Stories
FSSAI Proposes Strict New Rules to Ban Non-Dairy Products from Being Sold as 'Paneer'
- •The FSSAI has proposed new rules to prevent non-dairy analogue products from being marketed or sold as ‘paneer’ across India.
- •The draft Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Amendment Regulations, 2026, stipulate that products not derived from milk cannot use the term ‘paneer’.
- •Products currently licensed under ‘Analogue in Dairy Context’ must remove ‘paneer’ from their names, labels, and marketing materials.
- •The proposal follows concerns raised by MLA Vikram Pachpute in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly regarding consumer confusion between genuine and analogue paneer.
- •FSSAI has opened a 60-day public consultation period for feedback from consumers, industry, and experts on the draft regulations.
Key Questions Answered
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed draft regulations to stop non-dairy analogue products from being sold, labeled, or marketed under the name “paneer” across the country. Under these rules, products not derived from milk cannot use the term “paneer”, and existing licensees under the “Analogue in Dairy Context” category must remove it from all marketing materials.
The issue was raised in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in March 2025 by Shrigonda MLA Vikram Pachpute. He presented samples of both genuine dairy paneer and non-dairy analogues before the assembly to highlight how difficult it is for consumers to distinguish between them based on appearance alone.
FSSAI has invited public comments, suggestions, and objections on the draft regulations for a period of 60 days. Stakeholders including consumers, dairy farmers, industry representatives, and nutrition experts can submit feedback before the rules are finalized.
