India has introduced new safety and labeling standards for minor seed oils, including chilli, muskmelon, okra, and tomato seed oils, under the Draft Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations, 2026.
India Sets New Safety Limits for Minor Seed Oils
Producers must meet strict contaminant limits and new labeling rules.
What changed
No hexane permitted in cold-pressed oils.
No food additives allowed in cold-pressed oils.
Strict contaminant limits set for free fatty acids, metals, and residues.
Origin and processing method must appear on product labels.
Who it affects
Minor seed oil producers must test products for contaminants and update labels.
Food processors using chilli, muskmelon, okra, or tomato seed oils must verify compliance.
What to do
Test oils for free fatty acids, insoluble impurities, and metal content.
Ensure hexane levels do not exceed 5.0 mg/kg in extracted oils.
Update labels to show origin and processing method.
Verify no additives are used in cold-pressed varieties.
Compliance Overview: New Safety and Labeling Standards for Minor Seed Oils in India
The Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations, 2026 (hereinafter "Draft Amendment Regulations, 2026") introduce specific standards for minor seed oils, including chilli, muskmelon, okra, and tomato seed oils, under Regulation 2.2.10 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 ("FSS Regulations, 2011"). These standards establish quality parameters, permissible contaminants, food additive restrictions, hygiene requirements, and mandatory labeling for these oils. The regulations also address solvent-extracted oils and edible seeds under separate provisions.
1. Standards for Minor Seed Oils (Chilli, Muskmelon, Okra, and Tomato Seed Oils)
1.1 Description and General Requirements
Minor seed oils must be derived from clean, sound, and mature seeds using methods that preserve inherent qualities of the oil. The oils must be:
- Clear and free from:
- Rancidity,
- Adulterants,
- Sediment,
- Suspended or foreign matter,
- Separated water,
- Added coloring/flavoring substances, or
- Mineral oil1.
- Negative for Argemone oil (a toxic adulterant)1.
- Free from turbidity after filtration and storage at 30°C for 24 hours1.
1.2 Quality Parameters
The Draft Amendment Regulations, 2026 prescribe distinct limits for cold-pressed/virgin oils and refined oils as follows:
| S. No. | Parameter | Cold Pressed/Virgin Oil | Refined Oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volatile matter at 105°C (Max) | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| 2 | Insoluble impurities (Max) | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| 3 | Soap content (Max) | 0.005% | 0.005% |
| 4 | Acid value (mg KOH/g fat) | 4.0 | 0.6 |
| 5 | Iron (Fe) (Max) | 5.0 mg/kg | 2.5 mg/kg |
| 6 | Copper (Cu) (Max) | 0.4 mg/kg | 0.1 mg/kg |
Source:1
1.3 Solvent-Extracted Oils
- If the oil is obtained via solvent (hexane) extraction, it must be refined before human consumption and comply with Regulation 2.2.1(16) of the FSS Regulations, 2011.
- Hexane residue limit: ≤ 5.0 mg/kg in refined oil.
- Pressed oils must be free from hexane residues1.
1.4 Food Additives
- Refined oils: May contain food additives permitted in Appendix A of the FSS Regulations, 20111.
- Pressed oils: No additives permitted1.
1.5 Contaminants, Toxins, and Residues
Minor seed oils must comply with the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 20111.
1.6 Hygiene Requirements
Production and handling must adhere to:
- Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, and
- Any other guidance issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 20061.
1.7 Labeling Requirements
Labeling must conform to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 20201.
2. Standards for Edible Seeds (Related Context)
While the primary focus is on minor seed oils, the Draft Amendment Regulations, 2026 also introduce standards for edible seeds under Regulation 2.3.66, which may include seeds from muskmelon, watermelon, cucumber, pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, and flaxseed. These standards are not directly applicable to seed oils but provide related context for seed-derived products1.
2.1 General Requirements for Edible Seeds
- Must be sound, whole, clean, sufficiently dried, uniform in color, and free from:
- Living/dead insects,
- Rancidity,
- Visible foreign matter,
- Visible mold,
- Rodent contamination, or
- Added coloring1.
- May be raw, roasted, coated, salted, or contain sweeteners/spices/condiments1.
2.2 Quality Parameters for Edible Seeds
| S. No. | Parameter | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moisture (% by mass, Max) | 8.00% |
| 2 | Free fatty acid (% on dry mass, Max) | 1.25% |
| 3 | Foreign matter (inorganic/organic, Max) | 0.1% |
Source:1
3. Regulatory Process and Stakeholder Engagement
- The Draft Amendment Regulations, 2026 were published on 21 May 2026 in the Gazette of India for public consultation1.
- Objections/suggestions may be submitted to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) within 60 days of publication (i.e., by 20 July 2026).
- Submissions can be made via:
- Email: regulation@fssai.gov.in, or
- Post: Chief Executive Officer, FSSAI, FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi-1100021.
- FSSAI will consider all feedback before finalizing the regulations1.
4. Key Compliance Requirements Summary Table
| Regulation | Key Requirement | Threshold/Deadline | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 (2.2.10) | Minor seed oils must meet quality parameters (e.g., acid value, iron, copper limits)1. | See table in Section 1.2 | FSSAI |
| FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 (2.2.10) | Solvent-extracted oils must be refined and comply with hexane residue limit (≤ 5.0 mg/kg)1. | ≤ 5.0 mg/kg hexane | FSSAI |
| FSS (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011 | Minor seed oils must comply with contaminant/toxin/residue limits1. | As per Regulations, 2011 | FSSAI |
| FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 | Mandatory labeling for minor seed oils1. | Not specified | FSSAI |
| FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011 | Hygiene requirements under Schedule 41. | Not specified | FSSAI |
| Draft Amendment Regulations, 2026 | Public consultation period for objections/suggestions1. | 60 days from 21 May 2026 (until 20 July 2026) | FSSAI |
Summary Answer
The Draft Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations, 2026 introduce mandatory safety and quality standards for minor seed oils (chilli, muskmelon, okra, and tomato seed oils) under Regulation 2.2.10 of the FSS Regulations, 2011. These standards prescribe specific limits for volatile matter, insoluble impurities, soap content, acid value, iron, and copper, with stricter thresholds for refined oils1. Solvent-extracted oils must be refined and limited to ≤ 5.0 mg/kg hexane residue, while pressed oils must be hexane-free1. No food additives are permitted in pressed oils, but refined oils may contain additives listed in Appendix A1. Compliance with contaminant, toxin, and residue limits (per the FSS (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011) and hygiene requirements (under Schedule 4 of the FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011) is mandatory1. Labeling must adhere to the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 20201. The draft regulations are open for public consultation until 20 July 2026, with stakeholders invited to submit objections/suggestions to FSSAI1. For related context, the draft also introduces standards for edible seeds (e.g., muskmelon, sunflower) under Regulation 2.3.66, though these do not directly apply to seed oils1.
Sources
- ↩ WTO TBT notification 26-03016 — India https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/TBT/IND/26_03016_00_e.pdf