What is FSSAI's Latest Airport Directive?
In late July 2026, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a significant order concerning food business operators (FBOs) at airports. The directive focused on the "Appointment of a Designated Officer for Central Licensing for Airports."
In simple terms, FSSAI has moved to create a single, clear authority responsible for issuing and overseeing food licenses for vendors operating within airport premises. This step aims to centralise control, ensuring that one specific body is accountable for the food safety standards at these crucial transit hubs. Instead of a potentially confusing web of local and central authorities, businesses will now have a single point of contact and oversight, bringing airport food safety squarely under FSSAI's central command.
A Solution to Long-Standing Confusion
This move is not happening in a vacuum. For years, there has been ambiguity about who holds the ultimate responsibility for food safety at airports. Was it the state's Food and Drug Administration, the Airport Health Officer (APHO), or FSSAI's central team? This lack of clarity has been a point of contention for FBOs, licensing bodies, and other stakeholders. An FSSAI order from as far back as 2016 acknowledged receiving several representations seeking clarification on this very issue. At that time, the solution was a complex one, depending on whether a Designated Officer was formally notified for a specific airport terminal. This created a patchwork of regulatory oversight that varied from one airport to another, making standardised enforcement a significant challenge. The latest order aims to finally resolve this decade-old jurisdictional puzzle.
A Deliberate Strategy, Not a Sudden Move
The July 2026 directive is the culmination of a strategy that has been building for some time. Earlier in April 2026, FSSAI had already expanded the jurisdiction of its Central Food Safety Officers to explicitly include major international airports like those in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Kolkata. This earlier notification was a clear signal of intent, laying the groundwork for a more formalised and unified system. By first extending the reach of its enforcement officers and now centralising the licensing process, FSSAI is methodically dismantling the fragmented regulatory landscape. This step-by-step approach suggests a deliberate plan to assert its authority as the primary food safety regulator in complex environments like airports, which function as gateways to the country.
Why Airports are a High-Priority Zone
Airports are not just another commercial space; they are high-risk, high-traffic environments where the country's reputation is on the line with every international visitor. Food quality and safety are considered non-negotiable. With millions of passengers, including foreign tourists and business travellers, passing through daily, ensuring a high standard of food safety is paramount. Any lapse can have far-reaching consequences, not just for public health but also for the nation's image. FSSAI's regulations mandate that all food businesses operating at airports, which fall under the purview of central government agencies, must obtain a Central License. This latest move strengthens that mandate by clarifying exactly who enforces it, ensuring that the vada pav in Mumbai or the coffee in Delhi is held to the same stringent, centrally-managed standard.
The Broader Push for Regulatory Clarity
FSSAI's focus on airports is part of a larger campaign to untangle regulatory knots and establish clear lines of authority across various sectors. The authority has taken similar steps to clarify its jurisdiction over food served on Indian Railways and sold on e-commerce platforms. Each of these areas presents unique challenges with overlapping jurisdictions. By tackling them one by one, FSSAI is establishing a consistent playbook for modern food regulation in India. For food businesses, this centralisation could bring much-needed predictability, simplifying compliance. For travellers, the ultimate goal is a seamless assurance of safety, whether they are ordering a meal online, buying food on a train, or grabbing a snack before their flight.
