In 2025, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken an important regulatory action by releasing FSSAI draft vegan regulations draft amendments to its Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022.
FSSAI Draft Vegan Regulations 2025: Strengthening Food Safety and Standards for Vegan Food Certification
In 2025, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken an important regulatory action by releasing FSSAI draft vegan regulations draft amendments to its Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022.
The draft vegan amendment concerns certification for vegan food imports, which will now require vegan foods to possess FSSAI vegan food certification from a recognized authority of the exporting country. [1]
What is the purpose of Vegan logo on food products?
As the plant-based food industry continues to boom, the FSSAI identified a clear need for the ability to differentiate between true vegan foods and those that are simply dogged as “vegan”. As a result, it has created a vegan logo endorsement program that is legally backed under Food Safety and Standards Regulations 2025.
This initiative aims to:
- Prevent misleading claims.
- Enhance consumer protection.
- Ensure that products bearing the vegan logo contain no animal-derived ingredients.
- Guarantee manufacturing processes that prevent cross-contamination and avoid animal testing.
This legally backed FSSAI vegan food certification provides consumers with transparency, accountability, and confidence in the integrity of vegan-labelled products.[2]
Amendment on recent Vegan Certification
The FSSAI draft vegan regulations introduce notable changes to the Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022 to improve trust, reduce contamination risks, and align Indian vegan standards with international practices. [3]
Salient features of vegan certifications
- Perhaps, one of the salient features of this amendment is the inclusion of Form-I, which creates a certification process, for the exports of vegan food. Form-I should be issued by an authority in the exporting country, and Form-I certifies compliance with regulatory requirements for a product marketed as vegan.
- Details provided by designated authorities include composition of the product, production method, requirements for storage, and tracking of the vegan product through the supply chain.
- The amendment also enhances compliance when it mandates either a separate storage and production line for vegan and non-vegan products, or thorough procedures of cleaning when using shared facilities.
- The amendment also disallows animal testing for food safety assessments unless the regulatory authorities require animal testing. Stakeholders will also have an opportunity to object or comment within 60 days from the date of notification, and stakeholders must contact FSSAI via email. The final Food Safety and Standards Regulations 2025 will be published after reviewing stakeholder input.
What is the major difference between Vegan Food Regulations 2022 and Draft Amendment 2025? [4] [5]
Aspect | Vegan Foods Regulations 2022 | Draft Amendment 2025 |
Introduction & Scope | Established basic framework for vegan food production, labelling, promotional claims, and sale in India. Defined vegan food and laid down initial requirements for certification and logo use. | Adhering to compliance requirements especially for imported vegan foods, emphasizing certification from exporting countries and stricter traceability protocols. |
Logo Endorsement Process | Introduced vegan logo endorsement; applications accepted for vegan logo use on approved products. Application generally consolidated, allowing multiple product variants under one application. | Requires separate applications for product variant and manufacturing site, aims to tighten monitoring and prevent misuse of vegan logo. This improves transparency in logo endorsement. |
Import Certification Requirement | Imported vegan foods had general compliance requirements but lacked explicit mandatory certification from exporting countries. | Mandates FSSAI vegan food certification from recognized authorities in exporting nations through prescribed Form-I. |
Manufacturing and Storage | Initiated separate storage and processing lines for vegan and non-vegan products or cleaning procedures if shared. | Enforces strict GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), labeling, and storage standards under Food Safety and Standards Regulations 2025. |
Prohibited Terms and Products | Prohibits misleading terms and dairy analogues under vegan logo. | More explicit restrictions against certain terms and prohibition on cheese/dairy analogues. Sets clear criteria for product eligibility. |
Animal Testing | Prohibited animal testing of vegan products unless legally mandated. | Prohibition with reinforced compliance tracking and strict penalties for violations. |
Traceability and Documentation | Basic requirements for traceability in documentation and labelling with CoA (Certificate of Analysis). | Improved focus on full traceability, ingredient source certification, and comprehensive documentation, including batch-level product traceback. |
Application Fees & Process | Application fees payable, with general procedures, some ambiguity on refund and rejection handling. | Clarifies fees are non-refundable, details dual submission (electronic and hard copy), introduces more rigorous scrutiny and appeal processes. |
Conclusion
The amendments under the FSSAI draft vegan regulations are designed to improve product quality, enhance consumer confidence, and promote global trade compatibility.
These updates reinforce traceability, authenticity, and compliance for imported and domestic vegan foods.
At Food Research Lab, we offer end-to-end support—from food product development and food product formulation to food product regulation support. Our expertise spans FSSAI vegan food certification, regulatory documentation, label and claim review, and prototype validation aligned with Food Safety and Standards requirements.
Partnering with FRL ensures your vegan products are science-based, regulation-ready, and globally compliant.
References
- FNB News. (2025, March 21). FSSAI issues draft vegan norms prescribing cert issued by exporting country. Food and Beverage News. https://www.fnbnews.com/Top-News/fssai-issues-draft-vegan-norms-prescribing-cert-issued-by-exporting-country-82246
- Tax Guru. (2024). FSSAI Guidelines: Vegan logo endorsement process & compliance. https://taxguru.in/corporate-law/fssai-guidelines-vegan-logo-endorsement-process-compliance.html
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). (2022). Guidelines Vegan Food. https://fssai.gov.in/upload/advisories/2022/07/62df709761476Guidelines_Vegan_Food_26_07_2022.pdf
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). (2023, November). Vegan application fees revised order Nov 2023. https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Vegan%20Application%20Fees%20Revised%20Order%20Nov%202023.pdf
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). (n.d.). Standards for vegan food. https://www.fssai.gov.in/cms/standards-vegan-food.php
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). (2025). Draft FSS_Vegan Foods_Amendment Reg_2025 [PDF]. (Personal file reference.)
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