India updates food labelling rules affecting produce and food exporters

India has amended its food labelling and display regulations, introducing new requirements that could affect exporters of fresh produce, processed fruit and vegetables, nuts, juices, and other packaged agricultural products entering the market.

According to a new USDA FAS GAIN report, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) adopted amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, through a notification issued on April 9, 2026. The changes entered into force on the date of publication in India’s official gazette.

The updated rules introduce additional labelling requirements for non-retail containers, including mandatory declarations covering product name, lot or batch identification, manufacturer details, net quantity, and storage conditions. The report notes that the information may appear either on the container itself or in accompanying documents.

For the fruit and vegetable industry, the amendments are particularly relevant for bulk shipments, retail-ready packaging, frozen produce, dried fruit, juices, minimally processed products, and other packaged foods requiring traceability and transport labelling.

The report also clarifies exemptions for raw agricultural commodities, including fresh fruits and vegetables that have not undergone processing beyond cleaning, grading, sorting, or packaging.

USDA FAS notes that exporters shipping food products to India should review the updated requirements carefully, as labelling compliance remains a key part of customs clearance and market access procedures.

Read the full report here.

source: fas.usda.gov

photo: en.wikipedia.org