FSSAI exempts infant nutrition and B2B packs from RDA labelling
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)’s 30 March amendment exempts infant nutrition and non-retail containers from mandatory RDA labelling, streamlining compliance for the Indian dairy and bulk packaging sectors. Read FAQs below.
07 Apr 2026 | 98 Views | By Jiya Somaiya
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has officially notified the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) First Amendment Regulations, 2026. Uploaded on 30 March, this gazette notification introduces a major technical exemption: infant nutrition products are no longer required to declare the percentage contribution to recommended dietary allowances (RDA) or the number of servings per pack.
For Indian manufacturers of infant formula and complementary foods, this allows for cleaner packaging designs that prioritise age-specific nutritional data over standardised adult benchmarks.
Simplified norms for non-retail containers
In a significant move for the logistics and business-to-business (B2B) sector, the amendment also relaxes labelling requirements for non-retail containers.
These bulk units — typically used for industrial transport and storage — are now exempt from providing full retail labelling information on the outer pack, provided the details are available in accompanying documents or via electronic means (such as QR codes).
However, the FSSAI mandates that these containers must be clearly identifiable with statements such as non-retail container — not for direct sale to consumer. This change reduces the printing burden on secondary packaging while maintaining strict traceability throughout the Indian supply chain.
Industry alignment and implementation
Beyond these exemptions, the 2026 amendment refines the definition of minimally processed foods and relaxes logo requirements for small packages (below 100-sq/cm), though multi-unit packs must still carry full information.
For the Indian packaging industry, these updates represent a move toward purpose-built regulation. By removing redundant data requirements for specialised and industrial formats, the FSSAI is enabling manufacturers to focus on high-fidelity, essential information.
These regulations are set to come into full force on 1 July 2027, providing the industry with a transition period to update packaging lines and documentation systems.
What is the core change for infant nutrition labelling?
Manufacturers of infant nutrition products no longer need to print the percentage (%) RDA contribution per serving or the number of servings per pack.
Why were non-retail containers included in this amendment?
Non-retail containers are used for B2B transport, not consumer sales. The FSSAI simplified its labelling to avoid information clutter, allowing mandatory details like ingredients and net quantity to be provided in accompanying paperwork rather than printed on the bulk box.
What is a minimally processed food under the new definition?
It refers to foods slightly altered for preservation — such as through grinding, refrigeration, or vacuum-packaging — that do not substantially change the nutritional content of the original agricultural product.
When do these new labelling rules become mandatory?
While the notification was issued in March 2026, the official enforcement date for these amendments is 1 July 2027.
How does this impact the smart packaging trend in India?
By allowing non-retail information to be provided digitally, the FSSAI is formally encouraging the use of digital tools like QR codes for B2B traceability, aligning with the broader automation themes.