FSSAI Proposes Infant Nutrition Regulation Amendment

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published the draft Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations, 2026, in the Gazette of India on 16 October 2026. The draft proposes changes to the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020, including a restriction on adding sucrose and fructose to products intended for infants up to six months of age.

Proposed amendment

The draft proposes prohibiting the addition of sucrose and fructose in foods specifically intended for infants up to six months old. It concerns added sugars in infant nutrition products and does not describe a general prohibition on these sugars in all foods. The amendment is a draft regulatory proposal. Its publication in the Gazette of India does not, by itself, make the proposed provision a final regulation. The 2020 regulations remain the existing framework cited in the draft.

Carbohydrates in infant foods

Under the current regulations, lactose and glucose polymers are preferred carbohydrate sources in foods for infant nutrition. Sucrose and fructose may be used only within prescribed limits when their use is required. The draft proposes removing their addition from products intended for infants up to six months. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. The FSSAI draft concerns the composition of regulated infant nutrition products and sets out a proposed change to their permitted ingredients.

FSSAI and related regulatory context

FSSAI is a statutory authority established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It sets food standards and regulates food safety in India. The 2020 regulations provide specific rules for foods intended for infant nutrition. On 1–2 May 2025, FSSAI issued a consultation paper proposing that new Basic Registrations and renewals for infant nutrition products be shifted to State or Central Licences. The 2025 consultation paper addressed licensing, while the 2026 draft amendment addresses product composition.

Important Facts for Exams

:

• FSSAI was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• The Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations were issued in 2020.
• The 2026 draft amendment was published in the Gazette of India on 16 October 2026.
• The 2025 consultation paper proposed State or Central Licences for new registrations and renewals of infant nutrition products.

The 2026 document is a draft amendment, and its proposed restrictions concern sucrose and fructose in foods intended for infants up to six months. The 2025 consultation paper separately addressed licensing requirements for infant nutrition products.