FSSAI Compliance for Dairy Manufacturers: What You Must Know in 2026

Licensing Categories for Dairy Manufacturers

FSSAI licences fall into three categories based on turnover and scale. Basic Registration is for businesses with turnover below ₹12 lakh. State Licence covers businesses with turnover between ₹12 lakh and ₹20 crore. Central Licence is mandatory for manufacturers with turnover above ₹20 crore, those engaged in export, multi-state businesses, and dairy processors above a defined production threshold. Large-scale dairy processors like Krushi Foods require Central Licence, which is issued by the Central Licensing Authority and requires more comprehensive documentation.

Product Standards Under FSS Act

Every dairy product sold in India must comply with product-specific standards defined in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011. Key standards relevant to dairy: standardised milk must have minimum 4.5% fat and 8.5% SNF for cow milk. SMP must have maximum 5% moisture and minimum 34% protein. Ghee must meet Reichert-Meissl and Polenske values. Butter must have minimum 80% milk fat. Non-compliance with these standards attracts penalties ranging from ₹2 lakh to criminal prosecution.

Labelling Requirements

All packaged dairy products must display: FSSAI licence number, name and address of manufacturer, net quantity, date of manufacture, best before date, batch number, nutritional information per 100g, allergen declarations, and vegetarian/non-vegetarian symbol. For export products, labelling must additionally comply with the destination country's requirements — which often differ significantly from Indian standards.

Mandatory Testing and Record Keeping

FSSAI requires dairy manufacturers to maintain testing records for every production batch. Internal QC testing must cover microbiological parameters (TPC, coliforms, yeast, mould), chemical parameters (fat, SNF, moisture, acidity), and adulteration checks. Records must be maintained for a minimum of 2 years and must be available for inspection during FSSAI audits.

What Triggers an FSSAI Audit

Audits are triggered by: consumer complaints lodged through the FSSAI portal, tip-offs from competitor or trade associations, market surveillance sampling that fails testing, or scheduled periodic audits for Central Licence holders. The best protection is robust internal documentation, regular third-party testing, and an organised audit trail that can demonstrate compliance on short notice.