FSSAI Annual Return Filing
The yearly return food manufacturers and importers must submit on quantities handled.
Food businesses holding an FSSAI licence must file an annual return reporting the quantities of food they handled during the year. It is separate from the licence and separate from its renewal, and it is the obligation most licence holders discover only when they are penalised for missing it.
The penalty is charged per day of delay, and it runs until the return is filed. Because the amounts are small at first, the default is easy to ignore and expensive to leave.
What this costs
Annual Return
₹2,374 plus GST
- Annual FSSAI Return Filing,
- Return Preparation & Verification,
- Filing with FSSAI,
- Filing Acknowledgement Copy,
- Compliance Support
Who has to file
- Manufacturers, importers and packers holding a State or Central licence
- Form D1 — the annual return, due by 31 May for the preceding financial year
- Form D2 — a half-yearly return, required specifically of milk and milk product units
- Businesses holding only Basic Registration are generally outside the annual return requirement
- A nil return is due where the licence was held but no production took place
What the return reports
- Quantity of each food product manufactured, handled or imported
- Quantity sold within India, and the value
- Quantity exported, with destination countries
- Details of raw materials and packaging used
- Opening and closing stock for the year
- Details of any product recall during the year
The per-day penalty
A late return attracts a penalty for each day of delay, subject to a multiple of the annual licence fee. Because the daily amount is modest, businesses frequently let it run for months without noticing.
The default also surfaces at renewal. A licence holder with an outstanding return can find the renewal held up at exactly the point they cannot afford a delay.
How we handle it
- 1 Confirming what applies We establish whether Form D1, Form D2 or both apply to your licence category.
- 2 Compiling quantities Production, sales, import and export quantities are compiled product by product from your records.
- 3 Reconciling Quantities are reconciled against stock movements and against your GST returns, so the figures are defensible.
- 4 Filing The return is filed on the FSSAI portal by the due date.
- 5 Acknowledgement The acknowledgement is preserved and the next year’s due date diarised.
Frequently asked questions
Who has to file the annual return?
Manufacturers, importers and packers holding a State or Central licence. Businesses with only Basic Registration are generally outside the requirement.
When is it due?
Form D1 by 31 May for the preceding financial year. Form D2, required of milk and milk product units, is half-yearly.
Do I file if there was no production?
Yes. A nil return is due where the licence was held during the year, even if nothing was manufactured.
What is the penalty for filing late?
A penalty for each day of delay, capped at a multiple of the annual licence fee. It accrues quietly, so a return forgotten for months becomes a meaningful sum.
Is this the same as renewing my licence?
No. The annual return reports what you handled; renewal extends the licence itself. They are separate obligations with separate deadlines, and an outstanding return can hold up a renewal.
What is not included. Government fees, statutory charges, stamp duty, court and registry fees, digital signature costs and any third-party professional charges are separate and payable at actuals. GST applies on professional fees where indicated. Prices shown are indicative and may change without notice; we confirm the total in writing before any work begins — see our terms on pricing.
Talk to us about FSSAI Annual Return Filing
Share your requirement and our team will confirm the documents needed, the exact charges and a realistic timeline — usually the same working day.
- Expert document checking before submission
- Regular status updates on WhatsApp
- Transparent professional charges
- Assistance in Marathi & English
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