The Centre has amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, making colour-coded vegetarian and non-vegetarian symbols mandatory on packaged soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, cosmetics and toiletries. The notification, issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs on September 21, 2026, requires a green dot for products of vegetarian origin and a red or brown dot for products of non-vegetarian origin, placed at the top of the package’s principal display panel.
The amendment took effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette. The government says the requirement will help consumers identify the nature of products while making purchases, while the labelling framework has previously faced questions from manufacturers and regulators over its legal basis and how ingredients should be classified.
What The New Rule Says
Under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2026, manufacturers of soaps, shampoos, toothpastes and other cosmetics and toiletries must display the relevant symbol prominently on the principal display panel. A green dot indicates vegetarian origin, while a red or brown dot indicates non-vegetarian origin. The notification specifically places the symbol at the top of the main display panel, so that consumers can identify it without having to search through the ingredients list.
The move forms part of India’s wider system of mandatory product information. Cosmetic and toiletry packaging already carries details such as the manufacturer’s name and address, net quantity, batch number, manufacturing information, maximum retail price, directions for safe use and applicable warnings. Ingredient declarations are also governed by separate rules. The new provision therefore adds a specific declaration concerning the origin of ingredients to the information consumers see on personal-care products.
A Rule That Has Been Debated For Years
Although the latest notification is new, the issue is not. A similar requirement was introduced through Rule 6(8) of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules in 2014. The September 2026 amendment shifts the requirement into Rule 6(4A)(d) while removing the earlier Rule 6(8). The government notification states that the amended rules come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
The issue also reached the Delhi High Court after Reckitt Benckiser (India) Ltd challenged the requirement. In February 2026, the court dealt with questions surrounding the regulatory authority responsible for prescribing the symbols and directed the Director of Legal Metrology and the Drug Controller General of India to arrive at a comprehensive position.
There has also been a history of regulatory discussion. In a 2021 Rajya Sabha response, then Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey said that the Drugs Technical Advisory Board had, at its 79th meeting in May 2018, agreed to a proposal to mandate green and red/brown dots on soaps, shampoos, toothpastes and other cosmetics and toiletries. The issue subsequently evolved through the separate Cosmetics Rules, 2020 and the Legal Metrology framework.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Product labels are most useful when they give consumers clear, consistent and easily understandable information. For people who choose products based on vegetarian or non-vegetarian ingredients, a prominent symbol could make it easier to make purchasing decisions without having to interpret complex ingredient names.
At the same time, the regulatory history shows why clarity matters not only for consumers but also for manufacturers and regulators. In February 2026, the Delhi High Court specifically highlighted the difference between the mandatory Legal Metrology requirement and the DTAB’s recommendation for voluntary disclosure, and called for consultation between the concerned authorities and stakeholders.
For a diverse country where people follow different dietary, cultural and personal practices, consumer information can serve its purpose best when it enables choice without turning those choices into judgement of others. Clear definitions, consistent enforcement and transparent communication will therefore be important as the amended rule takes effect. Do you think clearer labelling on everyday personal-care products will help consumers make more informed choices while respecting India’s diverse ways of living?
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