General Conditions
- Any information or pictorial device written, printed, or graphic matter may be displayed in the label provided that it is not in conflict with the requirements of these Regulations.
- Every declaration which is required to be made on package under these regulations shall be:
- Legible and prominent, definite, plain and unambiguous
- Conspicuous as to size number and colour
- as far as practicable, in such style or type of lettering as to be boldly, clearly and conspicuously present in distinct contrast to the other type, lettering or graphic material used on the package, and shall be printed or inscribed on the package in a colour that contrasts conspicuously with the background of the label Provided that —
- Where any label information is blown, formed or moulded on a glass or plastic surface or where such information is embossed or perforated on a package, that information shall not be required to be presented in contrasting colours
- Where any declaration on a package is printed either in the form of a handwriting or hand script, such declaration shall be clear, unambiguous and legible
- No declaration shall be made so as to require it to be read through any liquid commodity contained in the package
- Where a package is provided with an outside container or wrapper, such container or wrapper shall also contain all the declarations which are required to appear on the package except where such container or wrapper itself is transparent and the declarations on the package are easily readable through such outside container or wrapper
- Labels not to contain false or misleading statements: A label shall not contain any statement, claim, design, device, fancy name or abbreviation which is false or misleading in any particular concerning the food contained in the package, or concerning the quantity or the nutritive value or in relation to the place of origin of the said food
Provided that this regulation shall not apply in respect of established trade or fancy names of confectionery, biscuits and sweets, such as, barley,sugar,bull’s eye, cream cracker or in respect of aerated waters, such as, Ginger Beer or Gold-Spot or any other name in existence in international trade practice
Principal display panel
The information required under these Regulations shall be given on the principal display panel of the package or container and such information may be given in the following manner.
- information should be grouped together and given at one place OR The pre-printed information be grouped together and given in one place and
- Online information or those not pre-printed be grouped together in another place.
- Area of the principal display panel
The area of principal Display panel shall not be less than —- In the case of a rectangular container, forty percent of the product of height and width of the panel of such container having the largest area;
- In case of cylindrical or nearly cylindrical, round or nearly round, oval or nearly oval container, twenty percent of the product of the height and average circumference of such container; or
- In the case of container of any other shape, twenty percent of the total surface area of the container except where there is label, securely affixed to the container, such label shall give a surface area of not less than ten percent of the total surface area of the container.
Provided that in the case of package having a capacity of five cubic centimeters or less, the principal display panel may be card or tape affixed firmly to the package or container and bearing the required information under these regulations.
- Area of the principal display panel
The height of numeral in the declaration
- The height of any numeral required under these regulations, on the principal display panel shall not be less than—
- as shown in Table – I below, if the net quantity is declared in terms of weight or volume and
- as shown in Table II below, if the net quantity is declared in terms of length, area or number.
Weight/volume Minimum height of numeral in mm
Normal caseWhen blown, formed Moulded,
or perforated on container
Upto 50g/ml 1 2 Above 50g/ml upto 200g/ml 2 4 Above 200 g/ml upto 1 kg/litre 4 6 Above 1 kg/litre 6 8 Area of principal display panel Minimum height of numeral in mm
Normal caseWhen blown, formed Moulded,
or perforated on container
Upto 100 cms square 1 2 Above 100 cms. Square upto 500 cms. Square 2 4 Above 500 cms. Square upto 2500 cms. Square 4 6 Above 2500 cms. Square 6 8
- The height of letters in the declaration under 2.2 shall not be less than 1 mm height when blown, formed, moulded, embossed or perforated, the height of letters shall not be less than 2mm.
Provided that the width of the letter or numeral shall not be less than one-third of its height, but this proviso shall not apply in the case of numeral “I” and letters i, I& I:
Provided further that in case of label declarations required under 2.4 except in case declaration specifying instructions for use or preparation of the product, the size of letters shall not be less than 3mm.
kasturi Sen Ray says
want to know any specific regulation for health food labeling. some products e.g.Meal replacement bar are not mentioned in PFA. Is There any restriction on their import and if it is produced by some company , what will be the guidelines.
FSH Team says
Hi,
Such type of foods are regulated under section 22 of The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and a food article falling under section 22 has to apply for a product approval and the person/company who is manufacturing/importing such food articles are required to send the food product for product approval to the central authority before a license is granted. Such products are only allowed to be sold upon the permission of the food authority.
For product approval, please read: http://foodsafetyhelpline.com/2014/02/what-is-product-approval-who-requires-a-product-approval/
shekhar mehra says
Can i have food packaging guidelines in written for pasta in consumer packs??
FSH Team says
Hi Shekhar,
You have to follow the guidelines as per Food Safety & Standards (Packaging & Labelling) Regulations, 2011.
Please read through the following links:
http://foodsafetyhelpline.com/packaging-labelling/
http://foodsafetyhelpline.com/2014/03/what-is-food-packaging-what-are-the-general-requirements-for-packaged-food-materials/
Shikha Tayal says
hi, can you please help on my query on address to be captured on a package. if we have our own manufacturing plant. However, if the marketing office and manufacturing location are at different locations. are we supposed to mention complete address of both locations in a/w. As manufactured by and marketed by address. or only manufactured by address with FSSAI num of marketer can do. please confirm, as we have space constraint on a/w