You can sell pickles from your kitchen — legally, with the right registration and the right shipping practices. The home food business rules that apply and the ones that don't.
The FSSAI requirement
Home food businesses under ₹12 lakh annual turnover need FSSAI Basic Registration — a ₹100/year online registration that makes your food business legal. Above ₹12L, the licence tier changes. The licence number goes on your packaging; the registration takes a day.
What couriers accept
Dry, shelf-stable foods ship normally — pickles (sealed jars), snacks, sweets (stable types), spices, tea. Restrictions: liquids/semi-liquids can't fly air (surface only), highly perishable items are your risk, some carriers restrict food categories. Declare contents honestly — 'food items' covers it.
The shelf-life rule
Match transit time to shelf life — a 5-day-freshness item on a 4-day lane is a gamble. Shelf-stable (>15 days) ships nationally; medium-life (5–15 days) ships fast lanes only; short-life ships hyperlocal/same-city only.
The packaging spec
Sealed containers + leak-proof secondary + rigid outer box. Label includes FSSAI number, ingredients, date of packing, best-before. The compliance is lightweight; the discipline is the actual work.
Pakka Parcel runs the whole stack described here — one place for every carrier.
See how →The playbook
Register FSSAI Basic
₹100/year, online, a day's process — required.
Match shelf-life to lane
Stable = national; medium = fast lanes; short = hyperlocal.
Surface for liquids
Air doesn't carry them — route accordingly.
Label completely
FSSAI number, ingredients, dates — on the pack.
