Milk, curd, paneer and other dairy products sold in India will soon carry a common identification symbol, following a new labelling requirement notified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The blue-and-white logo will become mandatory from July 1, 2028, giving manufacturers time to revise their packaging.
The symbol features a white droplet against a blue square background and is intended to make milk and milk-based products easier for consumers to recognise. The requirement extends to all milk and milk products covered by the regulations, including composite milk products. It will apply across brands, irrespective of the packaging format used.
The change has been introduced through the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Second Amendment Regulations, 2026, notified on November 6 and published in the Gazette of India on November 9. The amendment adds the new identification mark to the existing labelling framework established in 2020.
FSSAI has also specified minimum logo dimensions according to the area of the package’s principal display panel. For panels measuring up to 100 square centimetres, each side of the blue square must be at least 6 mm. The minimum size increases to 8 mm for panels above 100 and up to 500 square centimetres, 12 mm for panels above 500 and up to 2,500 square centimetres, and 16 mm for larger panels.
The white droplet must also meet prescribed measurements. On the smallest logo, it must be at least 4.56 mm high and 3 mm wide. Corresponding minimum dimensions have been prescribed for the larger versions, ensuring that the mark remains visible across different pack sizes.
The regulation follows a draft proposal circulated in February 2025, when FSSAI invited objections and suggestions from interested parties. The authority considered the feedback received before issuing the final notification.
For dairy manufacturers, the change will involve reviewing label artwork, print specifications and packaging inventories before the implementation date. Packaging suppliers and printers will also need to accommodate the prescribed design and size requirements. The logo is meant to provide a consistent visual identity for dairy products and help shoppers identify them more easily; it does not replace other mandatory information required on food labels.