FSSAI Vegan Logo Endorsement
If your food carries the word “vegan”, the Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022 apply to it. FSSAI endorses the use of its vegan logo after reviewing your product, and a 2026 amendment makes the logo mandatory on approved vegan foods from 1 July 2027. We prepare the Form-A file, the declarations and the label, and handle FSSAI follow-up.
What it is
The FSSAI vegan logo is the official mark that tells a shopper a food has no animal-derived ingredients, additives, flavourings, enzymes or processing aids. It is a green square frame with a stylised “V”, a sprouting leaf and the word “VEGAN” below. You cannot simply print it; FSSAI must first endorse your product as vegan.
The rules sit in the Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022, issued on 10 June 2022 under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. FSSAI’s guidelines of 25 July 2022 set out the endorsement application in Form-A. A 2026 amendment, notified on 21 May 2026, makes the logo compulsory on approved vegan foods from 1 July 2027.
Who it applies to
Manufacturers of vegan foods
Plant-based milks, egg-free bakery, mock meats and dairy-free sweets. If the pack, website or advertisement calls the product vegan, the regulations apply.
Importers of vegan foods
Imported vegan products need a certificate from the recognised authorities of the exporting country, in the format FSSAI specifies, along with the usual import clearance.
Brands made by contract manufacturers
Say a Gurugram start-up sells oat milk made at a co-packer in another state. The co-packer’s cleaning process and the start-up’s label both have to meet the vegan rules.
Why it matters
It becomes compulsory in 2027
From 1 July 2027 approved vegan foods must carry the standard FSSAI vegan logo. Start before your next artwork change, not after it.
It protects your “vegan” claim
A vegan claim without compliance can make the food misbranded. Section 52 of the FSS Act allows a penalty of up to ₹3 lakh for misbranded food.
It answers the buyer’s question
When a retail buyer or overseas importer asks how you know the product is vegan, an FSSAI endorsement is a document you can hand over.
Documents required
The Form-A file
- Form-A application under the FSSAI vegan logo guidelines
- Copy of the product label with a declaration of compliance
- Tentative label design showing the proposed vegan logo
- Self-declaration that the product is free from animal origin
Proof behind the claim
- Certificate of analysis from an FSSAI-notified laboratory (ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited lab for imported products)
- Third-party vegan certificate, if you already hold one
- Full ingredient list, with additive, flavour and enzyme sources
From the business
- FSSAI licence or registration details
- Supplier declarations for each ingredient and processing aid
- Cleaning procedure for shared lines, if any
- For imports: exporting-country vegan certificate and IEC
Vegan vs vegetarian on the label
| Vegetarian (green dot) | Vegan (FSSAI vegan logo) | |
|---|---|---|
| Milk, ghee, paneer, honey | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Animal-derived additives, flavours, enzymes, processing aids | Depends on source | Not allowed |
| Animal testing | Not addressed | Not allowed, unless a regulator requires it |
| Who decides | FBO declares on the label | FSSAI endorses before the logo is used |
Every vegan food is vegetarian. The reverse is not true. A biscuit with butter or a sweet with honey gets the green dot and still fails the vegan test.
Here is the catch. Picture a Faridabad bakery that swaps butter for vegetable fat in its cookies and wants to print “vegan”. But the glaze flavour’s carrier is undeclared, and so is the tray release agent. Both must be traced before the claim is safe.
How it works
Trace every ingredient to its source
We go through the recipe line by line, down to the additives, flavours, enzymes and processing aids. Each supplier confirms the source in writing.
Test the product at a notified lab
An FSSAI-notified laboratory tests the product and issues the certificate of analysis. The lab does the testing. We coordinate the sample and the paperwork.
File Form-A with the draft label
We draft Form-A, the self-declaration and the label with the proposed logo, and file it with FSSAI along with the fee.
Reply to FSSAI queries
If FSSAI questions an ingredient’s source or the label wording, we reply with the supplier proof or revised artwork.
