--- title: "Navigating the Vegan Logo Endorsement: Key Insights from the Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022 and guidance" date: 2024-11-04 author: "Pawan Khatri" url: https://www.indialaw.in/blog/civil/navigating-the-vegan-logo-endorsement-key-insights-from-the-food-safety-and-standards-vegan-foods-regulations-2022-and-guidance/ --- # Navigating the Vegan Logo Endorsement: Key Insights from the Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022 and guidance Posted On - 4 November, 2024 • By - Rahul Sundaram ![](https://www.indialaw.in/wp-content/uploads/Vegan-Logo-Endorsement.png) With the rise of veganism in India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) introduced the **Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022**to govern the production, packaging, labelling, and sale of vegan foods in India. No food can be manufactured, marketed, sold, imported, or distributed as vegan unless it adheres to these regulations. **Vegan food** refers to food or ingredients that do not contain products of animal origin, including additives, flavorings, enzymes, carriers, or processing aids. Every vegan food package must display the approved **Vegan Logo** issued by the FSSAI. Below, we highlight essential takeaways which clarifies the endorsement procedures and requirements for businesses seeking vegan certification. **1. Understanding Product Eligibility** - **Vegan by Default**: Basic agricultural products such as **rice, cereals, pulses, and oilseeds**, or minimally processed products like **wheat flour and oils**, do not need a vegan logo. - **Mixed Products**: If raw agricultural commodities are mixed without additional ingredients, they are also exempt from endorsement requirements. **2. Application and Payment Guidelines** - **Separate Applications for Variants**: Products with different flavours (e.g., **plant-based drinks in multiple flavours**) so also different products from the same manufacturing firm require **individual applications** for each varian/productst, as they will not be considered under a single application. - **Payment Process**: The application fee by Food Business Operators (FBOs) seeking approval for endorsement of “vegan logo”  must be paid online through the **e-payment portal** provided by the FSSAI. Proof of payment must accompany the application. **3. Packaging and Labelling Flexibility** - The vegan logo is endorsed for the **product applied for and a product approval means approval for all package sizes/measures** irrespective of packing  materials (e.g., glass bottles, plastic jars). - Unless the product’s **composition or processing methods** are change no reapprovals are required. - Minor changes in ingredient levels, such as adjusting the amount of **sugar or salt**, do not necessitate re-submission of application, provided the core ingredients and processing methods remain consistent. **4. Manufacturing and Production Requirements** - **Multiple Manufacturing Sites**: If a retailer or marketer has a product manufactured at **different facilities**, separate applications must be submitted for each site. - **Shared Production Lines**: Vegan products can be manufactured on the **same production lines as non-vegan products**, but thorough cleaning must be carried out following **Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)**. In such cases, the product label must clearly state: **“Processed on the same line where other non-vegan products are processed.”** **5. Restrictions and Compliance Standards** - **Terminology on Labels**: Terms like **vegan salami, plant-based egg powder, or vegan bacon** are prohibited. The vegan logo endorsement does not allow **comparison to meat products** in any sensory or functional manner. - **Prohibition on Cheese / Dairy Analogues**: Products resembling milk or dairy items (e.g., **cheese analogues**) are not eligible for endorsement under the vegan regulations. The endorsement applies strictly to items with no **animal-derived ingredients**, additives, or processing aids, such as **gelatin or bone char filters**. - **Non-Compliance of CoA**: A Certificate of Analysis (CoA) containing non-vegan parameters, like **lactose or milk fat**, will result in the rejection of the vegan logo endorsement. **6. Application Process and Refund Policy** - **Submission Procedure**: Applications must be submitted both in **hard copy** to the FSSAI office and in **soft copy** via email. Upon receiving the approval letter (Form-B), businesses must forward it to the relevant **licensing authority** through the FSSAI’s **FOSCOS portal** for the final endorsement. - **Refund Policy**: **Application fees are non-refundable**, even if the application is closed by the authority. ## **Conclusion** The FSSAI’s vegan logo endorsement process ensures that only genuine vegan products carry the vegan logo, promoting **consumer trust and transparency**. These guidelines require businesses to carefully adhere to **application protocols, labelling rules, and production standards**. As the vegan market continues to grow in India, these regulations will help standardize the industry and ensure compliance. --- ## IndiaLaw LLP - Website: https://www.indialaw.in - Contact: konanandspade@gmail.com