The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed new rules that would restrict non milk derived products from being marketed or sold using the term “Paneer.” The FSSAI Paneer proposal is aimed at ensuring that product names and labels accurately reflect their composition.
The regulator has proposed an amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011. The draft Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Amendment Regulations, 2026 would introduce a new provision covering “paneer made of constituents not derived from milk.”
Non Milk Derived Products Cannot Use ‘Paneer’
Under the proposed amendment, products currently licensed or registered under the ‘Analogue in Dairy Context’ category would have to stop using the word “Paneer” in their nomenclature, labelling or marketing.
FSSAI said the proposed change is intended to prevent consumers from being misled about the nature and composition of food products. The amendment would require the presentation and naming of such products to accurately indicate what they are.
The proposal has been issued by FSSAI with the previous approval of the Central Government under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The principal regulations governing prohibition and restrictions on sales were originally notified in 2011 and have been amended from time to time.
FSSAI Invites Objections and Suggestions
The proposal is currently in draft form, and FSSAI has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders as well as members of the public.
The draft regulations will be considered after 60 days from the date on which copies of the Official Gazette containing the notification are made available to the public.
Objections and suggestions can be sent to the Chief Executive Officer, FSSAI, FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi 110002, or through the email address specified in the notification.
The official Gazette notification was issued on 24 September 2026 and is available through the Government of India’s eGazette portal.
Q1. What has FSSAI proposed for Paneer?
FSSAI has proposed restricting products not derived from milk from being marketed or sold using the term “Paneer.”
Q2. Which products would be affected by the proposal?
Products licensed or registered under the ‘Analogue in Dairy Context’ category that use “Paneer” in their nomenclature, labelling or marketing would be affected.
Q3. Why has FSSAI proposed the amendment?
The proposal aims to ensure that food product names and presentation accurately reflect their nature and composition and prevent consumers from being misled.
Q4. Can the public submit objections to the draft?
Yes. FSSAI has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders and members of the public.
Q5. When will the draft regulations be considered?
The draft will be considered after 60 days from the date copies of the Official Gazette containing the notification are made available to the public.
