FSSAI Promises 1-Day Licences for Food and Millet Startups

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has assured food startups, including millet-based businesses, that they can now get licences within a day. Speaking at the Millet Stakeholders Summit 2025 held at T-Hub in Hyderabad, Balu Naik, Deputy Director of FSSAI, said the process is simple and completely online. 

“There is no need to run around government offices. If the documents are correct and the product is in a basic category like proprietary food, licences can be issued immediately,” Naik said.  

Startups can also call the FSSAI office to get details on required documents. If the process takes longer than expected, the issue can be raised online with FSSAI for quick resolution. 

No Surprise Inspections  

Addressing concerns regarding inspections, Naik clarified that no one can inspect startup premises without approval from the central or state authorities. This provides a safer and more transparent environment for new businesses. 

Free Training for Food Safety by FSSAI 

FSSAI is also offering free training programmes to food business operators. The goal is to train one lakh people per state every year. 

“If a group has more than 30 members, FSSAI can even send an officer to conduct training at your location, free of cost,” Naik said. These programmes help entrepreneurs understand food safety and regulatory rules better, improving the quality and safety of their products. 

Nutrihub’s Role in Supporting Millet Startups 

The event was organised by Nutrihub, an incubator set up by the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR). Over 300 participants, including startup founders, scientists, and investors, attended. 

B Dayakar Rao, CEO of Nutrihub, said that they aim to expand the millet startup support model to North, West, and East India. However, he clarified that Nutrihub does not offer free services. “We charge a reasonable fee for incubation and support,” he said. 

Rao added that millets are not a full replacement for cereals, but as per the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), millets can replace about one-third of a typical diet. 

Conclusion 

The FSSAI’s promise of quick licensing and free training is a big step towards making it easier for food and millet startups to grow. With support from incubators like Nutrihub, and better understanding of food laws, the millet ecosystem in India is set to flourish. 

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