How to Surrender or Cancel an FSSAI License in India?

Last Updated on July 15, 2026

An FSSAI licence or registration is mandatory for eligible food businesses operating in India. However, there may come a time when a Food Business Operator (FBO) decides to close the business, discontinue food-related activities or no longer requires the licence. In such cases, the FSSAI provides a process to surrender the licence through the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS).

Many people also search for how to cancel an FSSAI licence, but it’s important to understand that surrender and cancellation are not the same. A food business can voluntarily apply to surrender its licence, while cancellation may be initiated by the licensing authority under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, in certain circumstances.

This blog explains the difference between surrender and cancellation, who can apply, the online FoSCoS process, documents required, what happens after submission and the common mistakes to avoid.

Closing your FSSAI licence through the proper process helps ensure that your business records remain updated with the regulatory authority.

What Does Surrendering an FSSAI Licence Mean?

Surrendering an FSSAI licence means voluntarily requesting the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to close or discontinue your existing registration or licence because your food business is no longer operating or no longer requires it.

Once the surrender request is approved by the concerned authority, the registration or licence is treated as surrendered in accordance with the applicable process.

Businesses commonly surrender their FSSAI registration when:

• The food business has permanently closed.
• The owner has discontinued food-related activities.
• The business has shifted to a new entity requiring a fresh licence.
• The registration was obtained but never used.
• The business has merged with another entity.
• The licence is no longer required.

Understanding whether you hold a Basic Registration or a State/Central Licence affects your surrender process. Our guide on FSSAI registration vs FSSAI licence key differences explains the categories.

What is FSSAI Licence Suspension?

Under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, before a licence is cancelled, the authority typically first suspends it:

Suspension process:

• Food Safety Officer issues a show cause notice stating the grounds
• FBO has a specified period (usually 15 days) to respond and rectify
• If no satisfactory response, the licence is suspended (temporary stoppage)
• During suspension, the FBO cannot operate a food business legally
• If violations aren’t corrected within the suspension period, the licence is cancelled

This two-stage process (suspend, then cancel) gives FBOs a chance to correct violations before permanent cancellation. Operating during suspension attracts the same penalties as operating without a licence, up to ₹5 lakh under Section 63 of the FSS Act.

What is FSSAI Licence Cancellation?

FSSAI licence cancellation is different from surrender. Cancellation is generally an administrative action taken by the concerned licensing or registration authority under the applicable provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act and related regulations.

A licence may be cancelled for reasons such as:

• Serious violations of food safety regulations.
• Non-compliance with licence conditions.
• Failure to rectify deficiencies after notice.
• Submission of false information.
• Other grounds permitted under applicable law.

Unlike surrender, cancellation is not normally initiated by the business owner.

Difference Between Surrender and Cancellation

Particular	Surrender	Cancellation
Initiated By	Food Business Operator	Licensing/Registration Authority
Nature	Voluntary	Regulatory action
Reason	Business closure or no longer required	Non-compliance or legal grounds
Approval Required	Yes	Yes
Online Process	Available through FoSCoS	Action by the competent authority

Understanding this distinction helps businesses choose the correct course of action.

When Should You Surrender an FSSAI Licence?

You should consider surrendering your FSSAI registration or licence if it is no longer required.

Some common situations include: –

• Permanent Closure of Business: If your food business has permanently stopped operations, surrendering the licence helps keep your regulatory records updated.
• Change in Business Structure: If a sole proprietorship is converted into a partnership, LLP, or company, a fresh FSSAI licence may be required depending on the circumstances.
• Business Merger or Acquisition: Where one food business is merged into another, the existing licence may need to be surrendered if it is no longer applicable.
• Incorrect Licence Obtained: If the licence was obtained by mistake or under the wrong business entity, surrender may be appropriate before applying for the correct registration.
• Discontinuation of Food Activities: If the business no longer manufactures, stores, distributes or sells food products, continuing the licence may not be necessary.

Can You Cancel an FSSAI Licence Yourself?

Not exactly. A Food Business Operator can apply to surrender the licence through the FoSCoS portal.

The actual closure of the registration or licence is subject to approval by the concerned licensing authority.

This means that businesses generally request surrender, while cancellation is an action that may be taken by the authority under applicable legal provisions.

