Registration & licensing
How to Surrender or Close an FSSAI Licence
When a food business permanently closes, address its FSSAI authorisation as well as its premises and tax arrangements. The March 2026 licensing amendment requires written notification and surrender within 30 days of closure. Perpetual validity makes a recorded closure process especially important.
By the MyFoodLicense team Sources checked 3 min read
In this guide
Confirm what is closing
Identify the entity, operating premises and specific authorisation. Closing one warehouse is different from closing the company or every site. Decide whether activities have stopped permanently, moved elsewhere or been transferred to another operator. A new location should be assessed separately rather than concealed within a closure request.
Follow the written-notification requirement
The 2026 amendment requires the holder to inform the authority in writing and surrender within 30 days of closure. It also provides that surrender does not entitle the holder to a fee refund. Retain proof of the communication and surrender submission. Read the closure provision.
Reconcile stock and outstanding matters
Record the last production or trading date, remaining food stock, supplier balances, complaints and any authority proceedings. Determine lawful handling of stock, including expiry or recall issues. Closing the account does not erase traceability needs or unresolved obligations.
Use the current official workflow
Check the surrender option and supporting requirements in FoSCoS. Save the account status before and after the request, the acknowledgement and the final recorded position. If the portal prevents a filing, raise a documented official support request and preserve the written closure notice.
Update the operational network
Remove the closed site from active listings and supplier records, tell the responsible internal teams and retain the historical certificate file. Multi-site businesses should keep other sites’ obligations active. For a temporary pause, establish the appropriate regulatory position rather than describing the business as permanently closed.
A worked example
Hypothetical example
A distributor closes a small warehouse while retaining a retail outlet. The closure file identifies the warehouse authorisation, stock transfer records and closure date. It records the surrender process for that site while keeping the outlet’s compliance calendar active.
Your practical checklist
- Identify the exact site and authorisation.
- Record the permanent closure date.
- Notify the authority in writing.
- Surrender within the applicable 30-day period.
- Retain stock, complaint and obligation records.
- Remove closed-site details from active channels.
Download this preparation checklist
For help applying this review to your business, explore our Licence Surrender / Closure service. Bring the documents described above so the consultation can focus on the decisions still unresolved.
Frequently asked questions
Does perpetual validity end automatically on closure?
Complete the required notification and surrender process rather than leaving an unused authorisation active.
What is the closure deadline?
The March 2026 amendment specifies surrender within 30 days of closure.
Will surrender refund prepaid fees?
The amendment states that surrender does not create a refund entitlement.
Does closing one site close every licence?
No. Identify the particular authorisation and keep continuing sites compliant.
Can I ignore pending notices after closure?
No. Preserve records and assess unresolved obligations and proceedings.
Official sources and further reading
Checked on 2 October 2026. Gazette notifications and operative directions prevail over compilations and summaries, including this guide.
- Licensing and Registration Amendment Regulations, notification dated 10 March 2026: Regulation 2.1.7: perpetual validity, annual fees, applicable returns and suspension; regulation 2.1.17: risk-based inspections.
- Official FoSCoS application portal: Official applications, help topics, current document lists and eligibility information.
This guide is general information, not legal advice; the right route depends on your product and business facts. Examples marked hypothetical are illustrations, not client cases. MyFoodLicense is an independent consultancy and is not affiliated with FSSAI; applications are decided by the competent authority on the official FoSCoS portal.