FSSAI Labelling Guidelines for Imported Foods

Anyone importing food products into India must have an Import Export Code and FSSAI importer license. Food importers must ensure that all food items imported into India conform to the following FSSAI labeling guidelines. In addition to conforming to the FSSAI labeling guidelines, food products falling under the category of health supplements, nutraceuticals, food for particular dietary Use, food for special medical purposes, functional food, and novel food must also comply with FSSAI (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations, 2016.

FSSAI Labeling Guidelines for Pre-Packaged Food

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified Food Safety and Standards (Labeling and Display) Regulations, 2020, prescribing the labeling requirements of pre-packaged foods and the display of essential information on premises where food is manufactured, processed, served, and stored.

Food Safety and Standards (Labeling and Display) Regulations, 2020

According to the notification, the Food Business Operator (FBO) shall comply with all the provisions of these regulations after one year from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette except chapter 3 (display of information in food service establishments) of these regulations, to which Food Business Operator shall comply by January 1, 2022. The following information must be provided on the product label for pre-packaged food or pre-packed food, including multi-piece packages:

Name of food product
List of ingredients (Not required in case of single ingredient)
Details in respect of additives such as preservatives, flavors, stabilizers, color, emulsifiers, flavor enhancers, etc., as well as INS Number
Nutritional information
Name & complete address of the manufacturer, marketer, packer, bottler
Lot/code/batch number
Date of manufacture
Best before or Use by date or date of expiry
Information on vegetarian or nonvegetarian logo
Name & address of the importer
FSSAI importer license number and logo
Net Quantity
Retail sale prices
Consumer care details

FSSAI Labelling Guidelines for Wholesale Packages

The following information must be provided on the product label for wholesale packages (including semi-finished/ intermediary food products):

Name of food product
List of ingredients (Not required in case of single-ingredient)
Name & complete address of the manufacturer
Date of manufacture
Best before or Use by date or date of expiry
Vegetarian or nonvegetarian logo
Name & address of the importer
FSSAI importer license number and logo

FSSAI Labelling Guidelines for Primary Foods in Packages

The following information must be provided on the product label for primary food like grains, pulses, fruits, dry fruits, and whole spices, etc., imported in packages:

Name of food
Name & complete address of the packer
Date of packing
Name & address of the importer
Net weight
Lot No./Code No./Batch No.
Best before or Use by date or date of expiry
FSSAI importer license number and logo

FSSAI Labelling Guidelines for Primary Foods Imported in Bulk

The following information must be provided on the product label for primary food like grains, pulses, fruits, dry fruits, and whole spices, etc., imported loose in bulk:

Name of food
Name & complete address of the importer
Net weight
Lot/Code/Batch Numbers
Best before date, or Use by date or date of expiry

The food labels must be affixed in a non-detachable method on the bags for foods that are packed in plastic/gunny bags or sacks.

Exemptions from Food labeling requirements

The Food Safety Standard (Packaging and Labeling) Regulations indicate certain cases where one or more of the mandatory information required to be given on the labels, such as a list of ingredients, Lot Number or Batch Number or Code Number, nutritional information, the 'date of manufacture or 'best before date' or 'expiry date' and instructions for Use, need not be given on the labels. Such cases are as shown below:-

If the surface area of the package is not more than 100 square centimeters,
The date of manufacture, best-before date, or expiry date may not be required to be mentioned on the package. If the box's surface area is less than 30 square centimeters, this information shall be given on the wholesale boxes or multiple containers.
In the case of liquid products marketed in bottles intended to be reused for refilling, the requirement of the list of ingredients shall be exempted. However, nutritional information is still required on the bottle.
In the case of food with a shelf-life of not more than seven days, the label declaration, such as The 'date of manufacture, need not be mentioned on the label of packaged food articles, but the 'Use by date is required to be noted on the label by the manufacturer or packer.
On the wholesale packages, the label declaration, such as; List of ingredients, Date of manufacture/ packing, best before or expiry date, Labeling of irradiated food, and, Vegetarian logo/nonvegetarian logo need not be given on the label.

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