The Centre has amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, requiring packages of soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, other cosmetics and toiletries to display symbols indicating their vegetarian or non-vegetarian origin. According to reports from India Today, the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2026, notified on September 21, 2026, mandates that products of vegetarian origin must carry a green dot, while products of non-vegetarian origin must carry a red or brown dot. The symbol must appear at the top of the principal display panel of the package, making it easier for consumers to identify the nature of the product while shopping. This mandatory marking will apply to a range of commonly used personal-care products, allowing consumers to check the product's vegetarian or non-vegetarian status directly from its packaging before making a purchase.
The amendment came into force on Monday, as reported by multiple sources, with the requirement for personal-care products to display green and red or brown dots actually dating back to an earlier amendment introduced in 2014 under Rule 6(8). The September 2026 notification changes the legal structure by inserting the requirement under Rule 6(4A)(d) and simultaneously omitting the earlier Rule 6(8). The colour-coded symbols are intended to provide a clear visual indication without requiring consumers to go through detailed ingredient information, streamlining the identification process for everyday personal-care products.
The labelling requirement had been the subject of legal proceedings, with the Delhi High Court dealing with a challenge to the provision in February 2026 and directing regulatory authorities to arrive at a clear position on the labelling of cosmetics and toiletries, according to Business Standard. This legal challenge may have contributed to the recent amendment's clarification of the regulatory framework.
Toiletries and cosmetics in India must already display clear and standardised information under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020 and the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, as reported by Business Standard. Every inner and outer package must show the official name of the cosmetic or toiletry, along with the name and complete address of the manufacturing premises. For imported goods, packages must carry the name and address of the importer or authorised agent, mention the quantity in metric units, batch number and manufacturing licence number, and display the maximum retail price inclusive of all taxes.
Regulations also govern ingredient declaration, with ingredients present at a concentration greater than 1 per cent required to be listed in descending order of weight or volume, while ingredients at 1 per cent or less can follow in any order, preceded by the heading "INGREDIENTS," according to Business Standard. Very small packs under 30 grams for solids or semi-solids or 60ml for liquids are exempt from the full ingredient list requirement.
