Vegetarian mark


Vegetarian and non-vegetarian marks

The green dot symbol (left) identifies vegetarian food, and the brown dot symbol (right) identifies non-vegetarian food.
Effective region India
Effective since 2001
Product category Packaged food products
Legal status Mandatory
Mandatory since 2001

Packaged food products sold in India are required to be labelled with a mandatory mark in order to be distinguished between vegetarian and non-vegetarian.[1][2][3][4][5] The symbol is in effect following the Food safety and standards (packaging and labelling) act of 2006, and got a mandatory status after the framing of the respective regulations (Food safety and standards (packaging and labelling) regulation) in 2011.[1] According to the law, vegetarian food should be identified by a green symbol and non-vegetarian food with a brown symbol.

Peculiarities

Only veg and non-veg

In the present scheme there are no distinguishing marks for egg and milk products, other than the broad vegetarian and non-vegetarian classifications.

The mark

The law gives a detailed specification of the mark. The opening sentence of the specification says:

The symbol shall consist of a green colour filled circle, having a diameter not less than the minimum size specified in the table below, inside the square with green outline having size double the diameter of the circle, as indicated below ....
— Food safety and standards (packaging and labelling) regulations of India, 2011, Rule 4.

The mark is either a green dot or a brown one in a square of the same colour. The law also specifies other requirements - for example, the mark should be placed near the brand logo or in an easily noticeable position.

See also

References

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