1.1: Short title and commencement

1 · 1: Short title and commencement

1 · 1.1: These regulations may be called the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and labelling) Regulations, 2011

1 · 1.2: These regulations shall come into force on or after 5 th August, 2011

1 · 2: Definitions—

1 · 2.1: In these regulations unless the context otherwise requires:

2 · 1: Packaging

2 · 1.1: General Requirements

2 · 1.2: Product specific requirements

1 · Packaging requirements for Milk and Milk Products

2 · Packaging requirements for Edible oil/ fat:

3 · Packaging requirements for Fruits and Vegetables Products

4 · Packaging requirements for Canned Meat Products

5 · Packaging requirements for Drinking Water (Both Packaged and Mineral Water)

2 · 2: Labelling

2 · 2.1: General Requirements

1 · Every prepackaged food shall carry a label containing information as required here under unless otherwise provided, namely,—

2 · The particulars of declaration required under these Regulations to be specified on the label shall be in English or Hindi in Devnagri script:

3 · Pre-packaged food shall not be described or presented on any label or in any labelling manner that is false, misleading or deceptive or is likely to create an erroneous impression regarding its character in any respect;

4 · Label in pre-packaged foods shall be applied in such a manner that they will not become separated from the container;

5 · Contents on the label shall be clear, prominent, indelible and readily legible by the consumer under normal conditions of purchase and use;

6 · Where the container is covered by a wrapper, the wrapper shall carry the necessary information or the label on the container shall be readily legible through the outer wrapper and not obscured by it;

2 · 2.2: Labelling of Pre-packaged Foods

1 · The Name of Food: The name of the food shall include trade name or description of food contained in the package.

2 · List of Ingredients: Except for single ingredient foods, a list of ingredients shall be declared on the label in the following manner:—

3 · Nutritional information – Nutritional Information or nutritional facts per 100 gm or 100ml or per serving of the product shall be given on the label containing the following:—

4 · Declaration regarding Veg or Non veg –

5 · Declaration regarding Food Additives-

6 · Name and complete address of the manufacturer

7 · Net quantity

8 · Lot/Code/Batch identification

9 · Date of manufacture or packing.—

10 · Best Before and Use By Date

12 · Instructions for use:

2 · 3: Manner of declaration

2 · 3.1: General Conditions

2 · 3.2 Principal display panel: The information required under these Regulations shall be given on the principal display panel of the package or container and such information may be given in the following manner.

2 · 3.3 The height of numeral in the declaration

2 · 4: Specific Requirements/ Restrictions on manner of labelling

2 · 4.1: Labelling of infant milk substitute and infant food

3 · No containers or label referred to in 2.4.1(2) relating to infant milk substitute or infant food shall have a picture of infant or women or both. It shall not have picture or other graphic materials or phrases designed to increase the saleability of the infant milk substitute or infant food. The terms "Humanised" or "Maternalised" or any other similar words shall not be used. The Package and/or any other label of infant milk substitute or infant food shall not exhibit the words, "Full Protein Food", "energy Food", "Complete food" or "Health Food" or any other similar expression.

4 · The containers of infant milk substitute meant for (premature baby (born before 37 weeks)/low birth weight infant (less than 2500gm) or labels affixed thereto shall indicate the following additional information, namely:—

5 · The product which contains neither milk nor any milk derivatives shall be labelled "contains no milk or milk product" in conspicuous manner.

6 · The container of infant milk substitute for lactose or lactose and sucrose intolerant infants or label affixed thereto shall indicate conspicuously "LACTOSE-FREE or SUCROSE-FREE or LACTOSE and SUCROSE-FREE" in capital letters and statement "TO BE TAKEN UNDER MEDICAL ADVICE" and shall also bear the following statements, namely:—

7 · The container of infant milk substitute meant for infants with allergy to cow's /buffalo's milk protein or soy protein or label affixed thereto shall indicate conspicuously "HYPOALLERGENIC FORMULA" in capital letters and statement "TO BE TAKEN UNDER MEDICAL ADVICE".

