Background
FSSAI has issued the Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Second Amendment Regulations, 2026, further amending the Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022.
Key Amendment – Vegan Logo Endorsement
The major change is the introduction of a prescribed certificate format for products seeking Vegan Logo endorsement.
The earlier wording in Regulation 5(3), which referred to acceptance of a format specified by the Authority, has been replaced with a specific FORM-I.
The certificate is to be issued by a recognised authority of the exporting country for products applied for Vegan Logo endorsement.
Form-I – Certificate Requirements
The prescribed certificate requires detailed information relating to the exported vegan product, including:
- Country of dispatch
- Consignor/Exporter – name and address
- Certificate number
- Recognised authority of the exporting country and contact details
- Consignee/Importer – name and address
- Country of origin and destination
- Conditions for transport/storage
- Product description
- Name of product and nearest food category
- Manufacturer/producer name and address
- Lot/Batch number
- Net weight
- Number of units/packages
- Type of packaging
- Date of manufacture/packaging
- Expiry date, where applicable
- Product composition
- Intended purpose
- Whether the product is intended for repacking or relabelling in the destination country
Mandatory Declarations
The authorised official issuing the certificate must certify that the product meets specified vegan requirements. These include:
- No animal testing: The food product has not involved animal testing for any purpose, including safety evaluation, unless required by a regulatory authority.
- Prevention of cross-contamination: Production, processing and distribution are designed with appropriate precautions to avoid unintended presence of non-vegan substances.
- Segregation: Vegan and non-vegan raw materials are stored separately, and production lines for vegan products are separate from non-vegan products or ingredients.
- Cleaning/controls: Separate cleaning or comparable measures are undertaken before production of vegan products, including for associated machinery, equipment, utensils and surfaces.
- Traceability: Background traceability of ingredients and their sources is established.
Authorisation
The certificate must be completed and authenticated by an Authorised Official, including:
- Name
- Designation
- Date
- Signature
- Official stamp
The notification also recognises the relevant regulatory authority, recognised accreditation body or recognised third-party certifying body for Vegan Foods in the exporting country.
Impact on Businesses
For businesses importing vegan products into India and seeking FSSAI Vegan Logo endorsement, the amendment introduces a more clearly defined certification requirement.
Importers/exporters should ensure that:
- The required certificate is obtained from the appropriate recognised authority in the exporting country.
- Product and manufacturer details match the documentation submitted to FSSAI.
- Vegan and non-vegan materials are adequately segregated.
- Manufacturing and cleaning controls are documented.
- Ingredient traceability is maintained.
- The certificate is properly signed, dated and stamped by the authorised official.
Effective Date & Compliance Timeline
The Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Second Amendment Regulations, 2026 will come into force from 1 April 2027.
Therefore, businesses dealing with vegan products should review their existing certification and documentation processes before 1 April 2027 to ensure compliance with the new certificate format.
Key Takeaway
The principal change is the formalisation of a prescribed Form-I certificate for Vegan Logo endorsement of products, particularly for products originating from/exported from other countries. The certificate places greater emphasis on verification of vegan status, prevention of cross-contamination, segregation of vegan materials, cleaning controls, and ingredient traceability.
Compliance date: 1 April 2027.