FSSAI mandates registration for independent milk producers & vendors

INDIA – The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an advisory directing milk producers who are not members of dairy cooperative societies, along with milk vendors, to obtain mandatory registration or licence before commencing or continuing their food business operations.

The regulator said it had come to its notice that certain milk producers and vendors are operating without registering or obtaining a licence to carry out food business activities.

FSSAI noted that all milk producers except those registered as members of dairy cooperative societies under the Cooperative Societies Act and supplying their entire milk to the society must mandatorily register with the authority. The requirement also applies to milk vendors who sell milk.

The advisory said strict compliance with registration and licensing requirements should be ensured in view of recent incidents of suspected milk adulteration across States and Union Territories.

Enforcement authorities of the Centre and States have been asked to direct designated officers, central licensing authorities and food safety officers to verify that such milk producers and vendors possess a valid registration certificate or licence, as applicable.

Authorities have also been advised to periodically inspect milk chillers used by producers and vendors to ensure proper storage temperature and maintenance standards in order to prevent spoilage and safeguard public health.

Action may be initiated in cases of non-compliance, the advisory said. FSSAI further directed States and Union Territories to undertake special registration drives to ensure that all milk producers who are not part of dairy cooperative societies, as well as milk vendors, obtain the required registration or licence.

The regulator also noted that it had earlier issued directions on December 16, 2025 to carry out special enforcement drives for milk and milk products on a regular basis, with authorities required to submit action taken reports twice every month.

FSSAI slaps penalty on heritage foods for product quality non-compliance

Recently, Heritage Foods Limited came under regulatory scrutiny after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a notice citing non-compliance with product quality standards, resulting in a penalty of US$1,090 (₹1 lakh).

While the financial impact is limited, the development highlights the tightening enforcement environment facing India’s organised dairy sector and underscores the growing importance of quality assurance and regulatory discipline.

Heritage Foods has maintained that it is addressing the issue in line with prescribed corrective measures. Nevertheless, even isolated non-compliances now attract swift penalties, reflecting FSSAI’s increasingly proactive stance.

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