All food business operators with a FSSAI license including manufacturers, importers, packers, and labellers should file a FSSAI annual return in India. It is a mandatory filing that enables food business operators to annually submit their essential information to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The FSSAI revised guidelines for Food Business Annual Return filing mandates the online filing of FSSAI annual returns comprising details of activities such as the production, handling, storage, and distribution of food products. The FBO further acknowledges the importance of filing annual return FSSAI and maintaining transparency in their operations.
Are you worried about the hurdles filing a FSSAI annual return? Talk to our food business consultants at Corpbiz and get expert support in FSSAI annual return filing.


The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, i.e., FSSAI, is an independent organization that regulates the quality of food for the protection and promotion of public health. FSSAI, which was established under the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has its headquarters in New Delhi.
FSSAI further introduced 14 referral laboratories, 72 government/ UT laboratories, and 112 NABL-accredited independent laboratories, which are responsible for setting food safety standards in India. Moreover, the mandate of obtaining a food license is a primary requirement for initiating a food business in India.
The benefits of complying with FSSAI annual return filing in India are as discussed below:

The FSSAI annual return filing enhances the overall market reputation and public image by demonstrating its commitment towards food safety and quality standards.
The FSSAI annual return filing boosts the brand value and trust in the company’s reputation, showcasing its compliance with food safety regulations.
The FSSAI annual return filing form offers government support to the entities securing compliance with the FSSAI requirements.
The FSSAI annual return filing ensures compliance with FSSAI regulations and commitment towards food safety standards as prescribed by the authorities.
The FSSAI annual return filing improves efficiency and operations, leveraging the productivity of the food business in India.
The FSSAI annual return filing guarantees adherence to food safety standards, which ensures maintaining hygiene, quality and safety of food products for consumers.
The key essentials for securing compliance with filing of FSSAI annual return in India are as discussed below:
Compliance Checklist for Annual Return under FSSAI
Have a look at the checklist that shows who can file annual return FSSAI-


The list of documents required for FSSAI annual return filing, which is a tedious and daunting process, is as stated below:
The food business operators must comply with the following procedure required for filing FSSAI annual returns on or before May 31st of each year.

Login to the FSSAI Portal
The food business operators are initially required to visit and log on and file FSSAI annual returns on the official website of the FSSAI.
Receive Confirm Verification Code
The food business operators further receive a confirm verification code (i.e., an OTP) immediately after logging and choosing the annual return from the sub-menu.
File Annual Return Forms
The food business operators must file all required information, including details of license number and product details, in the annual return forms D-1 and D-2.
Upload Documents
The food business operators are further required to upload mandatory documents required for filing FSSAI annual return forms.
Revise & Submit
Lastly, the food business operators must carefully revise and make submission of the electronic form in the form prescribed by the concerned Food Safety Commissioner.
The following is the list of necessary information that must be included when filing the FSSAI annual return:
The different types of FSSAI returns, as prescribed under the FSSAI Act, are discussed below:
FSSAI Form D-1, which is an annual return, must be filed by all food business operators engaged in the business of packaging, importing, manufacturing, labelling, repacking & relabelling of food products, excluding milk, meat and alcoholic beverages.
FSSAI Form D-2 which is a half-yearly return that must be filed by the food business operators indulged in the business of importing or manufacturing milk or associated milk products.
FSSAI Form D-4, which is a stock and sale return statement, must be filed by certain food businesses that provide details concerning their stock and sale of specific food products in India.
The food business operators must further comply with the additional set of regulations set under the FSSAI Act. Food businesses must comply with the mentioned compliances:

The deadlines for filing annual return under FSSAI, i.e., Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulation, 2011, are as discussed below:
The key differences between FSSAI annual return and FSSAI half-yearly return are as outlined below:
| S. No. | Aspect | FSSAI Annual Return | FSSAI Half-Yearly Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Meaning | FSSAI annual return is a yearly report mandatory filed by all FBOs indulged in the production or sales of food products. | FSSAI half-yearly return is a bi-annual report filed by the FBOs specifically dealing with milk and associated products. |
| 2. | Applicability | Applicable to all businesses/ operators indulged in manufacturing or processing food products. | Applicable to all businesses/ dealers indulged in manufacturing and processing of dairy and associated products. |
| 3. | Frequency | Filed once a year on or before May 31st of every financial year. | Filed twice a year for the period 1st April to 30th September and 1st October to 31st March of every financial year. |
| 4. | FSSAI Forms | Filed using Form D-1 under Schedule 2 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011. | Filed using Form D-2 under Schedule 2 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011. |
According to the notification issued by the FSSAI, the list of entities exempted from filing FSSAI annual returns is as follows:

Our food business consultants have over a decade of experience assisting food business owners in filing FSSAI annual returns.
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We at Corpbiz have a dedicated team of experts providing clear guidance and ensuring compliance while filing annual return for FSSAI.
We at Corpbiz provide real-time assistance for the collection and verification of necessary documents required for filing FSSAI annual returns in India.
We at Corpbiz guarantee timely preparation and submission of prescribed forms D-1 and D-2 before the lapse of the due date.
Corpbiz provides legal advice and regular updates to simplify the legal necessities required for filing FSSAI annual returns.
We provide end-to-end solutions for handling every aspect of filing annual return for FSSAI.
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Have a look at the answers to the most asked questions.
Legal Researcher
Written by Neha Dawra. Last updated on Jun 15 2026, 05:57 PM
Neha Dawra has 4+ years of experience in legal research and intellectual property advisory. Her expertise lies in analyzing IP laws, drafting structured legal content, and simplifying complex registration procedures into clear, simple insights.
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