The document outlines the labeling regulations for pre-packaged food in India as per the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labeling) Regulations, 2011. It details the requirements for labels, including necessary information such as ingredients, nutritional values, manufacturer details, and specific instructions for various food types, along with penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, it addresses specific labeling norms for imported foods and provides guidelines for advertising to ensure consumer protection.

1. Labelling Regulations
FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS (PACKAGING AND LABELLING) REGULATIONS, 2011
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2. What is food?
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3. Is this also food?
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4. This is not food!
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5. July 4, 2014
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What is packaged food, Label and
Labeling?

6. What is packaged food?
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Any food article which could be in raw, half processed or processed
condition and is covered with a packaging material to protect it
from physical, chemical and microbial contamination, also having a
label giving information about the food product. The packaging
should be in such a manner that contents cannot be changed
without tempering it and which is ready for sale to the consumer.

7. What is Label?
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“Label” means any tag, mark, pictorial or other descriptive matter,
written, printed, marked, embossed graphic, perforated, impressed
on or attached to container, cover, lid or crown of any food package.

8. What is food labeling?
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Every Pre-Packaged food shall bear a label containing information
as required under FSS (Packaging & Labelling) Regulations, 2011 for
the interest of the consumer.

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July 4, 2014
Are there penalties for not
meeting these requirements?

10. Offenses and penalties
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• Penalty for misbranded food – up to Rs 3 lacs
• Penalty for misleading advertisement – up to Rs 10 lacs

11. Easiest to detect, most difficult to defend!
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• NO analysis or testing required
• Solid evidence in the product itself!

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So, what are the requirements?

13. General Requirements on Food Labelling
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1.Language
2. No False or Misleading Statement on the label
3. The Label attached should not get separated
4. Contents should be clear, indelible and readily legible to the consumer
5. Wrapper should not hide the relevant information
6. FSSAI Logo & License no. on the label
7.Information on the label should not in contradiction with the requirements of
FSS Act, Rules & Regulations
8. The font size of the letters should be appropriate and in colour contrast with
the background of the label

14. Name of the Food & List of Ingredients
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• Name of Food, Trade Name & or description of food contained in the package.
• List of ingredients shall be declared on the label with the title as “Ingredients”
• The name of Ingredients used in the product should be given in descending order of
their composition by weight or volume
• A specific name shall be used for ingredients in the list of Ingredients
• In single ingredient foods list of ingredient not required.
• In some cases, the percentage is required

15. Nutritional Information
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• Energy Value in kcal
• Amount of protein
• Carbohydrate (Specify quantity of added sugar)
• Fat in gram (g)
• The amount of any other nutrient for which a nutritional or health claim is made.
• Declaration of Trans Fat:
• If Trans Fat is less than 0.2 gm/ Serving
• Declaration of Saturated Fat:
• Saturated fat free if it does not exceed 0.1 gm/100 gm

16. Nutritional Information
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• In case of the claim made for the nutritional elements like; Vitamins, Minerals, Energy,
Protein, Fat etc, the added nutrients along with the values should be declared on the
labels.
• Total trans Fat content not more than…….percent by weight.
Total saturated fat content not more than….percent by weight
• If the nutritional declaration is made per serving, the amount of serving size in gram
(g) or milliliter (ml) shall be included for reference beside the serving measure.
• Nutritional Information is not required for raw agricultural commodities like wheat,
rice, spices, table salt , sugar, tea coffee, packaged drinking water, alcoholic beverage
or fruit and vegetables, pickles and papads etc

17. Nutritional Information
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Nutritional Labelling
Amount per 100g of product
Energy # kcal
Protein # g
Carbohydrates Sugars # g
Fat
Saturated fatty acids
Polyunsaturated fatty
acids Monounsaturated
fatty acids Trans fatty
acids Cholesterol
# g
# g
# g
# g
# g
# mg

18. Declaration regarding Veg or Non Veg
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• A brown circle on the label to indicate the non-vegetarian content in the food
item, while a green circle indicates vegetarian content.
• The size of the logo depends upon the size of the label on the product. The
size of the logo i.e. the diameter of the circle and side of the square shall be
in accordance to the size of the label.

