Food & Nutraceuticals
Labels and claims checked before the print run, not after the recall
Mandatory declarations, nutrition panels, allergen statements and claim substantiation reviewed against current regulations.
- Authority
- FSSAI and, for packaged commodity declarations, the Department of Legal Metrology
- Governing rules
- FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020; FSS (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018; Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011
- Typical timeline
- 3 to 10 working days per artwork set
Food Product Approval & Label Vetting: what it involves
Label non-compliance is the most frequently penalised food violation in India, and it is entirely preventable. The FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 govern what must appear on a package and how prominently, the FSS (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018 govern what you may say about a product, and the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 add a separate layer covering net quantity, MRP and consumer declarations.
We review artwork against all three before it goes to the printer, and where a product does not fit a standardised category, we advise on the approval route rather than letting it ship on an assumption.
Who needs this
- Brands launching a new SKU or refreshing packaging
- Importers preparing labels for customs clearance
- Supplement and nutraceutical brands making nutrition or health claims
- Exporters adapting labels for a destination market
- Businesses that have received a label related notice or consignment hold
- Private label brands relying on a contract manufacturer's artwork
Documentation
Documents required
Arrange these and the file moves. We tell you exactly which format each one has to be in, and we draft the technical annexures ourselves.
- Print ready artwork for every pack size and variant
- Complete ingredient list in descending order of composition
- Nutritional analysis report from an accredited laboratory
- Allergen declaration and cross contamination assessment
- Substantiation for every claim made on pack or in advertising
- Shelf life and storage condition study
- FSSAI licence number and manufacturer or importer details
- Country of origin details, for imported products
How we work
The process, stage by stage
Indicative durations for a file where documents arrive on time. We tell you at the outset which stage is most likely to slip in your case.
- 1
Artwork intake and category confirmation
1 dayWe confirm the regulatory category of the product, since the mandatory declarations differ between ordinary food, health supplements and foods for special dietary use.
- 2
Mandatory declaration check
2 to 4 daysName, ingredient list, nutritional information, veg or non-veg mark, allergen statement, net quantity, lot number, date marking, storage conditions, FSSAI logo and licence number, and manufacturer address are each verified for content, font size and placement.
- 3
Claim substantiation review
2 to 4 daysEvery nutrition, health, comparative and non-addition claim is checked against the Advertising and Claims Regulations and the supporting evidence you hold. Unsupportable claims are rewritten into compliant wording that still sells.
- 4
Marked-up artwork and sign-off
1 to 2 daysYou receive annotated artwork with each correction referenced to the specific regulation, plus a clean compliance certificate for your records once corrections are incorporated.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does FSSAI pre-approve labels?
There is no routine pre-approval of label artwork for standardised products. The responsibility sits with the food business operator, which is exactly why an independent vetting step before printing is worth the few days it takes.
What happens if my product is not a standardised food?
Products that do not fit a standardised category, or that use an ingredient outside the permitted lists, need a specific approval route before sale. We assess which route applies and what evidence has to be assembled.
Can I say my product boosts immunity?
Only if the claim is permitted for the specific nutrient at the level present and you hold the substantiation the Advertising and Claims Regulations require. Function claims are heavily restricted, and unsupported immunity claims are among the most commonly actioned violations.
Do imported products need Indian labelling?
Yes. Imported food must carry the mandatory Indian declarations, including the importer's FSSAI licence number and country of origin, before it clears customs. Getting this wrong holds consignments at the port.
Related services
Often taken together with this
FSSAI Central Licence
For turnover above Rs 50 crore, importers, exporters, e-commerce sellers and businesses operating in more than one state.
Typical timeline · 30 to 60 working days in a clean file
Read moreNutraceutical & Health Supplement Manufacturing Licence
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Typical timeline · 45 to 90 days from formulation review to licence grant
Read moreCosmetics Import Licence & Compliance
Everything after registration: agent appointment, Indian labelling, consignment documentation and customs readiness.
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Read moreTell us what you are manufacturing. We will tell you what you need.
Share your product category, premises and turnover. You will get a written scope covering the exact licences that apply, the documents to arrange, and a realistic timeline.