FSSAI Dairy Logo Requirement Takes Effect on 1 July 2028

The news

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has made a common logo mandatory on all dairy product packages, a move intended to help consumers distinguish genuine dairy items from plant-based and analogue alternatives. The requirement, notified through an amendment to the 2020 labelling and display regulations, will take effect from 1 July 2028, giving dairy companies time to adapt their packaging.

The prescribed symbol is a white drop inside a blue square. Its minimum size will depend on the size of the package's front panel, ensuring visibility from a distance. The rule covers milk, curd, paneer, ghee, butter, flavoured milk and ice cream, as well as composite milk products such as milk chocolate and shrikhand, which contain milk or milk solids as a main component along with non-dairy ingredients like sugar, fruit, cocoa, nuts or spices.

FSSAI had issued an initial draft in February 2025 and sought views and objections from dairy businesses, traders and the public before finalising the rule. Officials said the uniform logo is intended to end confusion at the point of sale, where packages of dairy and plant-based products such as soy milk or analogue paneer previously carried only general food labels without a separate common dairy symbol.

What is the legal basis for FSSAI's packaging and labelling rules?

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which consolidated various food-related laws. The Act empowers the Food Authority to regulate food packaging and labelling to prevent misleading information and protect consumer interests. The Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 were later split and revised into the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018 and the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. The 2020 regulations introduced comprehensive labelling requirements, including mandatory declarations and the framework for front-of-pack symbols. The amendment mandating the dairy logo was made to these 2020 regulations through a notification process that included a draft stage for public consultation, as required by Section 92 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Why was a common dairy logo needed?

Dairy packages previously carried general food labels without a separate common dairy logo. The absence of a uniform symbol made quick visual differentiation from plant-based or analogue alternatives difficult. FSSAI issued an initial draft in February 2025 and sought views and objections from dairy businesses, traders and the public.

What are composite milk products?

Composite milk products have milk or milk solids as their main component and may also contain non-dairy ingredients for flavour or other characteristics. Examples include flavoured milk, ice cream, milk chocolate and shrikhand. Sugar, fruit, cocoa, nuts and spices are examples of ingredients that may be added.

What is the next step for compliance?

Dairy companies have until 1 July 2028 to adapt packaging to the new requirement. Effective compliance will depend on printing the prescribed symbol at the required size. Consumer awareness of the symbol and continued attention to other package information can support informed purchasing decisions.