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New certification framework for imported vegan foods
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Thursday, 05 November, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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In a major move to streamline imports and safeguard ethical dietary standards, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has officially notified a mandatory, standardised import certification framework for imported vegan food products.
Called the Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Second Amendment Regulations, 2026, the new framework introduces Form-I, a formal certificate that must be completed by an authorised regulatory body or recognised third-party certifier in the country of origin before an imported item can receive FSSAI’s official Vegan Logo endorsement.
The regulation will come into force on April 1, 2027.
Under the previous Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022, Regulation 5(3) permitted importers to submit documentation under generic guidelines specified by the Food Authority. The amended regulation replaces this open-ended provision with a mandatory, standardised certificate (Form-I).
The new structure establishes uniform global compliance parameters for food business operators (FBOs) looking to tap into India's growing market for plant-based alternatives.
Key requirements of form
The prescribed certificate requires detailed reporting on product origin, consignment tracking, packaging specifications, storage requirements, and whether the product is intended for repacking or relabelling upon reaching India.
Crucially, Form-I obligates the exporting country's recognised certifying authority to formally sign off on five core declarations:
1- No Animal Testing: Verification that the food products have not involved any animal testing for any purpose including safety evaluation, unless provided by any Regulatory Authority.
2- Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP): Strict adherence to manufacturing precautions that eliminate the unintended presence of non-vegan substances during processing, production, and distribution.
3- Storage & Facility Segregation: Clear separation of vegan and non-vegan raw materials. Processing lines must be strictly separated from non-vegan operations.
4- Validated Cleaning Protocols: Where shared production lines exist, validated cleaning and sanitation measures must be executed prior to production of vegan products and for all associated machinery, equipment, utensils, etc.
5- Supply Chain Traceability: Complete backward traceability establishing the origin of all raw materials and ingredients used.
Meanwhile, industry experts say that by establishing an enforceable, international certification format, FSSAI aims to prevent deceptive labelling, eliminate cross-contamination risks, and ensure that overseas vegan imports meet the exact same rigorous regulatory standards required of domestic producers.
Further, the mandatory implementation date of April 1, 2027, provides foreign suppliers, global certifiers, and Indian importers an adequate transition window to update their compliance documentation and audit workflows.
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