TL;DR
- A non-alcoholic beverage label in India carries the Regulation 5 declarations of the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, with nutrition per 100 ml.
- Caffeinated beverages under sub-regulation 2.10.6(2) must state caffeine per serving and a caution for children, pregnant or lactating women and caffeine-sensitive persons.
- Juices, nectars and fruit drinks must use the names and minimum fruit content set in Chapter 2.3 of the product standards.
Quick Answer: A beverage label in India must carry the Regulation 5 declarations of the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, with nutrition per 100 ml. Caffeinated beverages must also state caffeine per serving, a caution for children, pregnant or lactating women and persons sensitive to caffeine, and a per-day consumption limit. Juices and fruit drinks follow Chapter 2.3 naming rules.
This guide sets out beverage label requirements in India under the rules of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for non-alcoholic beverages: carbonated soft drinks, caffeinated beverages, fruit juices, nectars and fruit drinks. Packaged drinking water and mineral water follow their own water-specific rules, set out separately in the guide to packaged drinking water label requirements. Alcoholic beverages fall under a separate set of regulations and are outside this guide. For soft drink labelling, the caffeine and sweetener rules sit in the product standards, not in the labelling regulations.
Beverage labelling at a glance
| Beverage | Product standard | Label rule that catches brands out |
|---|---|---|
| Carbonated water and soft drinks | 2.10.6(1) | Caffeine capped at 145 ppm; "CONTAINS CAFFEINE" box if added |
| Caffeinated beverages | 2.10.6(2) | Caffeine per serving and a caution statement |
| Non-carbonated water-based drinks | 2.10.6(3) | Caffeine capped at 145 ppm; added herbs declared |
| Fruit juices | 2.3.6 | "Reconstituted" and "Sweetened juice" rules |
| Nectars | 2.3.9 | Minimum juice content by fruit |
| Fruit beverages and drinks | 2.3.10 | At least 10% juice, 5% for lime or lemon |
| Diet and zero-sugar drinks | Schedule II, para 1(4) | Sweetener warning in a box |
Which Declarations Must a Beverage Label Carry?
Every packaged beverage follows Regulation 5 of the Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020, the same list that governs solid foods. What changes is how each declaration is read for a drink.
| Declaration | Sub-regulation | Beverage note |
|---|---|---|
| Name of food | 5(1) | The name of the standard met, such as nectar or fruit drink |
| Ingredients | 5(2) | Descending order by weight or volume; added water declared |
| Nutrition information | 5(3) | Per 100 ml, plus per-serve contribution to daily intake |
| Veg or non-veg symbol | 5(4) | Required, except mineral water, packaged drinking water and carbonated water |
| Food additives | 5(5) | Class plus name or INS number, such as acidity regulators |
| Name and complete address | 5(6) | Brand owner, after words such as "Manufactured by" or "Marketed by" |
| FSSAI logo and licence | 5(7) | Brand owner, and manufacturer if different |
| Net quantity, MRP, consumer care | 5(8) | Volume in ml or litres, under Legal Metrology rules |
| Lot, dates, storage | 5(9), 5(10), 5(13) | Including storage after opening, where relevant |
The date format, letter heights and panel rules are the same as for any packaged food, and are set out in the guide to FSSAI labelling requirements. Symbol sizes are in the guide to FSSAI logo and veg symbol rules. Imported drinks also add the importer's details and the country of origin.
Which Warnings Apply to Caffeinated and Sweetened Beverages?
Caffeinated beverages carry three statements of their own. Sweetened diet drinks carry a boxed sweetener warning.
What Must a Caffeinated Beverage Label Say?
Sub-regulation 2.10.6(2) of the beverage product standards covers caffeinated beverages. The FSSAI caffeine limit for these drinks is not less than 145 mg/l and not more than 300 mg/l of total caffeine.
- Caffeine content stated as "High Caffeine: X mg/serving size", where X is the caffeine per pack or serve.
- A prominent caution: "Not recommended for children, pregnant or lactating women, persons sensitive to caffeine."
- A per-day quantity declaration, worked out from the optional ingredients and printed in the regulation's example as "consume not more than 500 ml per day".
Any beverage with added caffeine also needs "CONTAINS CAFFEINE" in a rectangular box, under Schedule II, paragraph 1(1). Carbonated water under 2.10.6(1) and non-carbonated water-based drinks under 2.10.6(3) may contain caffeine of no more than 145 parts per million.
Which Sweetener Warnings Apply to Diet Drinks?
Schedule II, paragraph 1(4) requires a boxed statement naming each artificial sweetener used. Each sweetener has its own wording.
| Sweetener | Current warning |
|---|---|
| Aspartame | Not recommended for phenylketonurics; for children suffering from seizure disorders; pregnant and lactating mothers |
| Acesulfame potassium | Not recommended for children; pregnant and lactating mothers |
| Saccharins | Not recommended for children |
| Non-caloric sweetener use | "CONTAIN NON-CALORIC SWEETENER" |
From 1 July 2027, the Labelling and Display (First Amendment) Regulations, 2026 change "pregnant and lactating mothers" to "pregnant or lactating women". Until then, the current wording applies.
