India grants street‑vendor licenses
FSSAI’s new 2026 rules grant perpetual licences, treat vendor registration as 'deemed' and set turnover thresholds — a structural win for street‑food vendors that could reshape local markets. (x.com)
The amendments were notified in the Gazette on March 10, 2026, and FSSAI issued an implementing order on March 13, 2026 with the new rules to take effect from April 1, 2026. (fssai.gov.in) Under the revised categorisation, basic registration applies to food businesses with annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore, state licences cover turnover above ₹1.5 crore and up to ₹50 crore, and central licences apply above ₹50 crore. (fssai.gov.in) All FSSAI registrations and licences have been made perpetual (no fixed-term renewals), but the regulator has paired that change with a technology‑enabled, risk‑based inspection and audit framework to monitor ongoing compliance. (fssai.gov.in) Street vendors who already hold Certificates of Vending or registration with municipal corporations or Town Vending Committees under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 are to be treated as “deemed registered” under FSSAI, a change the government says will benefit more than 10 lakh vendors. (fssai.gov.in) Existing food‑business operators must migrate records via the FoSCoS portal to align with the new turnover bands, and licences expiring before March 31, 2026 were advised to be renewed under the old rules because no transitional grace for expiry was announced. (fssai.gov.in) The amendment expands the definition of “petty food business operator” to explicitly include street vendors, hawkers and food trucks, but FSSAI retains the authority to require hygiene compliance, risk‑based inspections and third‑party audits where necessary. (taxguru.in)
