The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), on December 24, 2025, issued a clarification regarding the use of the word "Tea".
The following has been stated namely: -
• The Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, Tea (including Kangra Tea, Green Tea and Instant Tea in solid form) shall be exclusively from the plant of the Camellia sinensis. Further, sub regulation (1) of regulation 5 of Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 specified that every package shall carry the name of the food which indicate the true nature of the food contained in the package, on the Front of Pack. Therefore, the use of the word “Tea” directly or indirectly for any other plant based or herbal infusions or blends not derived from Camellia sinensis is misleading and amounts to misbranding under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the rules/regulations made thereunder.
• As per the aforementioned regulation, such plant-based or herbal infusions or blends, which are not derived from Camellia sinensis do not qualify to be named as Tea. Further, based on the ingredient(s) used, these products may either fall under the scope of proprietary foods (or) Food Safety and Standards (Approval for Non-Specified Food and Food Ingredients) Regulations, 2017.
• Accordingly, all Food Business Operators including E-commerce engaged in manufacturing, packing, marketing, import or sale of such products are directed to comply with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Regulation and refrain from using the term 'Tea' for any products not derived from Camellia sinensis.
[Notification No. RCD-02004/7/2025-Regulatory-FSSAI]
