This latest development is a reform to the Food Safety and Standards (labelling and Display) Regulations, which took effect in 2020.
The objective is to ease compliance for food businesses while empowering consumers to make informed choices, said the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
How will it affect food businesses?
Food business operators now have a consistent timeline for compliance. Any necessary updates to product labels – whether changes to ingredients lists, nutritional details, or other mandated information – will need to be implemented by July 1 each year. This change enables businesses to streamline compliance and reduce risks associated with inconsistent deadlines.
This is subject to a minimum of 180 days from the date of notification for the amendments related to prevailing regulations and for any change in labelling specified in other food safety standards regulations.
It aligns with FSSAI’s usual practice, which typically allows a minimum of six months for compliance for any regulation, including amendments. This gives food business operators time to prepare new labels and exhaust the old stock. In some cases, this timeframe extends to more than a year, depending on the specific circumstances, said former FSSAI director Pradip Chakraborty, who continues to participate in certain FSSAI meetings, providing suggestions to support the regulatory body’s initiatives.
“Previously, enforcement dates were usually set for either the 1st of January or the 1st of July. To reduce confusion, FSSAI has now decided to fix July 1 as the enforcement date for labelling amendments,” said Chakraborty.
The fixed date minimises financial losses by providing businesses sufficient time to transition to new labels while phasing out old stock. By 1st July, the older labels should be exhausted, and the new ones can fully comply with the updated provisions. This timeline also ensures smooth enforcement by food safety officers.
“This change is a positive step that allows FBOs sufficient time to transition and ensures food safety officers are aligned with the new regulations. The extended timeline also allows them to familiarise themselves with the amended regulations. Likewise for food safety officers, who can be aligned with the new regulations with the fixed date of July 1,” said Chakraborty.
Any potential challenges for food busineses?
It is a welcome move, agreed Sandeep Gupta, founder and director of Expert Nutraceutical Advocacy Council (ENAC).
However, Gupta cautioned that 180 days might not be sufficient for changes that involve ingredient reformulation.
Labelling changes are manageable within six months. However, changes involving product standards, ingredients, or quality require at least a year for development, observation, and stabilisation.
“Labelling compliance is always welcome, but the timeline remains crucial. Manufacturers work with products that have extended shelf lives and significant packaging inventories. In a vast country like India, it takes time for products to move through the supply chain and reach consumers.
“For some companies, especially large ones, a transition period of one year might be sufficient. However, for many small and medium enterprises, a longer transition period is necessary to manage stock liquidation and compliance effectively,” explained Gupta.
This means businesses must plan carefully to manage stock levels, ensure regulatory compliance, and reduce wastage.
“For fresh produce, six months is a reasonable timeline. However, for older products already in the market, it’s inadequate. Products with longer shelf lives, such as 24 months, often remain in circulation until their 20th or 21st month. Any overlap during this period can complicate compliance and lead to financial losses. In such cases, distributors often refuse to accept the products and return them to the company, causing losses,” said Gupta.
There is, however, a system in place to mitigate this problem.
At the FSSAI, FBOs can request additional time to use old labels beyond the stipulated deadline by paying a fee. This prevents financial losses due to label changes, said Chakraborty.
Such measures are meant to alleviate any issues that could arise with any regulatory change, which, in this case, is also meant to benefit consumers.
What does this policy change mean for consumers?
FSSAI emphasised that this “consumer-centric measure strengthens trust in the food industry and aligns with FSSAI’s commitment to safeguarding public health.”
The goal is to ensure greater transparency in food labelling, enabling informed decision-making and boosting confidence in the safety and quality of food products.
Consumers are expected to benefit from this change as it reduces marketplace confusion. A fixed timeline minimises the overlap of old and new labels, preventing misunderstandings about product ingredients, shelf life, or compliance.
