renewal Penalty: Non-renewal leads to cancellation or statutory fines.	`Periodic`	Mandatory periodic renewal per regulator guidelines.

Penalties for non-compliance

Statutory penalties under governing regulatory provisions. Avoid non-compliance delays.

Non-compliance	Provision	Penalty
Timely Statutory Renewal	Periodic	Non-renewal leads to cancellation or statutory fines.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoidable filing errors that cause delays or rejection. Each can be resolved before submission.

1
Selecting Basic Registration instead of State/Central License
Why: Operating under the wrong turnover or capacity tier attracts Section 63 penalties (imprisonment and fines up to ₹5 Lakh).
Fix: We audit your turnover and production metrics to determine the exact statutory license category.
2
Missing FSMS hygiene plan or expired water test report
Why: Manufacturing and catering applications without compliant hygiene protocols face rejection on FoSCoS.
Fix: We draft customized Food Safety Management System declarations and guide required test certifications.
3
Not displaying 14-digit FSSAI number on packaging and premises
Why: Section 31 requires prominent display; failure leads to non-compliance notices during surprise audits.
Fix: We provide pre-formatted statutory display templates upon license grant.

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about this service.

Client feedback

What clients say

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Recommended Bundles

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Premium

Food Enterprise Premium Pack

Central license + Product approval + Renewal + ISO 22000 + Return + Trade license — for manufacturers/importers.

Individual Total₹69,293

Bundle Price₹67,195

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Food License Growth Pack

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Basic FSSAI + Annual return + Shop establishment — minimum to start a food business.

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