What Sweetener Limits Apply to Carbonated Drinks?
Sub-regulation 2.10.6(1) also caps artificial sweeteners in carbonated water.
| Sweetener | Maximum in carbonated water |
|---|---|
| Saccharin sodium | 100 ppm |
| Acesulfame potassium | 300 ppm |
| Aspartame | 700 ppm |
| Sucralose | 300 ppm |
| Neotame | 33 ppm |
How Must Juices, Nectars and Fruit Drinks Be Named?
The name depends on the fruit content, under Chapter 2.3 of the fruit and vegetable product standards.
| Product | Provision | Naming or content rule |
|---|---|---|
| Juice from concentrate | 2.3.6(8) | "Reconstituted" against the juice in the ingredient list |
| Juice with added nutritive sweeteners above 15 g/kg | 2.3.6(8) | Labelled "Sweetened juice" |
| Orange or pineapple nectar | 2.3.9 | At least 40% juice |
| Mango, guava and most other nectars | 2.3.9 | At least 20% juice |
| Fruit beverage or fruit drink | 2.3.10 | At least 10% juice; 5% for lime or lemon |
| Carbonated drink with 5% to under 10% juice (2.5% to under 5% for lime or lemon) | 2.3.30(3A) | Called "carbonated beverages with fruit juice", juice quantity declared |
Can a Reconstituted Juice Say "100% Fruit Juice"?
No. An FSSAI advisory of 3 June 2024 asked brands to remove "100% fruit juice" claims, especially from reconstituted juice. A later advisory set 31 December 2024 as the deadline for pre-printed packaging. Claim wording in general is covered in the guide to FSSAI label claims rules.
How Do Returnable Glass Bottles Change the Label?
Returnable glass bottles get three specific rules, because much of the label sits on the bottle while the crown changes with each fill.
- Crown lettering. Regulation 6(3) sets a minimum letter height of 1 mm on the crown or closure of returnable glass bottles.
- Sweetener statements. Under 2.10.6(1), a drink with non-caloric sweeteners may use returnable containers if the sweetener labelling is on the bottle label, not on the crown.
- Ingredient list. Regulation 8(2) drops the ingredient list for refillable bottles, but nutrition information is still required.
A brand that switches from returnable glass to single-use packs must therefore add the ingredient list back to the new label.
Can a Beverage Be Called an Energy Drink or a Health Drink?
An FSSAI advisory of 2024 says the term "energy" drink is permitted for caffeinated beverages under 2.10.6(2). The same advisory said "health drink" is not defined or standardised anywhere under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. E-commerce sites were told to stop listing malt, dairy and cereal mixes under either category.
Which Beverages Need No Nutrition Panel?
Only a few, under Regulation 5(3)(c).
- Waters with no added ingredient other than carbon dioxide.
- Coffee products, including decaffeinated and soluble coffee.
- Tea and infusions, including herbal and fruit infusions and instant tea, with no added ingredients other than flavourings that do not change their nutritional value.
Flavoured waters, soft drinks, caffeinated beverages and juice drinks are not exempt. Any nutrition or health claim also removes the exemption. Packs of 100 cm² or less may instead carry nutrition information on the multi-unit pack under Regulation 8(1).
Where Does a Label Check Fit for Beverage Brands?
It fits before artwork goes to print, and again whenever a formula changes. A change of sweetener or caffeine level changes the warnings, not only the ingredient list.
Beverage brands can run each artwork through LexComply's AI Label Compliance Checker, which lists beverages among its product categories. Its product-specific questions capture details such as claims and packaging, so the caffeine, sweetener and juice-naming rules can be mapped to the label. Each account gets one assessment without charge, and questions that need a specialist go to LexComply's advisory services. The output is an assessment, not a regulator's approval.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Declaring caffeine in ppm in the ingredient list. That proviso was omitted in 2022; Schedule II now requires the boxed "CONTAINS CAFFEINE" statement.
- Printing the 2027 sweetener wording now. "Pregnant or lactating women" applies from 1 July 2027; current law says "pregnant and lactating mothers".
- Calling a drink a nectar below the minimum juice content. Sub-regulation 2.3.9 sets 40% for orange and pineapple and 20% for most others.
- Using "energy drink" for a non-caffeinated product. The 2024 advisory permits the term for 2.10.6(2) caffeinated beverages.
- Leaving out the nutrition panel on a flavoured drink. The Regulation 5(3)(c) exemption covers plain waters, coffee and tea, not flavoured waters or soft drinks.
- Dropping the veg symbol from a juice or non-carbonated drink. Regulation 5(4) exempts mineral water, packaged drinking water and carbonated water, not fruit beverages under 2.3 or non-carbonated drinks under 2.10.6(3).
Legal Disclaimer
This article is general information on FSSAI labelling rules for non-alcoholic beverages, current as at the date shown above. It is not legal advice, and each label should be checked against the regulations and orders in force on the date of printing.