Update your licence and print
After approval, the guidelines require the FBO to apply for a licence under the 2011 licensing regulations. We handle the licence modification and the final label check.
Timelines
Regulations in force since 2022
The Vegan Foods Regulations were issued on 10 June 2022.
Logo mandatory from 1 July 2027
Under the 2026 amendment, approved vegan foods must carry the standard vegan logo from 1 July 2027.
Allow time for testing and review
FSSAI publishes no fixed processing time for endorsement. File well before your packaging run.
What happens if your vegan claim is wrong
Misbranding penalty
Section 52 of the FSS Act allows a penalty of up to ₹3 lakh for manufacturing, selling or importing misbranded food. The authority can also order corrective action.
Misleading advertisement penalty
Section 53 allows a penalty of up to ₹10 lakh for an advertisement that falsely describes a food or misleads about its nature or quality.
Stock you cannot sell
From 1 July 2027, approved vegan packs printed without the standard logo will not meet the amended regulations.
Frequently asked questions
Is the FSSAI vegan logo compulsory?
Yes, from 1 July 2027 for approved vegan foods. The Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Amendment Regulations, 2026, notified on 21 May 2026, require the standard FSSAI vegan logo on vegan food packs from that date. Until then, the Vegan Foods Regulations, 2022 already govern any product sold as vegan. If you plan to call a product vegan, start the endorsement now so your new packaging is ready well before the deadline.
What does the FSSAI vegan logo look like?
It is a green square frame with a stylised “V”, a sprouting leaf and the word “VEGAN” below it. FSSAI prescribes its design and dimensions, so brands cannot redraw it in their own style. It is different from the green dot used for vegetarian food. We place the logo on your artwork as specified and check it before your printer goes to press.
What is the government fee for vegan logo endorsement?
FSSAI’s guidelines of 25 July 2022 set a fee of ₹5,000 plus GST for each endorsement application. The fee is paid to FSSAI along with Form-A. Laboratory testing is charged separately by the lab. We confirm the current fee and payment mode when we prepare your file, so there are no surprises when you apply.
Can a product with honey or milk be called vegan?
No. Vegan food must contain no ingredient, additive, flavouring, enzyme or processing aid of animal origin, so honey, milk, ghee, whey and casein all rule it out. Such a product can still be vegetarian and carry the green dot. If you want a vegan version, we review the reformulated recipe and supplier declarations before the application goes in.
Can vegan and non-vegan products share a production line?
Yes, if the line is properly cleaned. The regulations require cleaning to Good Manufacturing Practice standards before vegan products are made, and precautions at every stage to avoid the unintended presence of non-vegan substances. Separate lines are simpler but not compulsory. We help you put the cleaning procedure in writing.
Do imported vegan foods need anything extra?
Yes. Under regulation 5(3) of the Vegan Foods Regulations, 2022, vegan food may be imported only with a certificate from the recognised authorities of the exporting country, in the format FSSAI specifies. The importer also needs a central FSSAI licence and an IEC. We check the overseas certificate against FSSAI’s format before the shipment lands.
Is animal testing allowed for vegan foods?
No, unless a regulatory authority requires it. Under the 2022 regulations, a food called vegan must not have involved animal testing for any purpose, including safety evaluation. The only exception is testing required by a regulator. If your ingredient suppliers did any such testing, tell us at the start so we can assess it before filing.
Do I need an FSSAI licence before applying?
FSSAI’s guidelines say the food business must apply for a licence under the 2011 licensing regulations after the vegan approval. For most existing businesses, that means updating the current licence to cover the vegan product. Whether you need a state or central licence depends on your business size and activity. We handle both steps together.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
FSSAI’s 2022 guidelines set the endorsement fee at ₹5,000 plus GST per application. Lab testing and any FSSAI licence fee are extra.
Ready to begin?
Send us your recipe and current label, and we will tell you what the vegan endorsement needs before you print another pack.