8 · Declaration to be surrounded by line:

2 · 4.2: Labelling of edible oils and fats

1 · The package, label or the advertisement of edible oils and fats shall not use the expressions "SuperRefined", "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.

2 · Every container in which solvent-extracted oil or de-oiled meal or edible flour is packed for sale shall, at the time of sale by the producer, bear the following particulars in English or Hindi (Devnagri script) :—

6 · Every package containing an admixture of palmolein with groundnut oil shall carry the following label, namely,—

2 · 4.3: Labelling of permitted food colours

2 · 4.4: Labelling of irradiated Food

2 · 4.5: Specific Labelling Requirements of other Products

2 · CONDENSED MILK OR DESICCATED (DRIED) MILK:

47 · Every package of food containing Polydextrose shall bear the following label:-

2 · 4.6: Specific restrictions on Product labels

2 · 5: Restriction on advertisement

2 · 6: Exemptions from labelling requirements-

2 · 6.1

2 · 7: Notice of addition, admixture or deficiency in food

2 · 7.1

1 · Every advertisement and every price or trade list or label for an article of food which contains an addition, admixture or deficiency shall describe the food as containing such addition, admixture or deficiency and shall also specify the nature and quantity of such addition, admixture or deficiency and no such advertisement or price or trade list or label attached to the container of the food shall contain any words which might imply that the food is pure:

1 · 1: Short title and commencement

1 · 1.1: These regulations may be called the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and labelling)

1 · 2: Definitions —

1 · 2.1: In these regulations unless the context otherwise requires:

1 · "Best before" means the date which signifies the end of the period under any stated storage conditions during which the food shall remain fully marketable and shall retain any specific qualities for which tacit or express claims have been made and beyond that date, the food may still be perfectly safe to consume, though its quality may have diminished. However the food shall not be sold if at any stage the product becomes unsafe.

2 · “Date of manufacture” means the date on which the food becomes the product as described;

3 · "Date of packaging" means the date on which the food is placed in the immediate container in which it will be ultimately sold;

4 · “Infant” means a child not more than twelve months of age;

5 · "Lot number" or "code number" or "batch number" means the number either in numericals or alphabets or in combination thereof, representing the lot number or code number or batch number, being preceded by the words "Lot No" or "Lot" or "code number" or "Code" or Batch No" or "Batch" or any distinguishing prefix by which the food can be traced in manufacture and identified in distribution.

6 · "Multipiece package" means a package containing two or more individually packaged or labelled pieces of the same commodity of identical quantity, intended for retail either in individual pieces or packages as a whole.

7 · "Non -Vegetarian Food" means an article of food which contains whole or part of any animal including birds, fresh water or marine animals or eggs or products of any animal origin, but excluding milk or milk products, as an ingredient;

8 · "Prepackaged" or "Pre-packed food", means food, which is placed in a package of any nature, in such a manner that the contents cannot be changed without tampering it and which is ready for sale to the consumer.

9 · "Principal Display Panel" means that part of the container/package which is intended or likely to be displayed or presented or shown or examined by the customer under normal and customary conditions of display, sale or purchase of the commodity contained therein.

10 · "Use – by date" or "Recommended last consumption date" or "Expiry date" means the date which signifies the end of the estimated period under any stated storage conditions, after which the food probably will not have the quality and safety attributes normally expected by the consumers and the food shall not be sold;

11 · "Vegetarian Food" means any article of Food other than Non- Vegetarian Food as defined in regulation 1.2.1(7).