19. Declaration regarding Food Additives
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The following food additives may be mentioned with the specific names or INS Number
Acidity Regulator, Anticaking Agent, Antifoaming Agent, Antioxidant, Emulsifier, Emulsifying Salt, Firming
Agent, Flour Treatment Agent, Foaming Agent, Gelling Agent, Glazing Agent, Humectant, Preservative,
Propellant, Raisi.ng Agent, Stabilizer, Sweetener, Thickener
Permitted Colours added have to be mentioned in capital letters like;
CONTAINS PERMITTED NATURAL COLOUR(S)
OR
CONTAINS PERMITTED SYNTHETIC FOOD COLOUR(S)
OR
CONTAINS PERMITTED NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC FOOD COLOUR(S)

20. Declaration regarding Food Additives
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Continued…
Permitted Flavours added have to be mentioned in capital letters like;
CONTAINS ADDED FLAVOUR (specify type of flavouring agent)
If both color and flavour are used in the product, a combined statements shall be mentioned, as
CONTAINS PERMITTED NATURAL C0LOUR(S) AND ADDED FLAVOUR(S)
OR
CONTAINS PERMITTED SYNTHETIC FOOD COLOUR(S) AND ADDED FLAVOUR(S)
OR
CONTAINS PERMITTED NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC FOOD COLOUR(S) AND ADDED FLAVOUR(S)

21. Name and complete address of the manufacturer
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• The name and complete address of the manufacturer should be mentioned
on the package.
•
If the manufacturer is not the packer, then the name and complete address
of packer should also be mentioned on the package.
• In case the food is manufactured or packed on behalf of some other company
then the details of the name & address of both companies, who is a
manufacturer/packer and for whom food is manufactured/packed should be
displayed.
• For imported food articles, the package shall bear the name and complete
address of the Importer.

22. Net Quantity
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• Net quantity by weight or volume or number has to be declared
• For packing size and weight variations, legal metrology
(packaged commodities) rules 2011 have to be followed.

23. Lot/Code/Batch Identification
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• A batch number or code number or lot number is a mark of
identification by which the food can be traced in the
manufacture and identified in the distribution, shall be given on
the label.

24. Date of manufacture or packing
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• Month & Year shall be given if “Best Before Date” is more than
three months.
• Date, Month & Year shall be given if “Best Before Date” is less
than three months.

25. Best Before and Use By Date
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 Month & Date in the capital letters in the following manner
“BEST BEFORE ....... MONTH AND YEAR
OR
“BEST BEFORE .......... MONTHS FROM PACKAGING
OR
“BEST BEFORE ............MONTHS FROM MANUFACTURE

26. Best Before and Use By Date
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Continued…
In case of Sterilised or Ultra High Temperature treated milk, Soya milk, flavoured milk, any package
containing bread, dhokla, bhelpuri, pizza, doughnuts, khoa, paneer, or any uncanned package of
fruits, vegetable, meat, fish or any other like commodity, the declaration be made as follows:
“BEST BEFORE ……….DATE/MONTH/YEAR”
OR
“BEST BEFORE........DAYS FROM PACKAGING”
OR
“BEST BEFORE …….. DAYS FROM MANUFACTURE”

27. Instructions for Use
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• In order to ensure correct utilization of the food, the Food Regulations require
the manufacturer or the packer to mention the “ Instructions for use” on the
label on the Pre-packaged food.
• The instructions may include the directions regarding reconstitution or
dilution of the product before use, where applicable.

28. Principal display panel
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• Area of the Principal Display Panel
• For Rectangular Container - forty percent of the height and
width
• For Cylindrical Container – Twenty percent of the height &
circumference
• Container of any shape – Twenty percent of the total surface
area

29. Labelling of irradiated Food
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Irradiated foods - The label of a food, which has been treated with ionizing radiation,
shall carry a written statement indicating the treatment in close proximity to the name
of the food. In addition all packages of irradiated food shall bear the following
declaration and logo, namely
PROCESSED BY IRRADIATION METHOD
DATE OF IRRADIATION………………
LICENSE NO of Irradiation Unit...........................
PURPOSE OF IRRADIATION.....................

30. Proprietary Food
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• If the food product is manufactured having no specified standards and no
guidelines are issued for adding ingredients and additives issued under FSS
Act/Rules & Regulations, then such food product is called a proprietary food.
• Approximately 370 articles of food ranging from different edible oils to
cereals to bakery , milk products and others have been standardized and
their quality defined in Food Safety & Standards (Food Product Standards &
Food Additives) Regulations, 2011
• The proprietary food must comply with all the labeling & other requirements
under FSS Act, Rules & Regulations.

31. July 4, 2014
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Are there any requirements
specific to a food product?

32. Specific requirements for specific foods
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• Labelling of infant milk substitute and infant food
“IMPORTANT NOTICE”
“MOTHER’S MILK IS BEST FOR YOUR BABY” in capital letters

33. Specific requirements for specific foods
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2. Labelling of edible oils and fats
The package, label or the advertisement of edible oils and fats shall
not use the expressions “Super-Refined”, “Extra-Refined”, “Micro-
Refined”, “Double-Refined”, Ultra-Refined”, “Anti-Cholesterol”,
“Cholesterol Fighter”, “Soothing to Heart”, “Cholesterol Friendly”,
“Saturated Fat Free” or such other expressions which are an
exaggeration of the quality of the Product.

