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Maharashtra Tightens Infant Formula Rules: What Parents and Providers Need to Know
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News18•01-10-2026, 08:51
Maharashtra Tightens Infant Formula Rules: What Parents and Providers Need to Know
- •Maharashtra's FDA has immediately tightened compliance for infant foods and milk substitutes across the state.
- •New regulations impact manufacturers, retailers, pharmacies, hospitals, and e-commerce platforms.
- •The stricter enforcement will affect marketing, labeling, and availability of infant formula products.
- •Dr. Armida Fernandez, Padma Shri Awardee, provides insights on the new regulations and infant nutrition.
- •The discussion covers implications of tighter controls on the promotion of infant-food products.
Key Questions Answered
The Maharashtra FDA issued a compliance order prohibiting free samples, gifts, cashback, and social media or influencer promotions for infant formula and milk substitutes. Packages must prominently display phrases like "Mother's Milk is Best for Your Baby," while terms like "humanised" and "health food" are banned.
The order applies to manufacturers, brand owners, importers, repackers, distributors, retailers, pharmacies, hospital suppliers, and e-commerce platforms dealing in infant formula and milk substitutes.
Violations such as misleading advertisements and substandard food can attract fines of up to ₹10 lakh.