2 · 1: Packaging

2 · 1.1: General Requirements

1 · A utensil or container made of the following materials or metals, when used in the preparation, packaging and storing of food shall be deemed to render it unfit for human consumption:—

2 · Containers made of plastic materials should conform to the following Indian Standards Specification, used as appliances or receptacles for packing or storing whether partly or wholly, food articles namely

3 · General packaging requirements for Canned products,

2 · 1.2: Product specific requirements

1 · Packaging requirements for Milk and Milk Products

2 · Packaging requirements for Edible oil/ fat:

3 · Packaging requirements for Fruits and Vegetables Products

4 · Packaging requirements for Canned Meat Products

5 · Packaging requirements for Drinking Water (Both Packaged and Mineral Water)

2 · 2: Labelling

2 · 2.1: General Requirements

1 · [License number shall be displayed on the principal display panel in the following format, namely:-

2 · 2.2: Labelling of Pre-packaged Foods

3 · Nutritional information – Nutritional Information or nutritional facts per 100 gm or 100ml or per serving of the product shall be given on the label containing the following:—

4 · [(iii) Every package of edible oils, interesterified vegetable fat, both hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, edible fats, margarine and fat spreads (mixed fat spread and vegetable fat spread) and package of food in which fats, oils and fat emulsions is used as an ingredient shall declare the quantity of trans fat content and saturated fat content on the label.]

4 · Declaration regarding Veg or Non veg –

5 · Declaration regarding Food Additives-

6 · Name and complete address of the manufacturer

7 · Net quantity

8 · Lot/Code/Batch identification

9 · Date of manufacture or packing.—

10 · Best Before and Use By Date

12 · Instructions for use:

2 · 3: Manner of declaration

2 · 3.1: General Conditions

1 · Any information or pictorial device written, printed, or graphic matter may be displayed in the label provided that it is not in conflict with the requirements of these Regulations.

2 · Every declaration which is required to be made on package under these regulations shall be:

3 · No declaration shall be made so as to require it to be read through any liquid commodity contained in the package.

4 · Where a package is provided with an outside container or wrapper, such container or wrapper shall also contain all the declarations which are required to appear on the package except where such container or wrapper itself is transparent and the declarations on the package are easily readable through such outside container or wrapper.

5 · Labels not to contain false or misleading statements: A label shall not contain any statement, claim, design, device, fancy name or abbreviation which is false or misleading in any particular concerning the food contained in the package, or concerning the quantity or the nutritive value or in relation to the place of origin of the said food:

2 · 3.2 Principal display panel: The information required under these Regulations shall be given on the principal display panel of the package or container and such information may be given in the following manner.

2 · 3.3 The height of numeral in the declaration

2 · 4: Specific Requirements/ Restrictions on manner of labelling

2 · 4.1: Labelling of infant milk substitute and infant food

1 · An article of infant milk substitutes /infant foods, whose standards are not prescribed under Food Safety and Standards (Food Products standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 shall be manufactured for sale, exhibited for sale or stored for sale only after obtaining the approval of such articles of food and its label from the Authority.

2 · Without prejudice to any other provisions relating to labelling requirements contained in these regulations, every container of infant milk substitute or infant food or any label affixed thereto shall indicate in a clear, conspicuous and in an easily readable manner, the words "IMPORTANT NOTICE" in capital letters and indicating there under the following particulars, namely:—

3 · No containers or label referred to in 2.4.1(2) relating to infant milk substitute or infant food shall have a picture of infant or women or both. It shall not have picture or other graphic materials or phrases designed to increase the saleability of the infant milk substitute or infant food. The terms "Humanised" or "Maternalised" or any other similar words shall not be used. The Package and/or any other label of infant milk substitute or infant food shall not exhibit the words, "Full Protein Food", "energy Food", "Complete food" or "Health Food" or any other similar expression.

4 · The containers of infant milk substitute meant for (premature baby (born before 37 weeks)/low birth weight infant (less than 2500gm) or labels affixed thereto shall indicate the following additional information, namely:—

8 · Declaration to be surrounded by line:

2 · 4.2: Labelling of edible oils and fats

1 · 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", "AntiCholesterol", "Cholesterol Fighter", "Soothing to Heart", "Cholesterol Friendly", "Saturated Fat Free" or such other expressions which are an exaggeration of the quality of the Product.

