FSSAI Mandates New Vegan Logo and Clarifies Ashwagandha Use in Foods

FSSAI announced new regulations requiring an approved vegan logo on all packages, effective July 2027, to ensure compliance and consumer trust. Additionally, it clarified permissible use of Ashwagandha components in food products, allowing only roots and extracts, not leaves. The changes follow stakeholder consultations and reflect updated standards.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has unveiled significant regulatory changes, mandating the implementation of a 'Vegan' logo on all certified vegan food packages. Scheduled to take effect from July 1, 2027, this measure, detailed in the Gazette of India on May 25, 2026, aims to assure product compliance and enhance consumer confidence.

The regulatory update requires manufacturers to adhere to specific guidelines for the logo's design and placement, including detailed diagrams for size and color specifications. This directive follows a comprehensive review of feedback from a draft notification released in December 2022, marking a significant amendment to the Vegan Foods Regulations of 2022, aimed at uniform labeling practices.

Concurrent with these changes, FSSAI has issued a separate advisory addressing the utilization of Ashwagandha in the food industry. Only the roots and their extracts of Ashwagandha are authorized for use in health supplements and special dietary foods, while the use of leaves is explicitly prohibited. The advisory serves to clarify permissible ingredients under the existing 2016 regulations on health supplements and nutraceuticals.