Who Can Apply for Licence Surrender?

The application can generally be submitted by the authorised Food Business Operator or authorised representative of the registered food business.

Examples include: –

• Sole proprietor
• Partner
• Director
• Authorised signatory
• Proprietor of a home-based food business
• Cloud kitchen operator
• Restaurant owner
• Food manufacturer
• Retail food business owner

The applicant should have access to the registered FoSCoS account associated with the licence.

Documents Required for FSSAI Licence Surrender

The documents required may vary depending on the reason for surrender and the requirements of the licensing authority.

Commonly required documents may include: –

Document		Purpose
FSSAI Licence/Registration Details		Identification of licence
Identity Proof of Applicant	Verification
Business Closure Declaration		Reason for surrender
Supporting Documents (if applicable)		Evidence supporting the request
Authorisation Letter (where applicable)		Representative authorisation

Additional documents may be requested during the review process.

Step-by-Step Process to Surrender an FSSAI Licence Online

The surrender request is submitted through the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS).

Step 1: Log in to the FoSCoS Portal

Access your registered FoSCoS account using your login credentials.

Step 2: Select the Relevant Licence

Choose the FSSAI registration or licence that you wish to surrender.

Step 3: Select the Surrender Option

Navigate to the licence management section and choose the option to surrender the registration or licence.

Step 4: Enter the Reason for Surrender

Provide the reason for requesting surrender.

Examples include: –

• Business closed
• Business discontinued
• Entity changed
• Licence no longer required

Step 5: Upload Supporting Documents

Upload the required documents, if applicable.

Ensure that all uploaded files are clear and legible.

Step 6: Review and Submit

Verify all the information before submitting the application.

Once submitted, the request is forwarded to the concerned licensing authority for examination.

Providing a clear reason and complete supporting documents can help avoid delays during the review process.

What Happens After Submitting the Surrender Request?

After you submit the surrender request through the FoSCoS portal, it is forwarded to the concerned Registration or Licensing Authority for review.

The authority may: –

• Review the application and supporting documents.
• Seek additional information or clarification, if required.
• Verify the reason for surrender.
• Approve or reject the request based on the applicable provisions.

Once the request is approved, the FSSAI registration or licence is updated accordingly in the official records.

How Long Does Surrender Approval Take?

Surrender Type	Typical Processing Time
Basic Registration surrender	7–15 working days
State Licence surrender	15–30 working days
Central Licence surrender	30–45 working days

These timelines depend on:

• Completeness of documents submitted
• Whether the authority raises queries
• Workload at the licensing office

Since FSSAI moved to perpetual validity from April 2026, surrender is now the only mechanism to formally close a registration — it no longer lapses automatically with time. This makes timely follow-up on your surrender application more important than before.

How Can You Check the Status of Your Surrender Request?

Applicants can monitor the progress of their application by logging into their FoSCoS account.

The portal generally displays the current application status, including: –

Status	Meaning
Submitted	The request has been successfully submitted.
Under Scrutiny	The authority is reviewing the application.
Query Raised	Additional information or documents are required.
Approved	The surrender request has been accepted.
Rejected	The request was not approved.

If a query is raised, respond promptly to avoid unnecessary delays.

Can a Surrendered FSSAI Licence Be Restored?

Generally, once a licence has been surrendered and the request has been approved, it cannot simply be reactivated.

If you decide to restart your food business later, you may need to apply for a new FSSAI Registration or Licence, depending on the applicable FSSAI regulations and your business category.

Common Reasons Why FSSAI Licences Are Cancelled

Unlike surrender, cancellation is initiated by the licensing authority in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Some common reasons include:

• Non-compliance with licence conditions.
• Repeated violations of food safety standards.
• Failure to comply with directions issued by the authority.
• Providing false or misleading information during registration.
• Operating in violation of applicable FSSAI regulations.
• Failure to address deficiencies identified during inspections, where applicable.

Cancellation is generally preceded by the regulatory process prescribed under the law, which may include notices or an opportunity to respond, depending on the circumstances.

Things to Do Before Surrendering Your FSSAI Licence

Before initiating the surrender process, consider completing the following: –

• Stop all food-related business operations under the licence.
• Complete pending customer orders.
• Inform online food delivery platforms, if applicable.
• Update customers, suppliers and business partners.
• Maintain copies of the licence and related records.
• Ensure there are no pending compliance issues that require attention.

