This is one of the three amendments proposed in the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Amendment Regulations, 2025.
The food authority is calling for public comments regarding these proposed amendments from February 18 to April 20.
The draft notification published on February 18 proposed that “all milk and milk products, including composite milk products … shall carry the logo as specified”.
It also provided the colour and size specifications for components of the logo, which is a white drop enclosed within a blue square box.
For example, on a front-of-pack display area of up to 100cm square, each side of the square must not be less than 6mm; and the minimum height and width of the drop are 4.56mm and 3mm respectively.
Larger display areas will see minimum size requirements of the logo increase accordingly.
This is the latest dairy related regulatory development. Previously, the FSSAI ordered online and offline platforms to delist all plant-based products that used dairy terms.
India plant-based milk brands have since steered clear from using conventional dairy terms on their product labels until regulators issue greater clarity on what is permitted.
Clarity in compliance planning by food businesses can be achieved by changes to labelling rules in India, according to industry experts.
Regulatory changes are also aimed at improving trust among consumers – such changes include the two other amendments in the same February 18 draft notification.
Other proposed amendments in the February 18 draft notification
The FSSAI has also proposed to increase the boldness and font size of product nutritional information such as total sugar, salt and saturated fat on product labels.
The FSSAI suggests adding the following clause to existing regulations:
“The information regarding per serve percentage (%) contribution to Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) be given in bold letters with relatively increased font size for added sugar, saturated fat and sodium content.”
This is not the first time the FSSAI raised this amendment. On July 6 2024, the food authority mandated that food businesses are to increase the boldness and font size of product nutritional information such as total sugar, salt and saturated fat on product labels.
There was no font size requirement specified in both instances.
The third amendment involves inserting a proviso for “coffee-chicory mixture” products – every package containing a mixture of coffee and chicory, or instant coffee-chicory mixture, should declare the percentages of coffee and chicory content.
This is “provided that declarations specified in the clause (1) and (2) of the sub para 2.2 [percentages of coffee and chicory content] shall be displayed on front of the package, in capital letters within a rectangular box on the principal display panel,” according to the draft notification.
