Consumers buying milk, curd, paneer and other dairy products in India will notice a new identification symbol on product packaging from July 1, 2028. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has introduced a standardised blue-and-white droplet logo that will be required on milk and milk products, including composite milk products.
The new logo will consist of a white droplet placed against a blue square background. The initiative aims to make it easier for consumers to identify dairy products while shopping and to improve consistency in food product labelling across the country.
The requirement has been notified through the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Second Amendment Regulations, 2026. The amendment was published in the Gazette on November 9 and will come into force on July 1, 2028.
New Logo for Milk and Milk Products
Under the revised regulations, milk and milk products will have to carry a distinctive and standardised identification mark on their packaging.
The logo will feature a white droplet against a blue square background. It is intended to provide consumers with a uniform visual symbol for identifying products belonging to the milk and dairy category.
The requirement covers milk and milk products, including composite milk products. Common products such as packaged milk, curd and paneer are among the items consumers can expect to see carrying the new symbol once the regulation becomes effective.
The standardised design is expected to make dairy product identification more straightforward, particularly for consumers purchasing several food products from supermarkets, grocery stores and other retail outlets.
Why Has FSSAI Introduced the Droplet Logo?
According to officials from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the new symbol is intended to help consumers recognise milk and milk products more easily at the point of purchase.
Food packaging often contains several details, including product names, ingredients, nutritional information, manufacturing details and regulatory declarations. A clearly identifiable symbol can help consumers locate relevant product information more quickly.
The new logo is also expected to improve consumer awareness and understanding of the regulatory identity of milk and milk products.
Another objective is to bring greater consistency to dairy product labelling. A common identification mark across different brands and packaging formats can provide a uniform visual reference for consumers.
However, the logo is an identification mark for the product category. Consumers should continue to check other important information on the packaging, including ingredients, nutritional details, manufacturing and expiry dates, and applicable food safety declarations.
New Requirement Notified Under 2026 Amendment
The new logo requirement has been introduced through the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Second Amendment Regulations, 2026.
The amendment modifies the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. It was published in the Gazette on November 9, 2026, according to the information provided.
Although the amendment has been notified, the new requirement will not become effective immediately. The implementation date has been fixed as July 1, 2028.
This gives food businesses time to prepare their packaging designs, update printing arrangements and make the necessary changes to product labels before the rule comes into force.
Manufacturers and other food businesses covered by the regulation will need to ensure that their packaging complies with the prescribed logo design and minimum size requirements.
Minimum Logo Size Based on Package Dimensions
FSSAI has prescribed different minimum dimensions for the blue square logo depending on the area of the package's principal display panel.
The principal display panel is the main area of the package where important product information and branding are presented. The prescribed dimensions are intended to ensure that the logo remains sufficiently visible across different packaging sizes.
The minimum size requirements are as follows:
| Principal Display Panel Area | Minimum Blue Square Size |
| Up to 100 sq cm | 6 mm |
| More than 100 sq cm and up to 500 sq cm | 8 mm |
| More than 500 sq cm and up to 2,500 sq cm | 12 mm |
| More than 2,500 sq cm | 16 mm |
These dimensions refer to the side measurement of the blue square background containing the white droplet.
The size-based approach is intended to maintain visibility without requiring the same logo dimensions on every type of package. Smaller packs can use a smaller symbol, while larger packages must display a proportionately larger logo.
What Does the New Rule Mean for Consumers?
For consumers, the most visible change will be the appearance of the blue-and-white droplet symbol on dairy product packaging.
The logo is expected to make it easier to recognise milk and milk products while shopping. A common symbol across different brands may also reduce confusion when consumers compare products from different manufacturers.
The initiative is particularly relevant for packaged dairy products sold through supermarkets, retail shops and online grocery platforms.
At the same time, consumers should understand that the new logo does not replace other mandatory information on food labels. Details such as the product name, ingredients, nutritional values, manufacturer information, batch details and expiry date will remain important when selecting dairy products.
The logo is intended to support product identification and improve the consistency of labelling practices.
Preparation Required for Dairy Manufacturers
The new regulation will also require preparation from dairy manufacturers and food businesses.
Companies may need to revise their packaging artwork, printing materials and label designs to include the standardised logo. They will also need to ensure that the symbol meets the minimum size requirement applicable to each package's principal display panel.
Businesses producing different package sizes may have to make adjustments to their packaging systems to comply with the prescribed dimensions.
The period before July 1, 2028, provides manufacturers with time to make these changes and prepare for the implementation deadline.
Implementation from July 1, 2028
The blue-and-white droplet logo requirement marks a new step in the standardisation of food labelling in India.
By introducing a common identification symbol for milk and milk products, FSSAI aims to improve consumer recognition, strengthen awareness of product categories and bring greater consistency to packaging practices.
The regulation will become effective on July 1, 2028. Until then, food businesses will have time to prepare their labels and packaging in accordance with the revised requirements.
Once implemented, consumers can expect to see the white droplet on a blue square background on milk, curd, paneer and other covered milk products. The actual impact of the initiative will depend on effective implementation and compliance by food businesses across the country.
