FPO Mark Certification — Now an FSSAI Licence
The FPO mark came from the Fruit Products Order, 1955, which was repealed when the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 took over on 5 August 2011. Today, jams, squashes, pickles, sauces and other fruit and vegetable products need an FSSAI registration or licence instead. We tell you which one applies and get it issued on FoSCoS.
What it is
For decades, the FPO mark showed that a processed fruit or vegetable product was made under a licence issued under the Fruit Products Order, 1955. Squash, jam, ketchup, pickle and juice bottles all carried it.
That system ended with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Section 97 of the Act, read with its Second Schedule, repealed the Fruit Products Order, along with the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, with effect from 5 August 2011. No FPO licence or mark has been issued since.
So when a buyer or tender asks for FPO mark certification today, what they need is an FSSAI registration or licence for fruit and vegetable processing. The label must show the FSSAI logo and number, and the products must meet the FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.
Who it applies to
You process fruit or vegetables
Jams, squashes, juices, pickles, chutneys, sauces, ketchup, dehydrated fruit and canned vegetables.
You run a small or home unit
A small pickle or murabba business with turnover up to ₹1.5 crore needs FSSAI registration, not a licence.
Your packs still show an FPO number
Anyone still printing an FPO number on packs needs a valid FSSAI licence number on the label instead.
Why it matters
Meet the legal requirement
Section 31 of the FSS Act bars running a food business without a licence; petty businesses register instead.
Get listed by retailers
Supermarkets and online platforms ask for your FSSAI number before they list a product.
Open the export route
Export registrations such as APEDA ask for your FSSAI licence first.
FPO mark then, FSSAI licence now
| FPO mark (until 2011) | FSSAI licence (now) | |
|---|---|---|
| Law | Fruit Products Order, 1955 | Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 |
| Covers | Fruit and vegetable products only | All food businesses, including fruit and vegetable products |
| Product standards | Set in the Order | FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 |
| On the label | FPO licence number | FSSAI logo and licence or registration number |
Which FSSAI approval you need depends on turnover. From 1 April 2026, FSSAI registration covers turnover up to ₹1.5 crore, a state FSSAI licence covers above ₹1.5 crore up to ₹50 crore, and a central licence applies above ₹50 crore. Importers and businesses operating in two or more states need a central licence.
In practice, picture a Faridabad unit making mango pickle and amla murabba that started small and now sells to wholesalers in Delhi and Haryana. Crossing ₹1.5 crore in turnover moves it from registration to a state licence. A second unit in another state would mean a central licence.
Documents required
About the business
- PAN and incorporation or partnership documents
- Identity and address proof of the proprietor, partners or directors
- Proof of possession of the premises
About the unit
- Layout plan of the processing unit
- List of machinery and equipment
- Water analysis report from a recognised laboratory
- Food safety management system plan
About the products
- List of fruit and vegetable products to be made
- Source of raw material
- Draft labels for each product
How it works
Map the product and turnover
Your products, locations and expected turnover decide between registration, a state licence and a central licence.
Build a file that matches the standards
We collect the documents, draft the food safety plan and match each product to an FSSAI standard.
Apply on FoSCoS
We file Form A for registration or Form B for a licence, pay the fee and reply to queries. The authority may inspect the unit before granting a licence.
Replace the FPO number on your labels
Here is the catch: an old FPO number on your packs now means nothing. We check that the label shows the FSSAI logo and licence number, and that the old number is gone.
Stay compliant every year
We pay the annual licence fee and file the Form D-1 annual return by 31 May.
Timelines
Licence decision in 60 days
Regulation 2.1.4 gives the authority 60 days from the application ID, or 30 days from an inspection report.
Annual fee to stay valid
Licences issued from 1 April 2026 do not expire, but unpaid annual fees mean deemed suspension.
Form D-1 by 31 May
Every licensed manufacturer files an annual return in Form D-1 by 31 May. The late fee is ₹100 a day.
What happens if you sell without a licence
Up to six months and ₹5 lakh
Section 63 of the FSS Act punishes a food business run without a licence with imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to ₹5 lakh.
Improvement notice, then suspension
Section 32 allows an improvement notice with at least 14 days to comply, then suspension or cancellation.
Your stock gets delisted
A product without a valid licence number on the label gets pulled from shelves and listings.
Frequently asked questions
Is the FPO mark still mandatory in India?
No. The Fruit Products Order, 1955 was repealed by Section 97 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with effect from 5 August 2011. No FPO licence or mark has been issued since. Fruit and vegetable products now need an FSSAI registration or licence, and the label must show the FSSAI logo and licence number. If a buyer asks for FPO mark certification, show them your FSSAI licence; that is the current legal equivalent.
Which FSSAI licence does a fruit processing unit need?
It depends on turnover. From 1 April 2026, FSSAI registration covers turnover up to ₹1.5 crore, a state licence covers above ₹1.5 crore up to ₹50 crore, and a central licence applies above ₹50 crore. Importers and businesses operating in two or more states need a central licence whatever their size. We confirm the right category from your figures before filing, so the application is not rejected.
What is the FSSAI fee for a fruit products manufacturer?
The fee depends on the approval and, for state licences, on daily production. Schedule 3 of the Licensing Regulations, as last published, lists ₹100 for registration, ₹3,000 or ₹5,000 for a state manufacturing licence and ₹7,500 for central. Check the current figure on FoSCoS before paying. From 1 April 2026 you can pay for several years at once, and licences no longer expire.
Can I still print my old FPO number on the label?
No. An FPO number has had no legal status since 5 August 2011, and printing it may mislead buyers. The label must carry the FSSAI logo and your FSSAI licence or registration number. If you have old printed stock, plan the changeover with your printer. We review the draft label against FSSAI’s requirements before the new print run, so you do not waste packaging.
How long does an FSSAI licence take for a fruit processing unit?
Up to 60 days from the application ID under Regulation 2.1.4 of the Licensing Regulations. If the authority orders an inspection, it decides within 30 days of the inspection report. Queries must be answered on time to keep the clock running. A complete file with a clear layout plan, water report and product list avoids most delays.
Does a home-based pickle business need FSSAI?
Yes. Even a home kitchen selling pickles, jams or murabba needs at least FSSAI registration. With turnover up to ₹1.5 crore, registration in Form A is enough. Selling on marketplaces or to shops is almost impossible without the number on the label. The process is short, and the documents needed are basic.
Where do fruit product standards come from now?
From the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. They set the composition, permitted additives and preservatives for products such as jams, squashes, juices, pickles and sauces, replacing the standards that sat in the Fruit Products Order. A product with no standard there needs product approval from FSSAI before it is sold. We check each product against the standards before you apply.
What is the annual return for a fruit processing licence?
Every licensed manufacturer files Form D-1 by 31 May each year, covering the products made and sold in the previous financial year. The late fee is ₹100 per day of delay. Registration holders do not file Form D-1. Put 31 May on your calendar along with the annual licence fee, or let us file both for you each year.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
| FSSAI approval | Government fee per year |
|---|---|
| Registration (turnover up to ₹1.5 crore) | ₹100 |
| State licence, manufacturer below 1 MT/day | ₹3,000 |
| State licence, manufacturer above 1 MT/day | ₹5,000 |
| Central licence | ₹7,500 |
Fees are as last published in Schedule 3 of the Licensing Regulations; confirm the current figure on FoSCoS before paying. Late filing of Form D-1 attracts ₹100 a day.
Ready to begin?
Tell us what you make and your expected turnover, and we will get the right FSSAI licence in place of FPO mark certification.