FSSAI Requirements for Importers: What Every Buyer Must Know
Understand FSSAI norms, labelling rules, and the certifications your Indian supplier must hold before shipping.
By SeourExim Export Team · May 2026 · 6 min read
What is FSSAI
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the national regulator for food safety. Every Indian food exporter must hold a valid FSSAI Central License — not the smaller state license — to legally ship food products abroad.
How to Verify a License
Ask your supplier for their 14-digit FSSAI number and verify it directly on foscos.fssai.gov.in. The license must be 'Manufacturer' or 'Trader/Exporter' category and must list the specific product you are buying.
Labelling Requirements
Export labels must show product name, batch number, manufacturing date, best-before date, net weight, ingredients, allergen declarations, FSSAI logo with license number, and country of origin. Importing-country labels are added separately at destination.
Common Pitfalls
The two most frequent FSSAI-related rejections are: (1) license expired between order and shipment, and (2) the product category on the license does not match the product shipped. Always re-verify the license within 7 days of dispatch.
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