India’s packaging and personal-care industry is set for a new labelling requirement, with the Central Government extending vegetarian and non-vegetarian markings beyond food products to a range of everyday consumer goods.
The government has amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, requiring soaps, shampoos, toothpaste and other cosmetics and toiletries to display a colour-coded symbol indicating whether the product is of vegetarian or non-vegetarian origin. The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2026 were notified on September 21 and came into force from the date of publication.
Under the amended Rule 6, products of vegetarian origin must carry a green dot, while products of non-vegetarian origin must display either a red or brown dot. The symbol is required to be placed at the top of the principal display panel of the package, allowing consumers to identify the product category without opening the pack.
The change directly affects manufacturers and packers across the personal-care and cosmetics sector. Companies selling soaps, shampoos, toothpastes and other covered products will need to ensure that their packaging complies with the new marking requirement.
For the FMCG and personal-care industry, the amendment could also bring additional attention to the sourcing of ingredients used in formulations. Manufacturers may need to review product formulations, ingredient documentation and packaging processes to ensure that the declaration on the final pack accurately reflects the product’s origin.
The new requirement also gives consumers an additional piece of information at the point of purchase. While ingredient lists already provide detailed information about product composition, the new colour-coded marking is designed to make the vegetarian or non-vegetarian origin immediately visible on the package.
The amendment is part of the continuing changes to India’s Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) framework, which governs several aspects of information displayed on packaged goods. The Department of Consumer Affairs maintains the rules and amendments under the Legal Metrology framework.
For personal-care brands, the immediate business focus will be on updating packaging and ensuring compliance across product lines. For consumers, the new symbols will provide a quick way to identify the stated origin classification of covered products while shopping.
