It will now be easier for customers buying soap, shampoo, toothpaste and other cosmetics and personal care products to identify the origin of their ingredients. The central government has made changes in the labelling system of packaged products and has made it mandatory to indicate whether the products are vegetarian or non-vegetarian on the packaging. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, which has come into effect from 21 September 2026. As per the new provision, a green dot will be required on products containing ingredients of vegetarian origin, while a red or brown dot will be required on products containing ingredients of non-vegetarian origin.

Under the new regulations, the prescribed color symbol must be displayed at the top of the main display panel of the product packaging. This is intended to provide consumers with clear information at the time of purchase, eliminating the need to read the entire ingredient list to identify the product's ingredients. This provision will apply to soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, and other cosmetics and toiletry products. The prominently displayed color symbol on the packaging will help consumers understand the product category and simplify the information-seeking process during purchase.

The government has made these changes to labeling regulations with the aim of providing consumers with clearer and more understandable product information. The color-based symbols will serve as a visual cue, allowing consumers to identify the product category simply by glancing at the packaging. Previously, consumers had to rely on detailed information on the packaging to determine the origin of ingredients used in many personal care products. The new provision will make this information available prominently on the packaging, making purchasing decisions easier.

Once the amendments to the regulations come into effect, manufacturers and sellers of the relevant products will be required to adhere to prescribed labeling standards. The packaging of products offered on the market will be required to be marked with a prescribed color to identify vegetarian or non-vegetarian origin. This change has been made to the provisions related to packaging and consumer information under Legal Metrology. It will be mandatory for the relevant companies to comply with the new system, so that consumers can clearly indicate the origin of the product's ingredients before purchasing it.