Regulations

Do You Need Your Own FSSAI Licence if a Contract Manufacturer Makes Your Drink?

By Manit Agarwal Published November 2026 6 min read

Short answer: yes. When a contract manufacturer produces your beverage, they hold the production licence, but your own business still needs its own FSSAI registration or licence. This guide explains why, and how to avoid launch delays.

The short answer

Yes. If a contract manufacturer or private label partner makes your drink, the manufacturer's licence covers their production activity. It does not cover your business as the brand owner who sells the product. Your brand needs its own FSSAI registration or licence.

Why both licences exist

FSSAI regulates every food business operator in the chain. The plant that makes the drink is one operator. The company that owns the brand, markets the product and sells it to distributors or consumers is another. Each carries its own responsibilities, so each needs the appropriate registration or licence.

Which licence

FSSAI uses tiers: basic registration for very small businesses, a state licence for mid-sized operations, and a central licence for larger businesses, importers and those operating across several states. Which one applies depends on your turnover and the nature of your business, and the thresholds can change. Our FSSAI compliance guide explains the tiers, and we can confirm what applies to you at the time of application.

What to check on the manufacturer

Their FSSAI licence is current and covers your product category
The licence number and address match what will print on your label
Any other approvals relevant to the plant, such as pollution control consents and water source approvals
If you are making packaged drinking water, that the plant holds the required BIS licence (see our BIS guide)

Planning the timeline

Licensing takes weeks, not days, and it should run in parallel with formulation and manufacturing, not after them. A sensible order is:

Decide your product category and the business entity that will sell the product.
Start your brand's licence application as soon as the plan is clear.
Review the formula and label for compliance before design and printing.
Confirm the manufacturer's licence covers your category before the trial batch.

Do not print labels before your formula is reviewed. A compliance change after printing can mean scrapping your packaging and resetting your launch date.

Common mistakes

Assuming the manufacturer's licence covers your sales
Starting the licence application too late
Choosing a plant whose licence does not cover your category
Printing the wrong licence details on the label

We arrange licensing support through experienced partners and keep compliance in view during formulation and labelling. See FSSAI licensing and compliance or how a private label project runs.

Frequently asked questions

Does my brand need its own FSSAI licence if a contract manufacturer produces the drink?

Yes. The manufacturer holds the production licence, but your brand, as the owner and seller of the product, needs its own FSSAI registration or licence. The manufacturer licence does not cover your business.

How do I know which FSSAI licence I need?

FSSAI has registration, state and central tiers, chosen by turnover and the nature of the business. Thresholds can change, so confirm the current position when you apply.

When should I apply for my FSSAI licence?

Early. Licensing takes weeks, so it should run alongside formulation and manufacturing rather than after them, and well before labels are printed.

Manit Agarwal

Founder of Red Bottle Consultancy and Balaji Beverages. Three-plus years building and operating a beverage brand in India, with hands-on experience across packaging, formula development, and contract manufacturing.