2 days ago
New Vegetarian Labels Clarify Animal Ingredients in Personal-Care Products
New labels will help people understand whether some personal-care products use animal-derived ingredients.
A green dot means the product is vegetarian in origin.
A red or brown dot means it is non-vegetarian in origin.
This does not mean the product contains meat.
Ingredients such as gelatin, keratin, beeswax or lanolin can cause the non-vegetarian label.
The labels will appear on products such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste and cosmetics.
People can use the symbols to follow personal, cultural or ethical preferences.
However, a green dot does not automatically mean a product is safer or healthier.
People with allergies or sensitive skin should still check the full ingredient list and choose products suitable for them.
Green dots will identify products of vegetarian origin, while red or brown dots will indicate non-vegetarian origin.
The mandatory labels will apply to soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, cosmetics and toiletries.
Animal-derived ingredients such as keratin, gelatin, tallow, lanolin, beeswax and collagen can lead to a non-vegetarian classification.
The classification does not necessarily mean a product contains meat or indicate its safety or quality.
Experts say consumers with sensitive skin should focus on ingredients, fragrances, preservatives and individual tolerances.
- Who
- The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, through its Department of Consumer Affairs, notified the labeling requirement; dermatologists and physicians explained its implications.
- What
- Colour-coded vegetarian and non-vegetarian labels will become mandatory on specified personal-care products.
- Where
- The requirement applies in India.
- When
- The requirement was notified under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2026; the article says consumers will soon be able to identify product origin.
- Why
- To provide consumers additional information about whether products contain ingredients of vegetarian or animal-derived origin and help them make preference-based choices.
Key facts
- Vegetarian symbol
- A green dot indicates vegetarian origin.
- Non-vegetarian symbol
- A red or brown dot indicates non-vegetarian origin.
- Products covered
- Soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, cosmetics and toiletries.
- Relevant regulation
- Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2026.
- Possible animal-derived ingredients
- Keratin, gelatin, tallow, lanolin, beeswax, collagen and animal-sourced glycerin.
- What the label does not show
- The symbol does not by itself establish a product’s safety, quality, gentleness or suitability for skin and hair.
- Important considerations for sensitive users
- Formulation, active ingredients, fragrances, preservatives, allergies and individual skin or scalp tolerance.
Quotes
Dr Shareefa Chause
Dermatologist at Dr Shareefa Skin Care Clinic, Mumbai
“Many ingredients used in soaps, shampoos and cosmetics can come from plant, mineral, synthetic or animal-derived sources, and consumers may not always be aware of their origin from the ingredient list alone. The new labelling can therefore give consumers additional information and help them make choices based on their personal preferences.”
indianexpress.com
“Consumers should not equate a green dot with a product being gentler, safer or more natural. What matters more is the complete ingredient profile, the concentration of active ingredients, preservatives, fragrances and other components that may trigger irritation or allergy in susceptible individuals.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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