The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011. The proposed regulation aims to restrict the manufacture and sale of analogue products marketed as 'Paneer' that are not made from milk.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken a significant step towards ensuring transparency in food labeling by proposing a draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011. This move aims to restrict the manufacture and sale of analogue products marketed as 'Paneer', a type of Indian cheese made primarily from cow's milk.
The proposed amendment seeks to insert a new clause under Regulation 2.1.1 of the existing regulations, specifically covering ‘paneer made of constituents not derived from milk.’ The proposed Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Amendment Regulations, 2026 will apply to products already licensed or registered under the ‘Analogue in Dairy Context’ category, which will be required to discontinue using the term 'Paneer' in their nomenclature, labeling, or marketing.
Under the proposed regulation, consumers can expect food product names and presentations to accurately reflect their nature and composition, thereby enabling them to make informed choices. This amendment is intended to protect consumers from being misled about the nature and composition of such products.
As the notification is a draft regulation, FSSAI has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders and members of the public. The draft regulations will be taken into consideration after the expiry of 60 days from the date on which copies of the Official Gazette containing the notification are made available to the public. Objections or suggestions may be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi – 110002, or submitted through the email address specified in the notification.
The proposed amendment has been issued by FSSAI with the previous approval of the Central Government under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The principal Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations were notified in 2011 and have been amended from time to time.
The Official Gazette of the notification can be accessed through this link: https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2026/276430.pdf
Source:
Press Information Bureau
