FSSAI Proposes Ban on Added Sucrose and Fructose in Infant Foods for Babies Up to Six Months

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a draft notification proposing an amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020. The proposal concerns the addition of sucrose and fructose in products intended for infants up to six months of age.

What Does the FSSAI Draft Notification Propose?

Dated 15 October 2026, the draft proposes to amend Regulation 3, sub-regulation (6) of the existing regulations. The proposed wording states:

“Provided that sucrose and fructose shall not be added in the products intended for infants up to the age of 6 months.”

If adopted in this form, the provision would specifically address the addition of sucrose and fructose to products intended for infants up to six months. The final scope and applicable requirements should be confirmed from the final notification, if and when issued.

Key Details at a Glance

Who Could Be Affected?

Companies involved in developing, manufacturing, importing, quality-checking or regulating infant nutrition products may need to assess the proposal against their current product portfolios and processes. Relevant teams may include:

• Infant food manufacturers: review formulations and ingredient specifications for products intended for infants up to six months.
• Importers and brand owners: assess imported or marketed products against the proposed wording and track the final regulatory position.
• Quality assurance and regulatory affairs teams: evaluate ingredient declarations, product documentation, specifications and internal compliance checks.
• Research and development teams: identify products that may require formulation assessment if the proposal becomes final.

These are prudent preparatory steps based on the draft proposal, not confirmation that a new legal obligation is already in force.

Recommended Preparatory Steps for Food Businesses

1. Identify relevant products. List products intended for infants up to six months and confirm their current regulatory classification.
2. Review formulations and specifications. Check whether sucrose or fructose is added as an ingredient, using the applicable product records.
3. Assess potential changes. Where relevant, consider formulation, supplier, quality, labelling and documentation implications without making premature changes based solely on a draft.
4. Coordinate across teams. Bring regulatory affairs, quality, R&D, manufacturing, procurement and import teams into the review.
5. Monitor official updates. Confirm the final wording, publication status and effective date directly from official FSSAI and Gazette publications.

How Can Stakeholders Submit Comments?

The draft notification invites comments from stakeholders. The details provided in the draft are:

• Address: Chief Executive Officer, FSSAI, FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi – 110002, India
• Email: regulation@fssai.gov.in
• Comment period: The draft states it will be considered after expiry of 60 days from the date copies of the Official Gazette are made available.

Stakeholders should consult the official notification for the precise start date, submission requirements and any subsequent amendments before sending comments.

What Should Businesses Do Next?

For now, companies should treat this as a proposed regulatory change. A documented gap assessment can help teams understand whether the draft is relevant to their products, prepare informed stakeholder comments where appropriate, and respond efficiently if a final amendment is notified.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What has FSSAI proposed?

The draft proposes that sucrose and fructose shall not be added to products intended for infants up to six months of age, by amending the 2020 Foods for Infant Nutrition Regulations.

2. Is the restriction already in force?

The information covered here relates to a draft notification. It should not be treated as a final or effective requirement unless confirmed by the applicable official final notification.

3. Which teams should review the proposal?

Regulatory affairs, quality assurance, product development, manufacturing, procurement, import and brand teams may need to assess relevance to their products and processes.

4. Where can comments be sent?

The draft lists regulation@fssai.gov.in and the Chief Executive Officer, FSSAI, FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi – 110002. Confirm the deadline and instructions from the official draft.