Planning the closure properly can help ensure a smoother transition.

Other Regulatory Steps Required When Closing a Food Business

FSSAI surrender is just one part of formal business closure. Other parallel obligations:

Obligation	Authority	Deadline
GST registration cancellation	GST Department	Apply within 30 days of cessation
Final GST return (GSTR-10)	GST Department	Within 3 months of the cancellation order
Income Tax Return for the closure year	Income Tax Department	By the applicable ITR due date
Inform delivery platforms (Swiggy, Zomato)	Platform compliance	Before the last order
Cancel trade/health licence	Municipal Corporation	Per local rules
Close the business bank account	Bank	After settling all obligations
Udyam Registration closure (if applicable)	MSME portal	Update/cancel as applicable

Missing GST cancellation after business closure while surrendering FSSAI creates a separate compliance default. The GST registration continues to require return filing until formally cancelled.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many applicants face delays because of avoidable errors.

Some common mistakes include: –

• Confusing licence surrender with cancellation.
• Selecting the wrong licence while submitting the request.
• Providing an incomplete reason for surrender.
• Uploading unclear or incorrect documents.
• Ignoring queries raised by the licensing authority.
• Continuing food business operations after applying for surrender.
• Assuming the licence stands cancelled immediately after submission.

Always wait for the official approval before treating the licence as surrendered.

Penalty for Operating After Applying for Surrender

Submitting a surrender application does not suspend your licence; the licence remains active until the authority formally approves the surrender. This creates a compliance window that many operators misunderstand in two dangerous ways:

• Operating after approval, thinking the licence is still valid, operating with a surrendered licence is equivalent to operating without a licence, attracting up to ₹5 lakh under Section 63 of the FSS Act
• Stopping operations before approval and assuming compliance if you stop operations but haven’t received approval yet, you’re in a grey area; continue monitoring your FoSCoS account for status

The safest approach: wind down operations only after receiving the official approval notification from the licensing authority, not after submission.

Best Practices for a Smooth Surrender Process

Following these practices can help reduce delays:

• Verify that the correct licence is selected.
• Keep supporting documents ready before applying.
• Provide an accurate reason for surrender.
• Respond promptly to any queries raised by the authority.
• Save copies of acknowledgements and communications.
• Check the application status regularly through FoSCoS.

Submitting complete and accurate information can help ensure a smoother review of your surrender request.

Conclusion

If your food business has permanently closed or no longer requires an FSSAI registration or licence, applying for its surrender through the FoSCoS portal is the appropriate way to update your regulatory records. Understanding the difference between licence surrender and licence cancellation can help you follow the correct procedure and avoid unnecessary confusion.

By submitting complete information, providing the required documents and responding promptly to any queries from the licensing authority, you can help ensure a smooth and hassle-free surrender process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I surrender my FSSAI licence online?

Yes. Food Business Operators can generally submit a licence surrender request online through the official FoSCoS portal.

2. Is surrender different from cancellation?

Yes. Surrender is a voluntary request made by the Food Business Operator, while cancellation is a regulatory action taken by the competent authority under the applicable provisions of the law.

3. Can I cancel my FSSAI licence immediately?

No. You can apply to surrender your licence, but the request becomes effective only after it is reviewed and approved by the concerned authority.

4. What happens after my surrender request is approved?

Once approved, the FSSAI registration or licence is updated as surrendered in the official records.

5. Can I continue selling food after applying for surrender?

Businesses should not assume that the licence has been surrendered immediately upon submission of the request. The surrender process is completed only after approval by the competent authority.

6. Can I restore a surrendered FSSAI licence?

Generally, a surrendered licence cannot simply be restored. If you restart your food business, you may need to apply for a new FSSAI Registration or Licence.

7. Do I need to cancel my GST registration separately when surrendering FSSAI?

Yes. FSSAI surrender and GST cancellation are entirely separate processes handled by different authorities. When closing a food business, apply for GST registration cancellation with the GST Department within 30 days of ceasing business. You must also file a final return (GSTR-10) within 3 months of receiving the GST cancellation order. Not cancelling GST means you continue to have return filing obligations even after your food business has closed.