Labelling and display of pre-packaged foods
This guide is the fourth in a series of regulatory guides designed to simplify the regulatory landscape for smart protein companies in India. GFI India regularly collaborates with legal and regulatory experts to bring handy resources to help build and grow your company.
Do you need help navigating your smart protein products’ labelling and display requirements in India?
The Labelling and Display Regulatory Guide offers a comprehensive overview of the labelling and display requirements and regulations for smart protein products in India. It is tailored to assist smart protein companies with compliance, ensuring smooth operations and adherence to legal requirements. These regulations apply to the following products and formats:
- Pre-packaged food products
- Food service establishments (FSE)
- E-commerce platforms
In this guide, smart protein companies will find valuable information on the mandatory labelling requirements, such as ingredient declarations, nutritional labelling, country of origin labelling, and allergen declarations. Additionally, the guide clarifies display regulations to ensure that smart protein products are marketed and presented per the stipulated guidelines.
With the Labelling and Display Regulatory Guide, smart protein companies can confidently label their products and ensure informed consumer choices. The series of regulatory resources aims to simplify the regulatory landscape, empowering smart protein companies to focus on innovation and growth while ensuring compliance.
If you have any queries or want to raise concerns and give feedback, please get in touch with the GFI India team at india@gfi.org.
The FSSAI has also recently tried to address the growing consumer interest in smart protein (also known globally as alternative protein) — specifically, plant-based products derived from plant sources to substitute for or provide an alternative to animal-derived meat, eggs, dairy, and seafood. Through the Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulation, 2022, the FSSAI has defined ‘Vegan foods’ and the approval process for endorsement. For certification, FBOs must submit an application under Form-A of the regulation with the necessary documentation and an application fee of INR 25,000 per product variant.
This regulatory guide also has information on non-compliance with the Advertising Standards Council of India’s voluntary guidelines, which contain a code of best practices and principles for advertising.
*This is the obligatory fine print: this guide and other published content are not legal advice and should not be construed as such. It has been prepared for general informational purposes only, and readers are encouraged to seek professional counsel to address questions specific to their situation.