India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) recently approved a series of regulatory and procedural reforms aimed at reducing compliance burdens for food businesses while maintaining food safety standards, reported the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

The reforms were finalized following consultations with states, Union territories, and industry stakeholders, and were aligned with recommendations from the High-Level Committee on Non-Financial Regulatory Reforms constituted by NITI Aayog (a policy think tank of the Government of India).

Perpetual Licensing and Reduced Administrative Burden

MoHFW approved perpetual validity for FSSAI registrations and licenses, replacing the previous requirement for periodic renewal. The change is intended to reduce paperwork, compliance costs, and repeated interactions with licensing authorities, while allowing regulators to focus on enforcement and monitoring activities.

Revised Turnover Thresholds for Registration and Licensing

Effective April 1, 2026, the turnover threshold for basic registration will be increased from ₹12 lakh (approximately $13,000 USD) to ₹1.5 crore (approximately $160,3000 USD). State licensing will apply to businesses with turnover up to ₹50 crore (approximately $5.5 million USD), while central licensing will apply above that threshold.

The revised thresholds are intended to simplify compliance for micro- and small enterprises by reducing fees, eliminating pre-inspections, and enabling faster registration. The changes are also designed to allow state authorities to focus more effectively on oversight and enforcement.

Street Vendors Granted Deemed FSSAI Registration

Under the reforms, street food vendors registered with municipal corporations or town vending committees under the Street Vendors Act of 2014 will be deemed registered under FSSAI.

The measure is expected to benefit more than one million vendors by eliminating duplicate registration requirements across agencies, according to FSSAI. The change may also reduce administrative burden and allow vendors to focus on hygiene and operations.

Risk-Based Inspection Framework Introduced

The reforms also introduce a technology-enabled, risk-based food safety inspection system. Inspections at businesses will be prioritized based on factors such as the type of food handled, compliance history, third-party audit performance, and surveillance inputs.

The framework is intended to incentivize industry compliance, reduce repetitive inspections, target resources, and improve the transparency of regulatory oversight.