The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the statutory authority established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, has announced key decisions regarding the compliance timeline for amendments to labelling provisions, as deliberated in the 45th Food Authority Meeting.

The decisions aim to ensure a smooth transition for food businesses while maintaining the regulatory goals of transparency, safety, and consumer awareness.

Implementation timeline

During the 45th Meeting of the Food Authority, it was decided that:

• Date of Enforcement: Amendments related to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations and other FSS regulations concerning labelling will come into force starting July 1, 2025, provided a minimum of 180 days has elapsed since the date of notification.

• Emergency Provisions: In exceptional circumstances, the implementation and enforcement of labelling amendments will be addressed on a case-by-case basis to ensure timely response to emerging needs.

Significance of the decision

This decision reflects FSSAI's commitment to balancing regulatory compliance with the operational challenges faced by the food industry. By allowing a minimum transition period of 180 days, the authority provides businesses adequate time to adapt their labelling processes in line with the updated regulations, ensuring accuracy and consistency in labelling practices.

The FSSAI will continue to monitor industry preparedness and work closely with stakeholders to facilitate compliance with the revised regulations. Relevant updates will be made available on the official FSSAI website.