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Maharashtra FDA Tightens Rules for Infant Food Marketing
Maharashtra is making companies follow stricter rules when selling food for babies.
Baby formula packages must say that mother’s milk is best for the baby.
Companies cannot use discounts, free samples or influencers to promote infant formula.
Labels must explain how to prepare the product safely.
They must also say that some complementary foods should start only after six months.
Pictures of babies or women and certain health-related words are not allowed on these products.
The rules apply to manufacturers, sellers, pharmacies, hospitals and online shopping platforms.
Officials will inspect businesses and require companies to check their own compliance.
Businesses that break the rules could face fines, seized products or licence suspension.
Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration has ordered immediate compliance with stricter rules for infant nutrition products.
Packages must prominently display “IMPORTANT NOTICE & MOTHER'S MILK IS BEST FOR YOUR BABY.”
Advertisements, discounts, free samples, gifts, cashback and influencer promotions for infant formula are prohibited.
Labels must include preparation warnings, feeding instructions, health-worker advice and guidance that complementary foods begin after six months.
Violations may result in product seizures, prosecution, licence action and penalties of up to Rs 10 lakh under food-safety provisions.
- Who
- The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration, led in this order by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, and businesses involved in infant nutrition products.
- What
- The FDA ordered stricter labelling, sales, marketing and compliance requirements for infant formula and other baby-food products.
- Where
- Maharashtra, including physical stores, hospitals, pharmacies and e-commerce platforms.
- When
- The order was issued on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, with immediate compliance required.
- Why
- The order seeks to enforce infant-food regulations after inspections found alleged labelling and marketing violations, while breastfeeding data showed gaps in some practices.
Key facts
- Mandatory package notice
- “IMPORTANT NOTICE & MOTHER'S MILK IS BEST FOR YOUR BABY” must appear on the front of packages.
- Products covered
- Infant milk substitutes, infant and follow-up formula, complementary and traditional infant foods, special medical-purpose foods and feeding bottles.
- Marketing restrictions
- Advertisements, free samples, gifts, coupons, cashback, discounts and influencer promotions are prohibited.
- Compliance deadlines
- Serious adverse events must be reported within 48 hours; compliance self-audits must be completed within 30 days.
- Inspection timeline
- FDA officials will map sellers and begin risk-based inspections within 45 days.
- Potential penalties
- Food-safety penalties can reach Rs 10 lakh for misleading advertisements or unlicensed businesses, Rs 5 lakh for sub-standard food and Rs 3 lakh for misbranded food.
- Breastfeeding statistics
- NFHS-6 data cited 53.2% of children under three in Maharashtra as breastfed within one hour of birth.
Sources
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