FSSAI Licence Number Check Online: How to Verify an FSSAI Licence or Registration Number

Most people never look at it, but almost every packaged food in India carries a small line that reads FSSAI Lic. No. followed by a long number. It is one of the very few things on a pack that you can check yourself, for free, in about two minutes.

This guide shows where to find the number, how to look it up, and, just as important, what the result does not prove.

Quick answer: how to check an FSSAI licence number online

• Find the 14-digit number next to “FSSAI Lic. No.” on the pack.
• Open FoSCoS, FSSAI’s official portal, at foscos.fssai.gov.in, and choose FBO Search.
• Enter the number, complete the captcha and submit. No login should be needed.
• Check that the business name, address and status match the brand on the pack.

What the number is

Food businesses in India must be registered or licensed with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The number is a 14-digit identifier for that licence or registration. It is printed on the pack along with the FSSAI logo, usually close to the manufacturer’s name and address. Our label guide shows where the rest of the required information sits.

Step 1: Find it

Turn the pack over and look near the manufacturer or “marketed by” details. Count the digits: it should be 14. If it is missing, shorter, or hard to read, that is already worth a question to the brand.

Step 2: Look it up on FoSCoS

• Open FoSCoS, FSSAI’s official portal, at foscos.fssai.gov.in.
• Choose the option to search or verify a food business (FBO) by licence or registration number.
• Type in the 14-digit number, complete the captcha and submit.
• Read the result: business name, address, type of licence or registration, and its status.

The portal’s layout changes from time to time, so the menu names may differ slightly. The idea stays the same: number in, business details out.

Step 3: Compare, do not just confirm

• Name: does the business shown match the brand or manufacturer on the pack?
• Address: is it the same place, or at least the same company?
• Status: is the licence shown as active?
• Type: is it what you would expect for the product, for example a manufacturer rather than only a retailer?

A number that exists but belongs to a different business is a bigger red flag than a number that does not load. If something does not match, there may be an innocent reason, such as a contract manufacturer, but it is a fair thing to ask the brand about.

FSSAI licence number vs registration number

Small food businesses are registered, while larger ones need a licence (State or Central, depending on the business). Both are shown as a 14-digit number, and FoSCoS shows which type the number is. Different websites say different things about what the first digit means, so do not guess the type from the digit. Read the licence type shown in the FoSCoS result, or on the certificate.

What does “FSSAI Lic. No.” on a pack mean?

“Lic. No.” is the licence or registration number of the food business named on the pack, usually the manufacturer, packer or marketer. It sits next to the FSSAI logo. If a pack shows the logo but no number, or a number that is not 14 digits, ask the brand about it.

Can you search without the number? By name, state or mobile number

If you only have the business name, FoSCoS’s FBO Search can also be used with the name plus the state and district, because names alone can return many matches. We did not find an official option to search by mobile number. If a website claims it can look up a licence by mobile number, be careful with what you type in.

Licence number vs application reference number

These are two different numbers. The licence or registration number identifies a business that already has one. The application reference number is what a business gets when it applies, and it is used to track the application’s status on FoSCoS. If you are checking a product you plan to buy, you want the licence or registration number on the pack, not a reference number.

What a valid number tells you

That the business is registered with FSSAI, and for which premises. That is a useful baseline, and it is also the minimum that is expected of any food seller.

What it does not tell you

• That the product is better, healthier or purer than others.
• That a particular batch was tested, or what the results were.
• That the claims on the front of the pack have been checked. We cover those in what food claims really mean.
• Where the ingredients came from.

A licence number is a starting point for trust, not the end of it. At Root to Bite we try to keep apart three things: what a brand says, what has been checked, and what is still unknown. A valid licence moves one small item from “unknown” to “checked”, and that is worth doing.

If you find a missing or mismatched number, you can raise it with the brand first. FSSAI also has a consumer grievance channel, which you can find on its website.

Portals and rules change. For the latest official steps, use the FSSAI pages below. This guide is a plain-language introduction, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check an FSSAI licence number online?

Open FSSAI’s FoSCoS portal (foscos.fssai.gov.in), choose FBO Search, enter the 14-digit licence or registration number, complete the captcha and submit. Check that the business name, address and status match the brand on the pack.

What does FSSAI Lic. No. mean?

It is the licence or registration number of the food business named on the pack, usually the manufacturer or packer. It is a 14-digit number printed next to the FSSAI logo.

What is the difference between an FSSAI registration number and a licence number?

Smaller food businesses are registered and larger ones hold a State or Central licence. Both are shown as a 14-digit number, and FoSCoS shows which type it is. Do not rely on the first digit to tell them apart, because sources disagree.

Can I search an FSSAI licence by business name or mobile number?

FoSCoS’s FBO Search can be used with a business name together with its state and district. We did not find an official way to search by mobile number, so be careful with websites that claim to.

What is an FSSAI licence reference number?

It is the application reference number a business gets when it applies. It is used to track the application’s status on FoSCoS and is different from the 14-digit licence or registration number printed on packs.

Is an FSSAI licence number check free?

Yes. Checking a licence or registration number through FoSCoS’s FBO Search is free and should not need a login.

What if the FSSAI number on a pack does not work?

Check you copied all 14 digits. If it still does not match any business, or belongs to a different business than the pack names, ask the brand first, and report it through FSSAI’s consumer complaint channels if you do not get a clear answer.

Sources

• FoSCoS: Food Safety Compliance System (FSSAI)
• FSSAI: Labelling and Display regulations and amendments

General information only, not legal advice. No brand sponsored or reviewed this article.