FSSAI Proposes Restrictions on Analogue Products Sold as Paneer

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed the prohibitions on the manufacturing and selling of the non-milk products as “paneer”. This suggestion is made in the draft of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Amendment Regulations, 2026, which was published on 24th of September 2026. FSSAI has issued an invitation to objections and suggestions from all concerned stakeholders for 60 days. This suggested amendment is aimed at ensuring that names and labelling of products do not mislead people.

What Does FSSAI Suggest?

This draft proposes to make a specific restriction on the product called paneer made out of components which are non-milk products.

According to this draft amendment, any product which has been licensed or registered under the category of “Analogue in Dairy Context” shall be prohibited from using the word “paneer” in its name and labelling.

The aim of this proposal is to prevent misleading of consumers about the nature and ingredients of these products.

It is worth mentioning here that this is only a draft suggestion and not a prohibition.

What Is an Analogue Product in the Dairy Domain?

The term “dairy analogue” refers to those products that are formulated to mimic the appearance or performance of a milk-based product, wherein the use of non-milk-based ingredients replaces one or more constituents in the milk.

Thus, an analogue product may appear to be similar to a conventional milk-based product in appearance or function without actually being composed of any milk-based ingredients.

The distinction becomes necessary for labeling purposes due to the fact that consumers make choices depending upon whether a product is truly based on milk or not.

Why Is There a Need for Such a Regulation by FSSAI?

The proposed restriction is mainly focused on proper nomenclature and consumer awareness.

According to FSSAI, the regulation was sought to be imposed in order to prevent consumers from being misled about the nature and composition of the products that are marketed under the name of “paneer.” The Health Ministry of India has also made a similar observation about the nomenclature and presentation of food products.

FSSAI’s Latest Intervention on Cheese Analogues

This recent move comes after previous enforcement and clarifications related to non-dairy cheese analogues.

In April 2026, a public notice was issued by FSSAI’s West Region to ensure compliance with food-safety regulations related to cheese analogues. The notice pointed out that the sale of a cheese analogue as “paneer” breaches the relevant requirements and called for accurate and clear naming of the products.

This draft amendment, released in the September 2026, would provide a more precise regulation by making an amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011. The FSSAI’s official list of the notifications includes this draft amendment dated 24 September 2026.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the statutory food regulator in India.

The Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 is the legal framework within which FSSAI functions to regulate food safety and standards in India.

The responsibilities of FSSAI include developing food standards, regulation of food businesses, enforcement of food safety issues, etc.