34. Specific requirements for specific foods
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• Every container of refined vegetable oil shall bear the following
label
• Every Package containing admixture of palmolein with
groundnut oil shall bear the following label
Refined (name of the oil) Oil
BLEND OF PALMOLEIN AND GROUNDNUT OIL
Palmolein……per cent
Groundnut oil…..per cent

35. Specific requirements for specific foods
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• Every package containing an admixture of
imported rape-seed oil with mustard oil shall
carry the following label:
BLEND OF IMPORTED RAPE-SEED OIL AND MUSTARD OIL
Imported rape-seed oil…..per cent
Mustard oil…….per cent

36. Specific requirements for specific foods
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• Every package of vanaspati is made from more
than 30 percent of Rice bran oil shall bear the
following label:
This package of vanaspati is made from more than
30 percent Rice oil by weight

37. Specific requirements for specific foods
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3. Food containing artificial sweetner
CONTAINS ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER AND FOR CALORIE CONSCIOUS

38. Specific requirements for specific foods
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• Package of Pan Masala
• Package of Supari
Chewing of Pan Masala is injurious to health
Chewing of Supari is injurious to Health

39. Specific requirements for specific foods
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• Package of Drinking Water
PACKAGED DRINKING WATER
CRUSH THE BOTTLE AFTER USE

40. Specific requirements for specific foods
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• Package of Natural Mineral Water
NATURAL MINERAL WATER
NATURAL MINERAL AFTER USE

41. Specific requirements for specific foods
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8.Package of Low Fat paneer / Chhena
9. Package of Fresh Fruits coated with Wax
LOW FAT PANEER / CHHENNA
Coated with Wax (Give Name of Wax)

42. Specific requirements for specific foods
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• Every package of biscuits, bread and cakes containing
Oligofructose shall bear:
• Every package of fresh fruit if coated with wax shall carry the
following label:
* * There are 49 clauses mentioned as on date for the specific requirements for
labelling of food products but only few have been discussed here.
Contains Oligofructose (dietary fiber) – gm/100 gm
Coated with wax (give name of wax)

43. Specific Restrictions on Product Labels
 Labels not to contain reference to Act or rules or regulations contradictory to
required particulars
 Labels not to use words implying recommendations by medical profession
 Unauthorized use of words showing imitation prohibited
 Imitations not to be marked "pure“
 Labelling prohibitions for Drinking Water (Both Packaged and Mineral Water) –
medical claims, geographical location

44. Restrictions on Advertisements
 FOOD SAFETYAND STANDARDS ACT,2006(NO.34 OF 2006) Chapter IV(24)
 No advertisement shall be made of any food which is misleading or deceiving
or contravenes the provisions of this Act, the rules and regulations made there
under.
 No person shall engage himself in any unfair trade practice for purpose of
promoting the sale, supply, use and consumption of articles of food or adopt
any unfair or deceptive practice including the practice of making any
statement, whether orally or in writing or by visible representation which -
(a) falsely represents that the foods are of a particular standard, quality, quantity
or grade-composition;
(b) makes a false or misleading representation concerning the need for, or the
usefulness;
c) gives to the public any guarantee of the efficacy that is not based on an
adequate or scientific justification thereof:

45. July 4, 2014
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What about imported foods?

46. Imported Food Products
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 Must meet all labeling requirements of India and
 Country of origin for imported food:
 Label shall declare the country of origin.
 If food undergoes processing in a the second country and
changes its nature, the country in which the processing is
performed shall be considered to be the country of origin for
the purposes of labelling.

47. Legal Metrological (Packaged Commodity) Rules,
Requirements
• The Name Address, Telephone No, E-mail address of the Person who can be
or office of which can be contacted in case of consumer complaints.
…
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• MRP Rs...../- Incl , of all taxes OR
Maximum or Max. Retail Price Rs…../- . ..….Inclusive of all taxes
 Net Quantity: Weight variation and manner of declaration defined.
 Commodities to be packed in Specific Quantities
• Net Contents-Standards size packaging for Milk Powder, Butter, Ghee,
Biscuits, Bread, Cereals & Pulses, Coffee, Tea, Salt, Packaging Water &
Edible Oils, Vanaspati etc.
• In case of Ghee, Vegetable Oils & Fats; if net content is mentioned in Volume
i.e. ML or Ltr, then net quantity must be declared in grams or kg also, in the
same size of letters/Numerals.

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Thank You