Every food brand in India claims to be FSSAI compliant. Almost none explain what that actually means, or that there are several tiers of FSSAI registration with very different requirements. Here is what Spicewale's license actually covers — and how to check any brand's claim yourself.
FSSAI has three tiers. Most brands don't tell you which one they hold.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India operates three distinct levels of registration. Basic Registration applies to very small businesses with annual turnover under ₹12 lakh — a roadside vendor or a home kitchen qualifies here, and the requirements are minimal. State License applies to mid-sized manufacturers, traders, and processors operating within a state, with more rigorous documentation and inspection requirements. Central License applies to large manufacturers, importers, exporters, and businesses operating across multiple states, with the most stringent oversight.
When a brand says "FSSAI certified" without specifying which tier, you have no way of knowing whether you are dealing with a basic home-kitchen registration or a fully inspected state-licensed facility. The difference in scrutiny between these tiers is significant.
What Spicewale actually holds
Spicewale operates under FSSAI State License No. 12225032000542, issued by the Government of Rajasthan's Food Safety and Standards Authority under the FSS Act, 2006. This is not a basic registration. A State License requires a Designated Officer to review and approve the application, covers specific food product categories explicitly listed on the license, and comes with binding conditions — including mandatory testing of chemical and microbiological contaminants at least once every six months through an FSSAI-recognized lab.
Our license, issued 01 July 2025 and valid till 30 June 2027, explicitly covers Dairy Products (Category 01) — relevant to our Bilona A2 Ghee — Fats and Oils (Category 02) covering our Cold Pressed Groundnut Oil, Coconut Oil, and Sesame Oil, Fruits and Vegetables including Nuts and Seeds (Category 04) covering our Cashew W320, Chia Seeds, and entire nuts and dry fruits range, and Salts, Spices, Soups and Sauces (Category 12) covering our complete spice catalog including Jeera Star and Garam Masala Mix Sabut.
What the license legally requires us to do — every day
An FSSAI State License is not a one-time stamp. The conditions attached to it are binding operational requirements. We are required to maintain daily records of production, raw material utilisation, and sales — separately tracked, not estimated. We are required to ensure the source and standards of every raw material are of optimum quality before they enter our facility. We are required to test for chemical and microbiological contaminants at minimum once every six months through our own or an FSSAI-recognized lab.
For dairy and edible oil specifically — which covers our ghee and cold pressed oils — the conditions are even stricter. The license explicitly states that no manufacturer of vegetable oil, edible oil, or their products is eligible for licensing unless they have their own laboratory facility for analytical testing of samples. It also mandates that every manufacturer maintain a register showing quantity manufactured, received, or sold, the nature of oil seed used, and the destination of every consignment — available for inspection at any time.
How to verify any brand's FSSAI claim yourself
You do not have to take any brand's word for it. Every FSSAI license number is verifiable on the FoSCoS portal at foscos.fssai.gov.in. Search Spicewale's license number — 12225032000542 — and you will see our registered entity, Kosh International, our licensed address at Mandore Mandi, Jodhpur, the exact food categories we are licensed for, and our license validity dates. This is public information. If a brand's FSSAI number doesn't show up, or shows a different business name or category, that is worth questioning before you buy.
Why this matters more than a logo on a website
FSSAI licensing is the legal foundation everything else builds on. Our GMP and HACCP certifications sit on top of this baseline — they verify our process quality in more depth, but the FSSAI State License is what makes Spicewale a legally accountable food business in the first place, with documented obligations and a real Designated Officer who reviewed our application. Across our entire product catalog, this is the license under which every single item is sold.
Andar se saaf — and legally accountable for it.
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