The Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labeling) Regulations, 2011, require all prepackaged food items supplied in India to meet with the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labeling) Regulations, 2011. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, which is part of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, released the Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011. In this topic, we’ll look at the food labelling requirements in India.
Food licences are issued by the FSSAI to food company operators all throughout India. Various food industry operators, such as traders, producers, and food shop owners, must get an FSSAI licence. FSSAI registration is equally important for food company owners, therefore let’s talk about the many forms of FSSAI registration and how they work.
Regulations on Food Packaging and Labeling Applicability:
Certain food packaging and labelling laws must be followed by food industry owners. In order to run a food company in India, obtaining an FSSAI licence or registration is in high demand. Food company owners should follow FSSAI requirements for food packaging and labelling.
General Labelling Requirements:
All prepackaged food sold in India must fulfil the following labelling requirements:
- The label must be written in English, Hindi, or Devnagri. In addition to the information listed above, the label can include information in any other language if necessary.
- The label must not include any information about the food that may be considered as incorrect, misleading, or deceptive, or that gives the wrong impression about the product.
- The label should be secured to the container in a way that makes it difficult to remove.
- The label should have clear facts for the consumer to understand.
- The product must be specified in great volume on the container wrapper.
Information on nutrition:
The following information must be included on the label alongside the nutritional information or nutritional data per 100 gm, 100ml, or per serving of the product:
- kcal value of energy
- The kilograms (g) or millilitres (ml) of protein, carbohydrate (specify the amount of sugar), and fat
- The quantity of any other nutrient that is the subject of a nutrition or health claim
It’s important to note that any “health claim,” “nutrition claim,” or “risk reduction” claim put on the label will be thoroughly reviewed by the FSSAI. As a result, every such claim must be backed up by test evidence. According to the guidelines, the terms “health claim” and “nutrition claim” are defined as follows:
Health claim:
Health claims include nutrition claims that explain the physiological role of the nutrient in growth, development, and normal body functioning, as well as any representation that says, indicates, or suggests that a link exists between a food or an ingredient of that food and health.
Nutrition Claim:
According to FSSAI labelling requirements, all calorie-related information about a food product must be listed on the label. Calories from saturated fat, omega fats, salt, cholesterol, carbohydrate, carbs, protein, sugar, iron, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin C in the product should all be included.
Risk Reduction:
In the context of health claims, “risk reduction” refers to considerably changing a key risk factor for an illness or health-related condition.
Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian Status
Even though India is such a diverse country, they have their own food patterns. Some faiths restrict the eating of non-vegetarian meals in India. A brown color filled circle inside a square with a brown outline must appear on all packaged food that is labelled as “Non-Vegetarian.” If a food includes only egg as a non-vegetarian ingredient, the manufacturer may mention so on the label and use the non-vegetarian symbol.
FSSAI Guidelines for Food Product Labeling:
According to the FSSAI Food Packaging and Labelling Regulations of 2011, all packaged food items must be labelled in order to ensure customer safety and protect their interests. On the label, the following information must be included:
Name of the food or product:
The name of the product/food is the most important FSSAI rule for food labelling. On the packed product, the whole name of the food product should be written in a legible way. Furthermore, letters should be clearly visible.
Quantity (net):
The whole weight of the product or food item is known as the net quantity. The weight of the product plus the weight of the packaging is referred to as the net quantity.
Nutritional Information:
The calories in this product come from a variety of sources, including fat, salt, sugar, calcium, proteins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Trans fat, carbs, iron, and fatty acids. Calorie information may be found on the packaging of the item.
Ingredients:
The list of ingredients includes elements that are useful in the creation of finished products. What matters most is that the maker specifies all of the ingredients fairly and without fooling the end-customer. If a manufacturer manipulates a consumer by supplying wrong information, the manufacturer will face problems from all sides.
Name and complete address of the manufacturer:
According to FSSAI food packaging and labelling regulations, the food maker must provide his complete business address, including zip code, city, street address, and state. If any of these elements are missing, the goods will be sent back to them.
Dates of Packing or Manufacturing, as Well as Dates of Expiry:
The production date is the day on which the finished product is made once all procedures have been completed, and the expiry date is the day on which the food product may be consumed. When food is consumed after the use-by or expiration date, it is likely to harm the consumer’s health. Moreover, it is the consumer’s responsibility to verify the product’s production and expiration dates before purchasing it.
Labelling & Packaging:
- Our firm provides detailed advice to clients on packaging and labelling regulations for both local export and import.
- Under Indian law, no wholesaler, distributor, or supplier may sell, distribute, or display any packaged item that is misbranded or does not comply with the statutory labelling standards.
- Different states in India have different labelling regulations, such as stating the legal warning in the local language, and so on. In addition, there are different labelling standards for retail and wholesale products.
- We often advise clients on statutory packaging and labelling compliance, check their labels, print and media advertising materials, and so on to guarantee statutory compliance. We also advise on the import of packaged commodities into India, custom bonding and clearance, storage needs after import, and further labelling needs before sending the items in stores.
How can we help you?
Taxxinn provides detailed consultation to our clients on packaging and labelling regulations for both local export and import. We have the best experts in place who will help you get your requirements done in a very short span of time. Contact Us Now!