FSSAI Annual Return (Form D-1): Who Files and By When

Getting an FSSAI licence is not the end of the paperwork. Many licence holders also have to file an annual return every year, and a missed return attracts a daily late fee. This guide covers the basics of Form D-1.

What Form D-1 is

Form D-1 is the annual return in which a food business reports the quantity and value of the food products it handled in the previous financial year. It is filed online on the FoSCoS portal of FSSAI.

Who has to file

FSSAI requires the annual return from manufacturers, importers, packers, labellers and re-labellers, irrespective of the volume they handle. Some categories such as restaurants and canteens are generally exempt, but the exact position depends on your licence category, so check what your licence conditions say before you assume you are exempt. Dairy units also have a separate half-yearly return.

Due date and late fee

The return is due by 31 May following the financial year it covers. A late fee of ₹100 per day applies from the day after the due date for as long as the return stays unfiled. The days add up faster than most people expect, so it is cheaper to file even a few weeks early.

What you need to file

Keep your production or purchase and sales records for the year, split by product. For manufacturers this means quantities produced and sold. Importers need the quantities and values of imports. Having this data in a simple monthly sheet makes the return a short job.

Why it matters beyond the fee

A pending return can hold up your licence renewal or modification on the portal, and it shows up if the Food Safety Officer inspects your records. It is easier to treat it as a fixed annual task along with your other filings.

How we can help

We prepare and file the return through our FSSAI annual return filing service. If your licence is about to expire, see FSSAI renewal, and for a new business look at FSSAI registration. More topics are in our food, drug and medical licences section.