The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had published draft amendment regulations in November 2020 inviting objections and suggestions from stakeholders. The copies of the draft notification were made available to the public on November 24, 2020 and comments received were considered by the Authority. Based on such consideration, the Authority has issued the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026 amending the 2011 regulations.

1. Regulation 1.2.1(4) substituted defining “Petty Food Business Operator” to include petty retailers, street food vendors, hawkers, itinerant vendors, temporary stall holders, food trucks and small or cottage food businesses.
2. Regulation 2.1.1 amended to allow instant grant of registration certificate upon submission of requisite documents.
3. Regulation 2.1.1(7) inserted providing that street vendors, hawkers, food trucks and similar businesses registered under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 shall be deemed registered under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, subject to compliance with Schedule 4 hygiene requirements.
4. Regulation 2.1.1(8) inserted empowering the Food Authority to specify turnover thresholds, classification criteria and registering authority for food businesses.
5. Regulation 2.1.2(6) inserted enabling the Food Authority to prescribe eligibility criteria or conditions and licensing authority for food businesses.
6. Regulation 2.1.7 substituted providing validity of registration or licence unless suspended, cancelled or surrendered; non-payment of annual fee or failure to submit returns results in deemed suspension; closure of business must be intimated within thirty days.
7. Regulation 2.1.17 inserted providing for periodic inspection and food safety audit of food businesses, including risk-based inspections and third-party audits recognised by FSSAI.