Quick Answer
All food businesses with FSSAI State License or Central License must file Form D-1 (Annual Return) by 31 May every year. Basic Registration holders are exempt. The return reports food quantities produced/sold in the previous financial year. Late filing attracts ₹100/day penalty.
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Annual Return Deadline: 31 May 2026
Form D-1 for FY 2025–26 must be filed on FoSCoS portal by 31 May 2026. Penalty of ₹100/day applies from 1 June 2026 for late filers.
What is FSSAI Annual Return?
The FSSAI Annual Return is a mandatory compliance filing that food business operators (FBOs) holding State or Central FSSAI Licenses must submit every year. Governed by the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, this return provides FSSAI with a summary of your food business operations during the previous financial year.
Think of it like an annual report to the food safety authority — you declare what food items you handled, in what quantities, and to what value. This helps FSSAI monitor the food supply chain, track import/export volumes, and identify businesses that have grown beyond their current license category.
Who Must File FSSAI Annual Return?
| License Type | Must File Annual Return? | Form | Deadline |
|---|
| Basic Registration (turnover < ₹12 lakh) | ❌ No — Exempt | N/A | N/A |
| State License (turnover ₹12L – ₹20Cr) | ✅ Yes — Mandatory | Form D-1 | 31 May |
| Central License (turnover > ₹20Cr / multi-state) | ✅ Yes — Mandatory | Form D-1 | 31 May |
📋 Important: If your food business holds multiple FSSAI licenses (e.g., State Licenses for different units), a separate Form D-1 must be filed for each license number.
Form D-1 is the official FSSAI Annual Return form prescribed under Schedule 4 of the FSSAI Licensing Regulations. It captures the following:
- Your FSSAI License number and business details
- Category-wise list of all food products manufactured, processed, stored, or traded
- Quantity of each food product (in metric tonnes / litres)
- Total sales value of each food category (in lakh rupees)
- Whether products were imported or exported during the year
- Total number of employees working in the food business
- Details of food safety complaints received and resolved
Importantly, the form covers the previous financial year (April to March). The return due on 31 May 2026 covers FY 2025–26 (1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026).
Before you sit down to file, gather the following information from your business records:
- FSSAI License Number — Your 14-digit FSSAI number
- List of Food Products — All products you manufactured, processed, stored, or sold during FY 2025–26
- Quantity Produced/Traded — Total quantity of each product (in MT or litres) during the year
- Sales Value — Total value of food sales (in ₹ lakh) for each product category
- Import/Export Data — Quantity and value of imported/exported food products (if applicable)
- Employee Count — Total number of permanent and contractual employees in food handling roles
- Complaint Records — Number of food safety complaints received and resolved
Step-by-Step FSSAI Annual Return Filing Process
- Log in to FoSCoS Portal — Go to foscos.fssai.gov.in and sign in with your registered credentials.
- Navigate to Returns — In your dashboard, look for "Annual Return" or "Compliance Filing" under the license management section.
- Select Financial Year — Choose the financial year for which you are filing (e.g., 2025–26 for the May 2026 deadline).
- Fill Form D-1 — Enter all required information: food product categories, quantities, sales values, employee count, and complaint details. The form auto-saves as you fill it.
- Declare and Submit — Review the filled form. Add a self-declaration confirming the accuracy of the information. Submit the form.
- Acknowledgement — An acknowledgement number is generated. Download and save the acknowledgement receipt as proof of filing.
⚠️ Common Mistake: Many business owners enter "nil" for all quantities because they do not maintain production/sales records. FSSAI may flag this for scrutiny during renewal. Maintain a basic stock/sales register throughout the year to make annual return filing straightforward.
Penalty for Non-Filing or Late Filing
| Compliance Status | Consequence |
|---|
| Filed before 31 May | No penalty. Compliant status. |
| Filed between 1 June and 30 June | ₹100/day × days late from 1 June |
| Filed after 30 June | ₹100/day + potential show-cause notice from authority |
| Not filed at all | ₹100/day + non-compliance flag on renewal application + possible inspection |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline to file FSSAI annual return?+
The FSSAI annual return (Form D-1) must be filed by 31 May every year for the previous financial year (April–March). For example, for FY 2025–26, the filing deadline is 31 May 2026. A penalty of ₹100 per day applies from 1 June if the return is not filed on time.
Do Basic Registration holders need to file an annual return?+
No. Food businesses with FSSAI Basic Registration (annual turnover below ₹12 lakh) are completely exempt from filing the annual return. Only State License and Central License holders are required to file Form D-1 by 31 May every year.
My food business had no production this year. Do I still need to file?+
Yes. Even if your food business had zero production or sales in the previous financial year (due to renovation, illness, or any other reason), you must still file Form D-1 with nil returns. Failing to file — even a nil return — attracts the ₹100/day penalty.
How do I file FSSAI annual return online?+
Log in to the FoSCoS portal at foscos.fssai.gov.in with your license credentials. Go to Compliance Filing → Annual Return (Form D-1). Select the relevant financial year, fill in your product quantities and sales data, and submit. Download the acknowledgement receipt after submission.
What happens if I don't file FSSAI annual return during license renewal?+
If you have not filed your annual return, it may be flagged during your renewal application review. The FSSAI officer may raise a query or require you to file pending returns before approving the renewal. It is best to ensure all annual returns are filed before applying for renewal.