The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a notification on 24 March 2026 introducing amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020.

These changes will come into force from 1 July 2027, giving businesses a defined transition window to align their labels, packaging systems, and internal processes.

This article provides a clause-level breakdown of the amendment along with its practical implications for manufacturers, designers, and food businesses.

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1. Regulatory Context

The amendment primarily impacts:

• Regulation 5 (Nutritional Information)
• Regulation 8 (Display requirements)
• Regulation 10 (Non-retail packaging)
• Schedule I & II (fortification and declarations)

The overall direction indicates a shift toward:

• Greater clarity in definitions
• Increased flexibility in B2B scenarios
• Stronger emphasis on readability and transparency

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2. Changes in Nutritional Labelling (Regulation 5)

Key Update:

For infant nutrition products:

• Percentage contribution to Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) per serving is not mandatory
• Number of servings per pack is not required

Interpretation:

This deviation from standard requirements likely reflects:

• The complexity of infant nutrition labelling
• The need to avoid misleading serving-based interpretations

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3. Definition of “Minimally Processed Foods”

The amendment introduces a clearer classification:

Includes:

• Cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables
• Single-ingredient foods

Also clarifies that processes such as:

• Cleaning
• Grinding
• Refrigeration
• Pasteurization
• Fermentation
• Freezing

do not materially alter nutritional value.

Practical Impact:

This reduces ambiguity in classification and helps standardize compliance expectations across categories.

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4. Relaxation for Small Packages (≤100 sq cm)

Key Change:

Certain FSSAI logos:

• May be omitted on packages ≤100 sq cm
• Must be present on multi-unit packaging

Impact:

Relevant for:

• Sachets
• Trial packs
• Low-cost SKUs

Design Consideration:

While space constraints are acknowledged, compliance shifts to the outer packaging layer.

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5. Overhaul of Non-Retail Labelling (Regulation 10)

This is one of the most operationally significant updates.

5.1 Mandatory Information

Non-retail packages must include:

• Name of food
• FSSAI logo and license number
• Date marking (where applicable)
• Batch / Lot / Code number
• Manufacturer / packer details

5.2 Flexibility in Information Placement

Information may be provided through:

• Labels
• Attached documentation
• Electronic formats (in B2B supply chains)

5.3 Reduced Redundancy

If full information is already available on pre-packaged units inside the container:

→ Repetition on outer packaging is not required

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Practical Note

Interpreting non-retail labelling requirements can become complex, particularly when information is distributed across labels, documents, and multiple packaging layers.

For businesses handling multiple SKUs or supply formats, structured validation systems can help ensure that all mandatory elements are consistently applied across scenarios.

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6. Mandatory Identification of Non-Retail Containers

Non-retail packages must clearly indicate:

• “NON-RETAIL CONTAINER”
• OR “NOT FOR DIRECT SALE TO CONSUMER”

Why this matters:

This reduces the risk of:

• Accidental retail sale
• Misinterpretation at distribution levels

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7. Strengthening of General Labelling Principles

The amendment reinforces that all label information must be:

• Clear
• Prominent
• Legible
• Tamper-evident

Implication:

Greater scrutiny can be expected on:

• Typography choices
• Information hierarchy
• Visibility under normal usage conditions

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8. Fortified Food Labelling Update

Labels must now include:

• “Fortified with (name of nutrient)”

Optional:

• “Sampoorna Poshan Swasth Jeevan” tagline

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9. Updated Declarations for Sweeteners

Products containing Aspartame combinations must declare:

• Not recommended for:
  • Children
  • Pregnant or lactating women
  • Individuals with phenylketonuria

Additionally:

• Terminology updated for clarity and consistency

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10. Advertisement-Level Compliance

For certain product categories (e.g., pan masala):

• Warning statements must be clearly visible or audible in advertisements

Implication:

Compliance now extends beyond packaging into marketing communication.

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11. Timeline and Transition Planning

• Notification: 24 March 2026
• Effective: 1 July 2027

Recommended Actions:

• Conduct a structured audit of existing labels
• Map current designs against updated provisions
• Plan revisions aligned with production cycles

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12. Broader Industry Implications

This amendment reflects a clear direction:

• Flexibility for supply chains
• Clarity in product classification
• Stronger enforcement on visibility and accuracy

At the same time, it places greater responsibility on businesses to ensure correct interpretation and implementation.

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Label Review and Compliance Readiness

With the 2027 deadline in place, reviewing existing labels against the amended regulations is no longer optional.

A structured compliance review can help identify:

• Missing or incorrectly interpreted elements
• Risks in small-pack and non-retail formats
• Inconsistencies across product lines

For teams managing multiple SKUs, automated validation tools can significantly reduce manual effort and improve accuracy.

Tools like LabelVeda are designed to support this process by enabling quick, structured compliance checks aligned with current FSSAI regulations.

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Conclusion

The 2026 amendment does not overhaul the regulatory framework but introduces important refinements that improve clarity and practical applicability.

For food businesses, the focus should now shift from understanding the regulation to systematically implementing it across all packaging formats.

Early alignment will not only reduce compliance risk but also streamline operations as enforcement approaches in 2027.