India proposes new labelling rules for milk products, nutritional information

INDIA – The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has put forward new regulations that would require milk products to carry a distinct logo and mandate clearer labelling of salt, sugar, and fat content. 

According to the authority, these changes are part of the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Amendment Regulations, 2025, outlined in a draft notification published on February 18. 

The FSSAI is inviting public feedback on these proposals until April 20.

According to the draft, all milk and composite milk products must feature a logo consisting of a white drop inside a blue square box. 

The notification specifies the logo’s size and color details.

For instance, on a display area of up to 100 square centimeters, each side of the square must be at least 6mm, with the drop measuring a minimum height of 4.56mm and width of 3mm. 

Larger packaging would require proportionally bigger logos. 

This move builds on recent dairy-related regulations, including the FSSAI’s earlier directive to remove dairy terms from plant-based products, a step that has pushed such brands to adjust their labelling.

The FSSAI has also proposed making nutritional information more prominent. 

Reports highlight that the authority wants labels to display total sugar, saturated fat, and sodium content in bold letters with a larger font size. 

“The information regarding per serve percentage contribution to Recommended Dietary Allowance should stand out clearly for consumers,” an FSSAI official stated in the draft. 

This echoes a similar mandate from July 6, 2024, though specific font sizes remain unspecified. Additionally, the third amendment targets coffee-chicory mixtures.

The FSSAI suggests that every package must declare the percentages of coffee and chicory on the front panel in capital letters within a rectangular box. 

“This will help consumers know exactly what they’re buying,” said a regulatory expert familiar with the proposal. This change aims to boost transparency in a market where such blends are popular.

These amendments are designed to enhance consumer trust and help food businesses comply with clearer rules. 

Industry experts believe the updates could resolve ongoing confusion, especially after the crackdown on plant-based milk labelling. 

The FSSAI’s push for bolder nutritional details also aligns with past efforts to improve food safety standards, such as tightened e-commerce regulations announced in February 2025.

As India’s food sector grows, these measures reflect a broader commitment to quality and accountability, though some experts warn that gaps in implementation could still pose challenges. 

Public input over the next two months will shape the final regulations.

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