FSSAI 30 March update: New standards for Indian packaging
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)’s 30 March draft notification formally replaces 2011 references with 2018 packaging and 2020 labeling regulations to enhance industry transparency. Read FAQs below.
07 Apr 2026 | 84 Views | By Jiya Somaiya
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has moved to permanently decouple packaging and labelling requirements within its legal framework. Through a draft notification issued on 30 March 2026, the authority is substituting all remaining references to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 with the (Packaging) Regulations, 2018 and (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020.
This amendment ensures that every food product standard in India now points to modern, technically specific protocols rather than the consolidated legacy rules of the past decade.
Focus on safety and transparency
This substitution reflects the FSSAI’s commitment to higher safety benchmarks, particularly as the Indian packaging industry scales for global exports. While the 2011 rules were generalised, the 2018 Packaging Regulations introduce strict migration limits for chemicals and define food-grade materials with greater precision.
Simultaneously, the 2020 Labelling and Display Regulations mandate advanced consumer-facing information, such as standardised symbols and the use of QR codes for digital traceability. By mandating these specific references, the FSSAI is forcing total alignment with contemporary international standards.
Industry impact and compliance
For Indian manufacturers and packaging suppliers, this update necessitates an immediate review of technical documentation and batch records. Since the 2011 regulations are being formally excised from the Food Products Standards and Food Additives framework, businesses must ensure their internal audits and compliance certifications cite the correct specialised 2018 or 2020 regulations.
This shift is expected to accelerate the adoption of high-fidelity coding and marking technologies, as manufacturers seek to meet rigorous labelling demands now legally codified as the primary standard for the industry.
What exactly changed in the 30 March FSSAI notification?
The notification is a formal amendment to the Food Products Standards and Food Additives Regulations. It replaces all old references to the 2011 Packaging and Labelling Regulations with the separate, modern 2018 Packaging and 2020 Labelling and Display regulations.
Why was the 2011 regulation replaced?
The 2011 regulation was a combined set of rules that lacked the technical depth required for modern manufacturing. By splitting them, FSSAI provides much stricter, specialised standards — one focused on the physical safety of materials (2018) and the other on digital transparency and consumer information (2020).
How does this affect current food packaging in India?
Manufacturers can no longer cite 2011 compliance in their technical files or audits. They must now demonstrate specific adherence to the 2018 standards (like chemical migration limits) and 2020 standards (like mandatory allergen labelling in bold and specific veg/non-veg symbol dimensions).
Does this mandate the use of QR codes?
While the 30 March notification is about legal cross-referencing, the 2020 Labelling and Display Regulations (which it now points to) strongly encourage and often require digital transparency. This makes technologies like QR codes essential for providing mandatory information that may not fit on physical labels.
Is there a grace period for compliance?
Typically, FSSAI allows a transition period (often six to 12 months) for draft notifications to become final. However, since the 2018 and 2020 regulations are already in force, this update is a legal closing of the loop, meaning manufacturers should already be aligned with these newer standards.