FSSAI launches updated single-window portal for regulatory interactions

At Respack 2026 in Mumbai, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) unveiled a new single-window digital portal designed to streamline product approvals, risk assessments and regulatory interactions. For India's packaging industry, the initiative could prove to be one of the most significant regulatory developments of the year.

The portal has been introduced to simplify a process that many companies have found fragmented and difficult to navigate. Until now, applications requiring risk assessment and prior approval were handled through a combination of emails, paper submissions and partially digitised systems. With the new platform, FSSAI has brought these functions together under a single interface, allowing applicants to submit dossiers, track progress and receive decisions through one system.

According to FSSAI officials, the portal became operational on 1 June and represents the first fully integrated approval platform for product approvals, logo endorsements and other cases requiring risk assessment.

Importantly, the authority has not created an entirely new system. Instead, it has upgraded an existing portal already familiar to many stakeholders. Existing users can continue using the same credentials and workflows while benefiting from expanded functionality and end-to-end tracking.

For packaging companies, material suppliers and technology developers, the biggest advantage is likely to be transparency. One of the most common frustrations during the approval process has been uncertainty over application status. The new portal allows users to monitor their submissions throughout the review process, reducing guesswork and improving visibility.

FSSAI officials emphasised that the platform is intended to improve both ease of business and ease of operation. Beyond application tracking, it also incorporates consultation mechanisms, tutorials and support systems designed to help applicants navigate regulatory requirements.

Why packaging matters

The launch comes at a time when innovation in food-contact materials is accelerating.

During the session, FSSAI reiterated that packaging remains a critical food safety issue because it is the first point of contact with food products. Any migration of substances from packaging into food can have implications for consumer safety, making regulatory oversight essential.

At the same time, officials acknowledged that innovation often moves faster than regulation.

"In a fast-growing and fast-evolving world, there will always be areas where standards do not yet exist," an FSSAI representative said.

That reality is increasingly evident in packaging, where companies are developing recycled-content materials, fibre-based alternatives, bio-polymers, barrier coatings and other emerging technologies.

While the packaging industry itself is deregulated and does not require FSSAI licensing, manufacturers must comply with applicable standards, particularly those established by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The challenge arises when companies introduce materials or technologies that do not yet fit within existing standards.

The new portal has been designed to address exactly that situation.

A route for emerging technologies

One of the portal's most important features is the inclusion of an ‘others’ category for novel materials and technologies.

This category allows applicants to seek risk assessment and regulatory approval for innovations that fall outside existing classifications. Whether the innovation involves a new food-contact material, a sustainable packaging solution or a novel manufacturing technology, companies now have a defined pathway to engage with the regulator.

FSSAI officials described this as an enabling mechanism for innovation. In effect, it functions much like a regulatory sandbox, allowing emerging technologies to be evaluated through scientific assessment rather than being excluded because they do not fit existing categories.

For start-ups, research institutions and packaging innovators, this could significantly reduce uncertainty and provide a clearer route to commercialisation.

The authority also clarified that foreign materials and technologies may continue to be imported for research and development purposes, but large-scale manufacturing and commercial deployment will require risk assessment and approval through the FSSAI framework.

Beyond rPET

The portal also strengthens FSSAI's oversight of food-grade recycled materials.

Officials revealed that more than 360,000 metric tonnes of rPET production capacity has already been approved. Current food-grade recycling approvals focus primarily on PET because of its established safety profile and the traceability offered by bottle-to-bottle recycling systems.

However, FSSAI was careful to stress that it does not favour any specific packaging substrate.

"No material is seen as a hero or a zero," officials said, reiterating that all materials must be evaluated on the basis of scientific evidence, safety and risk assessment.

Whether a solution is based on plastic, paper, glass, metal or bio-based materials, the regulator's expectation remains the same: demonstrate compliance and consumer safety.

Building transparency and trust

Beyond approvals, the portal has been designed as a platform for engagement.

Applicants can register for regular consultation meetings with FSSAI officials, scheduled every alternate Wednesday. These sessions, conducted primarily online, are intended to provide guidance, answer queries and reduce confusion around regulatory requirements.

The portal also hosts guidance documents and draft formats for studies such as human intervention assessments and post-market surveillance. By making these resources publicly available, FSSAI hopes to standardise submissions and improve the quality of data provided by applicants.

For the packaging sector, the significance of the portal lies not only in digitisation but in the creation of a more transparent regulatory environment. By consolidating approvals, risk assessments, consultations and guidance documents into a single platform, FSSAI is attempting to create a more predictable pathway for innovation.

As packaging technologies continue to evolve, efficient regulatory systems will become increasingly important. If the portal delivers on its promise, it could help bridge the gap between innovation and commercialisation while ensuring that food safety remains at the centre of India's packaging ecosystem.