A parliamentary panel has directed the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to finalise and notify the ‘Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling’ (FOPNL) regulations in a time-bound manner, according to a report presented in Parliament on July 23, 2026.
What Changed: Parliamentary Committee Report
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on Thursday presented a report titled ‘Regulation of Packaged Commodities with Specific Reference to Sugar Content in Baby Products and other Food Products’. The committee expressed dismay that the draft FOPNL regulations, originally notified on September 13, 2022, have not been finalised despite more than 14,000 stakeholder comments having been received. "Over two years have lapsed since the draft notification, and the continued delay in finalising the regulations has resulted in the absence of simplified and interpretative front-of-pack information, particularly in relation to sugar content," the report stated.
Who Is Affected: Scope of Application
The new requirements will apply to all food products intended for or marketed to infants and children, as well as all packaged and ultra-processed foods currently subject to FSSAI labelling rules. The committee noted increasing consumption of packaged and ultra-processed food and emphasised that timely availability of clear nutritional information is critical for informed dietary choices. The regulations will affect domestic manufacturers, importers, and retailers of packaged food products.
Compliance Obligations and Deadlines
FSSAI is required to finalise and notify the FOPNL regulations in a time-bound manner. Specific recommendations include:
- All food intended for or marketed to infants and children must mandatorily carry clear and prominent front-of-pack declarations on the presence of added sugar in grams per serving wherever applicable, along with its percentage contribution to the daily energy requirement of the target age group.
- The FOPNL regulations must include simple, clearly visible, and interpretative labelling mechanisms, such as colour-coded indicators (red, yellow, and green) to denote high, medium, and low sugar levels, or appropriate warning labels for products high in sugar.
| Aspect | Current Practice | Proposed Change |
|---|---|---|
| Labelling format | Numerical disclosures (grams, % of RDA) on back of pack | Interpretative front-of-pack: colour codes or warning labels |
| Sugar declaration | Required in ingredient list but not prominent | Mandatory front-of-pack declaration for infants/children products |
| Consumer guidance | Difficult to understand at point of purchase | Immediate visual guidance (e.g., red/green signals) |
The committee observed that the current labelling framework relies primarily on numerical disclosures, such as grams and percentages of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), which may not be readily understood by all consumers at the point of purchase. It added that "clear, prominent, and interpretative front-of-pack warnings," especially for products high in sugar, can serve as an effective consumer information tool.
Enforcement and Regulatory Bodies
The primary regulatory body is the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The committee also falls under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. No penalty structure has been published yet; the regulations themselves will be notified in a separate notification.
Resources and Guidance Sources
Industry stakeholders are advised to monitor FSSAI notifications and the committee’s report for further details. The draft FOPNL regulations remain available for reference. Trade associations such as the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and the All India Food Processors' Association (AIFPA) are expected to issue guidance once the regulations are finalised.
For compliance officers and importers, this signals a shift toward more prescriptive, front-of-pack disclosure requirements that will require reformulation of label design, particularly for products high in sugar. Companies should begin reviewing their current packaging and nutritional data to prepare for the upcoming changes.
Sources:
