The most expensive compliance mistake in packaged food is not a penalty. It is a rejected modern trade listing after three lakh units have been printed — which is a conversation we have had with more than one client who came to us after the fact.
This is the checklist we run over artwork before it goes to press. It is not legal advice, and the underlying regulations are updated periodically, so verify the current text for your category before printing.
Mandatory declarations under FSSAI labelling rules
- Name of the food, and a descriptor that is not misleading.
- List of ingredients in descending order of composition, with compound ingredients broken out.
- Nutritional information per 100g or 100ml, and per serving where a serving is declared, in the prescribed format.
- Declaration of the eight major allergen categories where present, and cross-contamination statements where applicable.
- Veg or non-veg symbol, correctly coloured and sized.
- FSSAI licence number with the logo, legible and in the prescribed proportion.
- Name and complete address of the manufacturer, packer or importer.
- Net quantity, lot or batch identification, and date of manufacture.
- Best before or use by date, expressed in the prescribed manner.
- Country of origin for imported food, and instructions for use or storage where relevant.
Legal Metrology packaged commodity requirements
A separate regime with its own enforcement. It governs net quantity declaration, the retail sale price inclusive of all taxes, the consumer care contact details, the size and placement of the principal display panel, and the permissible tolerances on declared quantity.
The most common failures we see are net quantity type size below the prescribed minimum for the pack area, a missing or incomplete consumer complaint contact, and MRP declarations that omit the 'inclusive of all taxes' wording.
Shelf-life claims need evidence
A best-before date is a claim, and you must be able to substantiate it. That means an accelerated or real-time shelf-life study, ideally through a NABL-accredited laboratory, covering microbiological and organoleptic parameters across the claimed period at the storage conditions declared on the pack.
Printing ninety days because a competitor prints ninety days is a recall risk and, in a buyer audit, an immediate finding. Run the study before the artwork, because the result sometimes changes the pack — a shorter life may require a different barrier film or a nitrogen flush.
What modern trade adds on top
- GTIN barcodes, correctly registered and verified for scan quality.
- A certified food safety system — FSSC 22000 or BRC — for many categories and most private-label arrangements.
- Case configuration, pallet specification and shelf-ready packaging requirements.
- Artwork approval through the buyer's own compliance desk, which is a separate gate from the statutory one.
- Minimum residual shelf life on delivery, commonly 75–80% of total life, which affects your production planning.
When to check
Three gates. First, at concept, so the declarations are designed into the layout rather than squeezed in. Second, at pre-press, as a line-by-line review against the current rules. Third, at first press approval, where you check the printed result against the approved artwork — colour drift is common and legibility requirements are measured on what is printed, not what was designed.
Each of those checks costs hours. Skipping them costs a print run, and sometimes a listing window you will not get back for six months.
Frequently asked questions
A note on the numbers in this article
Benchmarks come from engagements we have delivered and are indicative at 2025–26 prices. Scheme details, rates and eligibility change with each policy cycle — verify the current position before you commit capital. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice.