FSSAI Packaging Regulations: India Foodservice 2026
FSSAI packaging regulations for foodservice buyers in India: which materials are permitted, single-use plastic limits, EPR duties and the documents to request.
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Short answer: FSSAI is India’s food safety regulator, and its packaging rules define what may be used in foodservice and FMCG. The packaging rules and regulations in India run across two instruments, the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018 and the Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020, and these food packaging regulations operate alongside India’s single-use plastic restrictions rather than replacing them.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the apex regulator for food safety in India. FSSAI’s packaging rules, particularly the 2018 Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations and subsequent amendments, define what packaging is permitted in foodservice and FMCG operations across India. The FSSAI Packaging First Amendment Regulations, 2025 (28 March 2025) introduced approved recycled PET (rPET) for food contact, and FSSAI has proposed a draft amendment to ban PFAS and BPA in food-packaging materials.
The current FSSAI framework
FSSAI’s packaging regulations operate alongside three other major frameworks:
- Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 (amended 2022): covers plastic-specific requirements
- Single-Use Plastic Ban 2022 (extended 2024): prohibits identified SUP categories
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Rules: mandates collection and recycling for plastic packaging
For foodservice operators, FSSAI compliance covers:
- Material composition and food-contact safety
- Migration limits (substances that may transfer from packaging to food)
- Labelling requirements
- Recyclability and disposal markings
What is in draft, and is not yet law
In February 2026 FSSAI opened a 60-day public consultation on the draft Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, with comments closing on 10 May 2026. The draft gazette notification is published on the FSSAI site.
The draft proposes six defined terms, including a formal definition of food contact material (FCM) and, for the first time in Indian packaging law, non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), alongside definitions covering modified atmosphere and aseptic packaging.
This is a draft. It is not in force. The 2018 Packaging Regulations remain the operative instrument, and any supplier presenting the 2026 amendment as a current requirement is ahead of the law.
It is worth watching rather than acting on. If NIAS becomes an explicit concept in Indian packaging law, the question a buyer asks a supplier shifts from “is the material permitted” to “what can you evidence about substances that were never deliberately added”, which is a documentation question rather than a material one.
What FSSAI permits for foodservice
Compliant foodservice packaging materials in India:
- Bagasse and other agro-fibre molded products: explicitly permitted, and outside the scope of plastic EPR registration because they contain no plastic
- Paper and paperboard: permitted with food-contact certification
- Glass: permitted
- Aluminium: permitted with food-contact certification
- Compliant plastics: only specific polymers (PET, PP, HDPE, LDPE) with specific food-contact grades; many plastic categories now banned under SUP rules
What’s banned under the SUP framework
The Single-Use Plastic Ban (effective July 2022, extended 2024) prohibits:
- Plastic stirrers, cutlery, plates, glasses
- Polystyrene foam containers
- Plastic flags, balloons, candy sticks
- Wrapping films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packs
- Plastic banners less than 100 microns
- PVC banners less than 100 microns
For foodservice specifically, this means polystyrene clamshells (still common in 2022) are now non-compliant. Replacement options include bagasse molded fiber clamshells and compostable takeaway containers, paper-board (PFAS-free), and aluminium. For a format-by-format breakdown, see bagasse vs polystyrene foam.
Packaging and labelling are two separate regulations
Buyers often search for “FSSAI packaging and labelling regulations” as though they were one instrument. They are not, and the distinction matters when you are deciding which documents to ask for.
Packaging is governed by the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, which set material requirements and migration limits for anything in contact with food.
Labelling is governed by the separate Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. These bind the food business that labels the food. They do not impose label requirements on the manufacturer of empty tableware, which is a point of regular confusion when buyers ask a packaging supplier for “label compliance”.
What changes on 1 July 2027
FSSAI notified the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) First Amendment Regulations, 2026 on 24 March 2026. They come into force on 1 July 2027, so nothing changes today (FSSAI lists notifications on its updates page), but the lead time matters if you commission printed packaging.
Two provisions are relevant to foodservice and institutional supply:
- Non-retail containers. The amendment tightens requirements for containers not intended for retail sale, adding traceability requirements and explicit “NON-RETAIL CONTAINER” identification. Operators supplying bulk or institutional food are the ones affected.
- Small packs. Very small packages get relaxed FSSAI logo requirements, which is relevant to smaller item formats.
The practical point for procurement: artwork and print runs have lead times measured in months. If you are specifying printed packaging now for delivery into 2027, the label specification you sign off should anticipate the July 2027 position rather than the current one.
EPR registration and brand-owner liability
EPR rules require brand owners (the entity whose name appears on the consumer-facing packaging) to:
- Register with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
- Submit annual EPR action plans
- Achieve specified collection and recycling targets
- Pay fees if targets are missed
For QSR chains, hotel groups, and FMCG brands operating in India, this creates a significant administrative overhead for plastic packaging.
Bagasse and other compostable agro-fibre packaging sits outside the scope of plastic EPR registration, because India’s plastic waste EPR framework applies to plastic packaging. There is no exemption to claim and no evidence to file, which materially simplifies the compliance overhead.
What FSSAI compliance documentation looks like
A compliant foodservice packaging supplier should provide:
- FSSAI registration certificate (covering manufacturing or import facility)
- Material composition declaration with food-contact grade certification
- Migration test results from accredited Indian labs (CIPET, SGS India, Intertek India)
- Heavy metals and toxic substances declaration
- EPR registration (for plastic-content packaging only, exempt for bagasse)
What buyers should verify
When evaluating an Indian foodservice packaging supplier:
- Confirm FSSAI registration status: verifiable through fssai.gov.in
- Request migration test reports dated within the last 12 months
- Check that test reports cover the specific SKUs ordered (different products require different tests)
- For plastic packaging: verify EPR registration and current collection targets
- For compostable packaging: confirm material composition matches the food-contact standard
Common pitfalls
- “FSSAI registered” vs “FSSAI licensed”: Small operators register; larger operators license. Confirm the right one for the supplier’s scale.
- Expired migration test reports: Reports older than 12 months should be re-issued before procurement signoff.
- Ambiguous material declarations: “Bagasse-based” without specific composition disclosure can hide PFAS coatings or other additives.
Ecofy’s FSSAI position
Ecofy operates with current FSSAI registration covering all bagasse molded fiber SKUs manufactured at the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) facility. Migration test reports from CIPET, SGS, and Intertek are issued annually and made available to buyers on request. PFAS-free declaration is included with all standard documentation.
Ecofy’s compostable bagasse plates and bagasse bowls sit outside the scope of plastic EPR registration, simplifying compliance overhead for QSR chains, hotel groups, and FMCG brands operating in India. Bulk buyers can order at wholesale volumes.
