In June 2026, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued revised guidance on Schedule 4 plant licensing categories, reshaping how food processors must classify their manufacturing facilities and licence tiers. The change affects production-capacity brackets, hygiene standards tied to category, and inspection frequency.
Processors holding licences issued under the old framework now face a 90-day window (ending September 24, 2026) to verify licence-category alignment with current output. Misalignment triggers de-registration and forces re-application — a 45-to-60-day process that halts dispatch.
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FSSAI's June 2026 realignment consolidated the old five-tier plant structure into four categories, with production-capacity thresholds realigned. A facility producing 50–200 tonnes per annum now falls under Category B (previously Category C); anything below 50 tonnes is now Category A (the smallest tier). The consequence: a processor whose licence says Category C but now produces 80 tonnes per annum is technically operating under a mismatched licence. Inspectors flag this during routine audits (triggered quarterly for Category A, bi-annually for larger tiers). Mis-categorisation also voids extended shelf-life claims and APEDA export certification because output claims on the licence underpin buyer-country traceability.
The revised categories now impose stricter Schedule 4 (hygiene and sanitation) compliance benchmarks per tier. Category B now mandates third-party microbiological testing on raw materials and finished goods at minimum 4-weekly intervals (up from bi-monthly under old rules); Category A processors retain monthly testing only if throughput stays below 50 tonnes. A food-packaging or biscuit-manufacturing unit re-categorised into a higher tier must immediately upgrade testing protocols and vendor audits or face inspection-notice liability under Rule 2.3 (b) of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Regulation) Regulations, 2011. The cost of upgrading a microlab accreditation or contracting a third-party testing body averages ₹40,000–₹90,000 per annum.
FSSAI's June 2026 circular issued a 90-day window for existing licence-holders to self-certify production capacity against the new brackets and submit a corrected Schedule 4 compliance attestation to their nodal authority (typically the state FSSAI office or CDSCO nodal officer). Processors must provide: (i) a certified auditor's report on actual monthly average output for the past 24 months; (ii) a revised hygiene-testing schedule aligned to the new tier; (iii) updated plant-layout signatures. Non-submission by September 24 triggers automatic suspension of dispatch authorisation on the FSSAI online portal. Reactivation requires a de novo full application, including in-person inspection, adding 45–60 days and incurring ₹8,000–₹15,000 in application and inspection fees.
Under FSSAI's revised plant-licensing framework (issued June 2026), processors must verify that their existing licence category matches current production output within 90 days (deadline: September 24, 2026). Failure to align by the deadline triggers licence suspension and forces re-application — a 45–60-day process costing ₹8,000–₹15,000 and halting export dispatch. The reclassification also escalates Schedule 4 hygiene standards (e.g.,
Frequently asked questions
The 90-day compliance window ends September 24, 2026. Processors must verify their current licence category matches reformulated production-capacity brackets to avoid de-registration.
FSSAI consolidated five tiers into four categories with realigned production thresholds. Facilities producing 50–200 tonnes per annum now fall under Category B (previously Category C); below 50 tonnes is Category A.
Misalignment triggers de-registration and mandatory re-application, a 45-to-60-day process that halts dispatch. Inspectors flag category mismatch during routine audits and void export certifications.