TL;DR
- An imported food label in India must carry every FSSAI declaration plus the importer's name and Indian address, the importer's FSSAI logo and licence number, and the country of origin.
- As on any packaged food, Legal Metrology also requires net quantity, MRP inclusive of all taxes and consumer care details.
- Most gaps can be fixed by one non-detachable sticker at the customs-bonded warehouse, but lot number, date marking and country of origin cannot.
Quick Answer: An imported food label in India must add the importer's Indian address, licence and logo, and the country of origin to the FSSAI declarations. Legal Metrology also requires net quantity, MRP and consumer care, as on any packaged food. Stickers can fix most gaps, never lot, dates or origin, and LexComply's AI Label Compliance Checker reviews imported labels before import.
An imported product arrives with a label written for another market. Before it can be cleared, that label has to meet Indian law: the Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020 of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Import Regulations, 2017 and the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. The importer's name, address and licence go on the label, so the importer answers for it.
Imported food label at a glance
| Requirement | Provision | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| Importer's name and address | Labelling and Display Regulations, 5(6)(b) | Complete address in India |
| FSSAI logo and licence | Labelling and Display Regulations, 5(7)(c) | Importer's logo and licence number with the importer's address |
| Country of origin | Labelling and Display Regulations, 5(12) | Declared on the label |
| General declarations | Labelling and Display Regulations, Regulation 5 | Name, ingredients, nutrition, veg or non-veg, allergens and others |
| Net quantity, MRP, consumer care | Packaged Commodities Rules, Rule 6 | MRP inclusive of all taxes, in Indian currency |
| Sticker rectification | Import Regulations, 6(4) | One non-detachable sticker at the bonded warehouse |
| Remaining shelf life | Import Regulations, 5(6) | At least 60%, or 3 months, whichever is less |
What Must an Imported Food Label Show in India?
It must show every declaration required of domestic food under Regulation 5, plus three import-specific items. Regulation 5(11) also brings in the Import Regulations, 2017.
Which Items Are Specific to Imports?
- Importer's name and complete address in India, under Regulation 5(6)(b).
- The FSSAI logo and the importer's licence number, shown with the importer's name and address, under Regulation 5(7)(c).
- Country of origin, under Regulation 5(12).
How Is the Country of Origin Decided?
Where food is processed in a second country and the processing changes its HS code at the six-digit level, that second country becomes the country of origin. Food made abroad but packed in India must show the country of origin, the importer and the Indian packing premises.
What About Vegan Foods?
Imported vegan food will need a certificate in Form-I under the Vegan Foods Regulations, 2022 from 1 April 2027. The requirement was notified on 28 September 2026 and is not yet in force.
Which Legal Metrology Declarations Apply to Imported Packages?
Rule 6(1) of the Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011 applies to every retail package, including imported ones. It covers net quantity, the maximum retail price (MRP) and consumer care details.
| Declaration | Rule | Note for food |
|---|---|---|
| Name and address of manufacturer, packer and importer | 6(1)(a) | For food, the FSS rules govern this item |
| Country of origin, manufacture or assembly | 6(1)(aa) | Required for imported packages |
| Common or generic name | 6(1)(b) | |
| Net quantity | 6(1)(c) | Governed by Legal Metrology for food |
| Month and year of manufacture | 6(1)(d) | For food, FSS date marking applies instead |
| MRP inclusive of all taxes | 6(1)(e) | In Indian currency |
| Consumer care details | 6(2) | Name, address, telephone and email |
| Unit sale price | 6(11) | In force since 1 October 2022 |
Rule 6(9) allows a label to be affixed to imported packages to make these declarations. Since 29 May 2026, G.S.R. 418(E) also lets importers make the declarations at bonded warehouses of Tier-2 and Tier-3 Authorised Economic Operators.
Does the Importer Need Legal Metrology Registration?
Yes. An importer of packaged commodities registers under Rule 27. Since 29 May 2026, that certificate remains valid until cancelled, with an annual online update of particulars. The process is set out on the LMPC registration page, and LexComply also offers an LMPC consultant service.
When Can a Rectification Sticker Fix an Imported Food Label?
When the deficiency is one the FSSAI permits to be corrected, and only at the customs-bonded warehouse. Regulation 6(4) of the Import Regulations, 2017 allows one non-detachable sticker, or another non-detachable method, next to the principal display panel.
| Can be rectified by sticker | Cannot be rectified |
|---|---|
| Importer's name and address | Lot, code or batch number |
| FSSAI logo and importer's licence number | Date marking (manufacture, packing, expiry, use by, best before) |
| Veg or non-veg symbol | Country of origin |
| Category, generic name and composition of proprietary food | |
| Any other labelling deficiency |
An FSSAI order of 28 November 2023 sets this split and supersedes earlier orders. The sticker must not alter or mask the original label, under Regulation 6(5).
What Is Checked on the Label at Import Clearance?
The label is checked against FSSAI requirements before the consignment is cleared. Two label-related checks matter most.
- Remaining shelf life. Regulation 5(6) of the Import Regulations requires at least 60% of shelf life, or 3 months before expiry, whichever is less, at the time of import.
- Label compliance. Deficiencies that can be rectified must be fixed at the bonded warehouse. Failure leads to refusal and a non-conformance report under Regulation 6(7).
A consignment with a wrong date, lot number or country of origin cannot be saved by a sticker. Those errors must be corrected at the source, before shipment. Customs and trade-side requirements, such as the Importer Exporter Code, are covered in the guide to IEC code documents, and foreign exchange rules for imports in the guide to FEMA import rules.
How Can Imported Labels Be Checked Before Shipment?
By checking the overseas label against Indian rules while the product is still with the supplier. Errors in dates, lot numbers and origin can be fixed there. At the bonded warehouse they cannot.
- Ask the supplier for print-ready artwork before the order ships.
- Mark what will be stickered in India and what must be printed at source.
- Confirm the shelf life will meet the 60% or 3-month test on arrival.
- Check MRP and unit sale price against Rule 6 of the Packaged Commodities Rules.
The LexComply AI Label Compliance Checker lists Imported Products among its product types and asks about import status and origin before it maps the requirements. Importers tracking FSSAI and Legal Metrology amendments across product lines can hold them in the compliance management platform. To test an overseas label before it ships, check your first label free; one free assessment is allowed per account.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Planning to sticker a wrong expiry date. The 28 November 2023 order excludes date marking, lot number and country of origin from rectification.
- Showing the foreign manufacturer's licence. Regulation 5(7)(c) requires the importer's FSSAI logo and licence number, with the importer's name and address.
- Shipping short-dated stock. Regulation 5(6) of the Import Regulations needs 60% shelf life or 3 months remaining, whichever is less.
- Printing MRP without "inclusive of all taxes". Rule 6(1)(e) of the Packaged Commodities Rules requires that wording in Indian currency.
- Renewing an LMPC importer certificate. Since 29 May 2026, Rule 27 certificates are valid until cancelled, with an annual update instead.
- Applying the vegan Form-I early. That certificate applies only from 1 April 2027.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is general information on Indian import labelling rules, current as at the date shown above. It is not legal advice, and product standards or port-specific instructions may add requirements beyond those described here.