2 · Every container in which solvent-extracted oil or de-oiled meal or edible flour is packed for sale shall, at the time of sale by the producer, bear the following particulars in English or Hindi (Devnagri script) :—

6 · Every package containing an admixture of palmolein with groundnut oil shall carry the following label, namely,—

2 · 4.3: Labelling of permitted food colours

8 · [2.4.4]: Specific Labelling Requirements of other Products

2 · CONDENSED MILK OR DESICCATED (DRIED) MILK:

39 · Every package of Low Fat Paneer/ Chhana shall carry the following label, namely,—

2 · [48 . Every package of fat spread, milk products, milk based fruit drink, fermented milk products, soy and rice drink, cheese products, yoghurt products, spice sauces, salad dressings, juices and nectars containing plant stanol esters shall bear the following declarations, namely:—

3 · [50. The term "Gluten Free" shall be printed in the immediate proximity of the name of the product in the case of products described in regulation 2.14 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, namely:-

6 · [53. Every package of food product containing Isomaltulose shall bear the following declaration, namely:-

8 · [2.4.5]: Specific restrictions on Product labels

1 · There shall not be written in the statement or label attached to any package containing any article of food the word 'imitation' or any word, or words implying that the article is a substitute for any food, unless the use of the said word or words is specifically permitted under these regulations.

2 · Any fruit syrup, fruit juice, fruit squash, fruit beverages, cordial, crush or any other fruit products standardised under Food Safety and Standards (Food Products standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 which does not contain the prescribed amount of fruit juice or fruit pulp or fruit content shall not be described as a fruit syrup, fruit juice, fruit squash, fruit beverages, cordial, crush or any other fruit product as the case may be.

3 · Any food product which does not contain the specified amount of fruit and is likely to deceive or mislead or give a false impression to the consumer that the product contains fruit, whether by use of words or pictorial representation, shall be clearly and conspicuously marked on the label as '(NAME OF THE FRUIT) FLAVOURED'.

4 · Any food product which contains only fruit flavours, whether natural flavours and natural flavouring substances or nature identical flavouring substances, artificial flavouring substances as single or in combination thereof, shall not be described as a fruit product and the word "ADDED" (NAME OF FRUIT) FLAVOUR shall be used in describing such a product;

5 · Carbonated water containing no fruit juice or fruit pulp shall not have a label which may lead the consumer into believing that it is a fruit product.

6 · Any fruit and vegetable product alleged to be fortified with vitamin C shall contain not less than 40 mg. of ascorbic acid per 100 gm. of the product.

2 · 5: Restriction on advertisement

2 · 6: Exemptions from labelling requirements-

2 · 6.1

1 · Where the surface area of the package is not more than 100 square centimeters, the label of such package shall be exempted from the requirements of list of ingredients, Lot Number or Batch Number or Code Number, nutritional information and instructions for use, but these information shall be given on the wholesale packages or multi piece packages, as the case may be.

2 · the 'date of manufacture' or 'best before date' or 'expiry date' may not be required to be mentioned on the package having surface area of less than 30 square centimeters but these information shall be given on the wholesale packages or multipiece packages, as the case may be;

3 · in case of liquid products marketed in bottles, if such bottle is intended to be reused for refilling, the requirement of list of ingredients shall be exempted, but the nutritional information specified in regulation 2.2.2 (4) these regulations shall be given on the label.

4 · in case of food with shelfflife of not more than seven days, the 'date of manufacture' may not be required to be mentioned on the label of packaged food articles, but the 'use by date' shall be mentioned on the label by the manufacturer or packer.

5 · In case of multi piece packages the particulars regarding list of ingredients,nutritional information , Date of manufacture/ packing, best before, expiry date labelling of irradiated food and , vegetarian logo/non vegetarian logo, may not be specified.

2 · 7: Notice of addition, admixture or deficiency in food

2 · 7.1

1 · Every advertisement and every price or trade list or label for an article of food which contains an addition, admixture or deficiency shall describe the food as containing such addition, admixture or deficiency and shall also specify the nature and quantity of such addition, admixture or deficiency and no such advertisement or price or trade list or label attached to the container of the food shall contain any words which might imply that the food is pure:

2 · Every package, containing a food which is not pure by reason of any addition, admixture or deficiency shall be labelled with an adhesive label, which shall have the following declaration: