The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has clarified that the word “tea” can be used only for products made from the plant Camellia sinensis, asking food business operators to stop using the term for herbal, floral or other plant-based infusions.
The clarification, issued on December 24, is aimed at preventing misleading labelling and ensuring stricter compliance with food safety norms.
In its communication, the food regulator noted that several companies were marketing products not derived from Camellia sinensis under labels such as “herbal tea”, “flower tea” and “rooibos tea”. FSSAI said that under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, tea — including green tea, instant tea and region-specific varieties like Kangra tea — must be sourced exclusively from Camellia sinensis.
FSSAI also referred to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, which require food labels to clearly state the true nature of the product on the front of the package. Describing plant-based or herbal infusions as “tea”, the authority said, is misleading and amounts to misbranding under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Such products, the regulator added, may instead be classified as proprietary foods or fall under the Food Safety and Standards (Approval for Non-Specified Food and Food Ingredients) Regulations, 2017, depending on their composition. However, they cannot be marketed or sold using the word “tea” in any form.
The directive applies to all food business operators, including those involved in manufacturing, packaging, import, sale and e-commerce. Commissioners of Food Safety in states and Union Territories, along with FSSAI’s regional directors, have been asked to ensure strict monitoring and enforcement.
FSSAI has warned that failure to comply will invite action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and related rules, underscoring its focus on transparent labelling and consumer protection.