FSSAI Introduces Mandatory ePAAS System for Product & Claim Approvals: What Food Brands Need to Know
India’s food compliance ecosystem is becoming more structured—and more digital.
In a major regulatory update,
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
has officially announced the implementation of a centralized approval and risk assessment system called:
👉 ePAAS
(Electronic Product and Claim Approval Application System)
Effective June 1, 2026, all applicable applications for prior approvals and risk assessments must be submitted exclusively through the ePAAS portal.
Why This Update Matters
This is not just another portal launch.
👉 It signals a larger shift toward:
- Centralized compliance workflows
- Digital tracking of approvals
- Structured scrutiny of claims and ingredients
- Greater standardization across applications
For food businesses—especially nutraceutical and health supplement brands—this is a significant development.
What Is ePAAS?
As per the official FSSAI advisory, ePAAS will function as a:
“Unified digital interface for submission, processing, monitoring and appeal/review of applications related to prior approval and risk assessment.”
What Will Now Require Submission Through ePAAS?
The advisory covers approvals and assessments related to:
- Non-Specified Foods & Food Ingredients (NSF&FI)
- Approval of Claims
- Ayurveda Aahara
- FSMP
- Vegan Endorsement
- r-PET authorization
- Nutraceutical ingredients
- Novel foods and ingredients
- Other products/processes requiring prior approval under FSSAI regulations
Major Impact on Nutraceutical & Health Supplement Brands
This is where the update becomes especially important.
The advisory reinforces that several nutraceutical-related activities may require:
👉 Prior approval
👉 Notification
👉 Safety assessment
👉 Scientific substantiation
Examples Mentioned in the Advisory
⚠️ Product-Led Health Claims
Health claims associated with products may require submission of supporting documents and notification to the Food Authority.
⚠️ New Nutrients or Substances
If a nutrient or substance:
- Has no history of use in India
- Requires safety evidence
👉 Approval may be required before use.
⚠️ Novel Nutraceuticals
Nutraceuticals not already specified under regulations may only be sold after prior approval from the Food Authority.
⚠️ Higher RDA Products
Products containing higher Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) may require approval based on scientific evidence.
⚠️ Disease Risk Reduction Claims
Claims related to disease risk reduction require prior approval under FSSAI Advertising & Claims Regulations.
What This Means Practically for Brands
Brands can no longer afford to:
- Use aggressive claims casually
- Add new nutraceutical ingredients without scrutiny
- Assume global supplement formats automatically work in India
👉 Compliance expectations are clearly increasing.
Risks of Ignoring This Shift
Failure to prepare properly can lead to:
- Delayed approvals
- Product launch delays
- Regulatory scrutiny
- Listing issues on marketplaces
- Costly rework of packaging and claims
Why Early Compliance Checks Matter More Than Ever
As approval systems become centralized and digital:
👉 Errors become easier to detect
👉 Claims become easier to track
👉 Documentation becomes more important
This means:
- Labels
- Claims
- Ingredient positioning
…must be reviewed more carefully before submission or launch.
What Smart Brands Will Start Doing
Instead of reacting after rejection or scrutiny, smart brands will:
✔ Validate claims before launch
✔ Review labels early
✔ Check ingredient positioning carefully
✔ Align packaging with FSSAI expectations before submission
Where LabelVeda Fits In
As regulatory scrutiny increases, pre-submission checks become critical.
LabelVeda helps brands:
- Review labels for compliance gaps
- Identify risky or incomplete declarations
- Flag potential claim-related issues
- Prepare labels before launch or submission
👉 So problems are identified earlier—not after rejection.
Quick Checklist Before Submission
Before launching or submitting your product:
- Are your claims properly supported?
- Are all declarations present?
- Does your ingredient positioning align with regulations?
- Could your product fall under prior approval requirements?
- Is your label structured correctly?
👉 If unsure, review before proceeding.
Final Thought
The launch of ePAAS signals something bigger:
👉 Food compliance in India is becoming more structured, digital, and data-driven.
For brands in nutraceuticals, health supplements, functional foods, and novel ingredients:
👉 Compliance can no longer be treated as an afterthought.
Before You Finalize Your Product or Label
Take time to validate your compliance approach.
👉 Use LabelVeda to identify label and claim risks before submission, approval, or launch.
