India's food regulatory authority, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), is set to strengthen food safety regulations. From January 1, 2026, all applications for food safety reviews, approval of new food products, or changes to existing standards must be submitted in a specific, standardised format. These applications must include adequate scientific data. No decision will be made based solely on claims or limited information.
Many previous applications related to food safety were incomplete, poorly organised, or lacked crucial details, making proper risk assessment difficult. This raised concerns within FSSAI, prompting the organisation to introduce stricter regulations.
Once implemented, the new rules will not require a fresh review of all food products currently available in the market. However, the rules will apply whenever a company, industry group, or concerned party seeks to introduce a new food product or requests a scientific re-evaluation of an existing one. In such cases, the full responsibility for proving the product's safety will rest with the applicant.
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Mandatory information for food safety applications
Under the new format, applications must clearly provide the food's nutritional value, typical consumption quantities in India, results of toxicological studies, safe intake limits, potential allergy risks, and supporting scientific research. All submissions will be reviewed by FSSAI's Science and Standards Division, with expert committees providing additional guidance when necessary. Only after thorough verification will a product receive approval or continue to remain available in the market.
One key focus of the regulation is to account for Indian dietary habits, as packaged and processed food consumption continues to rise. Authorities note that data from other countries may not reflect India's situation accurately, given differences in food quantities, cooking methods, and physical sensitivities.
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Anjali Bhola, a dietitian at the National Cancer Institute of AIIMS, Jhajjar, said, "This is an important step in protecting public health. Earlier, many food approvals were based on incomplete or limited information. Considering Indians' dietary habits, food quantities, and sensitivities, demanding proper evidence about long-term safety, intake limits, and allergy risks will make food regulations more realistic, science-based, and safe."
Confidentiality and consumer assurance
To address industry concerns, FSSAI has assured that all information submitted for risk assessment will be kept confidential and used solely for scientific analysis and policy-making. The overall message for consumers is clear: from now on, evidence, not assumptions, will determine what food products remain on the plate.
