Milk-product packaging must be food grade, suitable for the product and intended storage conditions, clean and tamper-protective, and compliant with the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018. The label must separately comply with the Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020 and dairy product standards. Packaging choice must be validated for migration, seal integrity, shelf life and cold-chain needs.
Governing rules
Packaging safety and label content are governed by different instruments. Use the Packaging Regulations, 2018 for food-contact materials; Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020 for declarations; Food Product Standards and Food Additives Regulations for dairy identity/composition; and Legal Metrology requirements where applicable.
Food-grade material
Material must be compatible with fat, acidity, moisture, heat treatment and storage duration, and must not transfer substances beyond permitted limits. Recycled, printed, multilayer or active materials require careful compliance assessment. The immediate food-contact layer is especially important.
Suggested dairy formats
FSSAI's Schedule IV lists suggestive—not automatically mandatory—formats for milk and milk products, including glass bottles with suitable caps, PET rigid containers, thermoformed plastic jars and lined paper-based cartons. Suitability still depends on the specific dairy product and process.
Migration and conformity
Obtain a certificate of conformity from the packaging supplier and applicable laboratory reports. Test overall/specific migration and relevant heavy metals or contaminants under the prescribed standards and conditions. Keep batch traceability for packaging lots.
Filling and sealing
Heat-treated milk and milk products require hygienic filling and secure sealing under the applicable product-specific requirements. Validate cap torque or seal strength, leak integrity, tamper evidence and line hygiene. Damaged or leaking packs must not be released.
Label requirements
Declare the name and nature of food, ingredients, nutrition, allergens, veg/non-veg symbol, net quantity, batch/lot, date marking, storage/use instructions, responsible FBO details and relevant FSSAI logo/licence numbers. Dairy standards may require additional names, fat class, heat treatment or reconstitution declarations.
Cold chain and shelf life
Packaging cannot compensate for an uncontrolled cold chain. Validate the intended temperature, distribution time and consumer storage. Shelf life should be evidence-based through microbiological, sensory and packaging-integrity studies.
Product-specific risks
Liquid milk needs light/oxygen and leak control; powder needs moisture and oxygen barriers; fermented products need seal and gas considerations; cheese may require moisture/oxygen control; frozen dairy needs low-temperature toughness. Select material through hazard and shelf-life analysis.
Sustainability claims
A recyclable or eco-friendly claim must be accurate, not misleading and consistent with the actual structure and available waste system. Food-contact safety remains mandatory. Also assess applicable plastic-waste and extended-producer-responsibility duties.
Launch checklist
Approve supplier and specification; review migration evidence; test the actual product-pack combination; validate line settings, transport and shelf life; complete artwork legal review; assign coding controls; and retain reference samples and change-control records.
Frequently asked questions
Does FSSAI mandate Tetra Pak for milk?
No. The regulations list suitable or suggestive material types; the FBO must select and validate a compliant pack.
Can ordinary recycled plastic contact milk?
Only where the material and process comply with applicable food-contact rules and migration requirements; obtain specialist evidence.
Is tamper-evident packaging always the same as resealable packaging?
No. Tamper evidence shows interference; resealability supports later closure. A product may need one or both.
Which rules govern the label?
Primarily the Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020, dairy product standards and applicable Legal Metrology rules.
Official sources and legal references
These are primary starting points used for the legal verification completed on 23 July 2026. Gazette notifications prevail over convenient compilations if they conflict.
Editorial review record
| Review level | Reviewer | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Editorial research | TargoLegal Research and Editorial Desk | Completed | 23 July 2026 |
| Independent legal/FSSAI professional | Qualified reviewer to be assigned | Professional review pending | — |
