TL;DR
- FSSAI labelling for pre-packaged food is set by Regulation 5 of the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020.
- Labels must declare the name, ingredients, nutrition, veg or non-veg symbol, additives, brand owner, FSSAI logo and licence, lot, dates, allergens and instructions.
- Net quantity and MRP follow Legal Metrology rules.
- Misbranding attracts up to ₹3 lakh under section 52 of the FSS Act.
Quick Answer: FSSAI labelling requirements for packaged food sit in Regulation 5 of the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. Dates, the veg or non-veg symbol and the FSSAI licence number need particular care, and misbranding attracts up to ₹3 lakh under section 52 of the FSS Act, 2006. LexComply's AI Label Compliance Checker reviews a label before printing.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) enforces these rules, and most label errors are found too late: after the print run, at a marketplace listing or during an inspection. The rules themselves are specific. They fix which declarations appear, where on the pack, in what letter size and in what format for dates and nutrition. A label checked against each rule before printing rarely needs a sticker afterwards.
FSSAI labelling at a glance
| Rule | Where it sits | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory declarations | Regulation 5 | From name of food to allergens |
| Language | Regulation 4(5) | English or Hindi in Devanagari script |
| Online sale | Regulation 4(2) | Label information shown before sale, except lot and dates |
| Principal display panel | Regulation 6(1)-(2) | Declarations grouped; panel area defined |
| Minimum letter height | Regulation 6(3), Table I | 1 mm to 6 mm by panel area; net quantity, MRP, dates and consumer care follow Legal Metrology sizes |
| Exemptions by pack size | Regulation 8 | Packs of 100 cm² or less, and under 30 cm² |
| Net quantity, MRP, consumer care | Regulation 5(8) | Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 |
| Penalty for misbranding | FSS Act, 2006, section 52 | Up to ₹3 lakh |
Which Declarations Are Mandatory on an FSSAI Pre-Packaged Food Label?
Regulation 5 of the Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020 lists them. The current FSSAI compendium is Version VIII, dated 9 September 2025.
| Declaration | Sub-regulation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Name of food | 5(1) | Shows its true nature, on the front of pack |
| List of ingredients | 5(2) | Descending order by weight; not needed for single-ingredient foods |
| Nutritional information | 5(3) | Format below |
| Veg or non-veg symbol | 5(4) | Green circle or brown triangle in a square |
| Food additives | 5(5) | Functional class plus name or INS number |
| Name and complete address | 5(6) | Brand owner; importer's Indian address for imports |
| FSSAI logo and licence number | 5(7) | In a colour contrasting with the background |
| Net quantity, MRP, consumer care | 5(8) | Under Legal Metrology law |
| Lot or batch number | 5(9) | Code, lot or batch |
| Date marking | 5(10) | Rules below |
| Country of origin | 5(12) | For imported food |
| Instructions for use | 5(13) | Including reconstitution |
| Allergens | 5(14) | "Contains" declaration for listed allergens |
Three topics sit in separate layers. Words such as "natural" or "sugar free" fall under the Advertising and Claims Regulations, 2018. Imported food adds importer and country-of-origin rules under the Import Regulations, 2017. The detailed size table for the veg and non-veg symbol sits in Regulation 5(4)(c). Ayurveda-based foods follow their own rules, set out in the guide to the Ayurveda Aahara Regulations.
Which Allergens Must Be Declared?
Regulation 5(14) requires a "Contains" statement for cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, milk, egg, fish, peanuts and tree nuts, soy, and sulphite at 10 mg/kg or more. A "May contain" statement covers cross-contact.
How Do You Check a Food Label Before Printing?
Check the final artwork against each declaration, then against the design rules, then against any claim it makes. Work from the print-ready file at actual size.
- Confirm the product category. The category decides which standards, exemptions and warnings apply.
- Tick each Regulation 5 declaration against the table above.
- Measure the principal display panel and check letter heights against Table I (Legal Metrology sizes for net quantity, MRP, dates and consumer care).
- Check the veg or non-veg symbol for shape, colour and size.
- Test every claim word against the Advertising and Claims Regulations, 2018.
- Check Legal Metrology declarations: net quantity, maximum retail price (MRP) inclusive of all taxes, consumer care and unit sale price.
- Confirm the licence number matches the licence held by the brand owner, from the FSSAI registration and licence records.
- Keep the checked version on file with the date and the reviewer's name.
How Should Nutrition Information Be Declared?
Under Regulation 5(3)(b), per 100 g or 100 ml, or per single-consumption pack, with a per-serve percentage contribution to the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). The 2020 Regulations became mandatory on 1 July 2022, after an FSSAI direction of 22 October 2021 extended the compliance date.
| Nutrient | Unit | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | kcal | Always |
| Protein | g | Always |
| Carbohydrate, total sugars, added sugars | g | Always |
| Total fat | g | Always |
| Saturated fat, trans fat | g | Where total fat is above 0.5% |
| Cholesterol | mg | Fats of animal origin above 0.5% total fat |
| Sodium | mg | Always |
The %RDA is calculated on 2,000 kcal energy, 67 g total fat, 22 g saturated fat, 2 g trans fat, 50 g added sugar and 2,000 mg sodium. Serving size and servings per pack must also be stated.
What Are the Date Marking Rules?
Regulation 5(10) makes two dates mandatory: the date of manufacture or packing, and the "Expiry" or "Use by" date. "Best before" is optional and additional.
| Shelf life | Required format |
|---|---|
| Up to 3 months | Day, month and year (DD/MM/YY) |
| More than 3 months | Month and year, or DD/MM/YY |
Both dates must be grouped in one place. Some foods need no expiry date, including unprocessed fresh fruit and vegetables, vinegar, chewing gum and alcoholic beverages with 10% or more alcohol.
What Are the FSSAI Label Design Rules for Font Size and Panel Placement?
Regulation 6 controls design. Declarations are grouped on the principal display panel. That panel is at least 40% of height times width of the largest panel on a rectangular pack, or at least 20% of the total surface on irregular shapes.
| Principal display panel area | Minimum letter height | Blown, moulded or embossed |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 200 cm² | 1 mm | 2 mm |
| 200 to 500 cm² | 2 mm | 4 mm |
| 500 to 2,500 cm² | 3 mm | 5 mm |
| Above 2,500 cm² | 6 mm | 8 mm |
Letter width must be at least one-third of the height. The FSSAI logo and licence number must contrast with the background. Regulation 5(7) sets no minimum logo size.
Which Foods and Pack Sizes Are Exempt From Full Labelling?
Regulation 8 exempts small packs, and Regulation 5(3)(c) exempts some foods from nutrition information.
- Packs of 100 cm² or less: ingredients, lot number, nutrition information, additives, FSSAI logo and licence, importer's address and instructions may be omitted, provided they appear on the multi-unit pack.
- Packs under 30 cm²: the dates of manufacture and expiry may also be omitted, on the same condition.
- Nutrition exemptions: thirteen categories, including unprocessed single-ingredient products, salt, spices, plain tea and coffee, and alcoholic beverages.
A nutrition or health claim removes the nutrition exemption. Once a claim is made, the full nutrition information must appear.
Which Amendments Change the Rules in 2026 and 2027?
Two are final and one change is still a proposal.
- Coffee and chicory: percentages on the front of pack, in force from 1 July 2026.
- First Amendment Regulations, 2026: notified on 24 March 2026, in force from 1 July 2027. It rewrites non-retail container labelling and narrows some nutrition exemptions.
- Bold type for sugar, salt and saturated fat: proposed in a 17 February 2025 draft and not adopted in the final text.
What Is the Penalty for a Non-Compliant Food Label?
Under section 52 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, misbranded food attracts a penalty of up to ₹3 lakh. The adjudicating officer may also direct corrective action or destruction. A misleading claim falls under section 53, with a penalty of up to ₹10 lakh. Neither Jan Vishwas Act changed sections 52 or 53. Label checks also feature in routine inspections, covered in the FSSAI inspection checklist.
What Does an Online FSSAI Label Compliance Checker Do?
It reviews a label image against the requirements for the product's category and returns findings before the artwork goes to print. The LexComply AI Label Compliance Checker follows eight steps.
- Upload the label.
- Receive an image quality and readability score.
- Define the review context, such as pre-launch or existing product.
- Answer questions on category, manufacturing or import status, origin, claims, packaging and certifications.
- The tool maps the applicable Indian requirements.
- Each requirement is marked Compliant, Non-Compliant, Partially Compliant, Not Verifiable or Not Applicable.
- Findings consolidate into a compliance score and risk matrix.
- Download the report as PDF or Word.
It covers food, packaged drinking water and beverages, pre-packaged commodities and imported products. LexComply states that the assessment is not a statutory approval, certification, legal opinion or guarantee of compliance; complex matters can go to its advisory services. Legal Metrology registration for packers and importers is a separate step, handled through LMPC registration. The first assessment is free with a sign-up, so you can check your first label free. FSSAI updates also reach the LexComply compliance management platform in daily dossiers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Citing Regulation 9 for font sizes. Minimum letter heights are in Regulation 6(3), Table I; Regulation 9 covers display at food service premises.
- Treating "Best before" as enough. Regulation 5(10) requires the date of manufacture or packing and an "Expiry" or "Use by" date; "Best before" is only additional.
- Dropping nutrition information while making a claim. The exemptions in Regulation 5(3)(c) fall away once a nutrition or health claim appears.
- Applying the 2026 amendment early. The First Amendment Regulations, 2026 take effect only from 1 July 2027.
- Printing bold sugar and salt values as a legal requirement. That change exists only in a 2025 draft.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is general information on FSSAI labelling rules, current as at the date shown above. It is not legal advice, and product-specific standards or approvals may add requirements beyond those described here.