Soaps, Shampoos, and Toothpaste to Carry Mandatory Veg and Non-Veg Markings Under New Government Rule

Buying a soap, shampoo or toothpaste could soon become a little different for Indian consumers. The Central Government has amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, making vegetarian and non-vegetarian origin markings mandatory on packaged soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, cosmetics and toiletries. The amendment was notified on September 21, 2026, and came into force from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

Under the new requirement, products of vegetarian origin will carry a green dot, while products of non-vegetarian origin will carry a red or brown dot. The marking must appear at the top of the product’s principal display panel, making it visible to consumers while shopping.

What Is the New Government Rule?

The Department of Consumer Affairs has implemented the rule through the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2026. Under the rules, soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, cosmetics and other toiletries have been included in the list for which packaging for vegetarians and non-vegetarians has become mandatory.

The rule is not restricted to food commodities alone. It has been extended to common personal care products so that the consumers can determine the origin category of the products without necessarily going through the ingredients of the product on its packaging.

As per the notification by the government, the appropriate symbol must be put on top of the principal display panel. This implies that the marking is meant to be visible rather than hidden along with the ingredients or other packaging details.

What Will the Green, Red and Brown Dots Mean?

The color code is quite simple. A green dot would mean that the product is vegetarian. A red dot would mean that the product is non-vegetarian.

This would be especially important since even products like soaps, shampoos and cosmetics may have ingredients from various origins. Before, consumers wanting to know about the origin of the ingredients would need to go through the list of ingredients or manufacturer details.

This mark is meant to make it easier for consumers by having the mark on the packaging itself.

Which Products Will Carry the Mark?

This amendment will affect soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and any other cosmetics and toiletries. It implies that the requirement goes beyond the three products stated in the headline and affects any packed personal care and toiletries under the notification.

To consumers, this may result in seeing the well-known green, red, or brown logo on many more products in the stores and supermarkets.

The requirement involves the origin of the product classification, but not that the product itself is a food or meant for consumption.

Why Has the Government Introduced This Requirement?

The primary intent is transparency for the consumer. The regulation provides an easy means by which the consumer can quickly determine if the particular personal care item is of vegetarian or non-vegetarian origin.

This amendment will apply especially to those consumers who make buying decisions on the basis of the origin of the ingredients used, for either religious, ethical, cultural or personal reasons.

Rather than spending time trying to figure out the meaning of a complex list of ingredients or writing to companies for information, the consumer will only need to check the prescribed symbol displayed on the main display panel.

Is This Completely New for Soap and Shampoo?

Though this requirement is relatively new in its mandatory nature, the concept of labeling soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, and cosmetics with green and red or brown dots is not totally new. Indeed, this provision was already included in previous editions of the Legal Metrology Rules.

But, there has been a complex regulation history concerning cosmetics in that there were debates on whether this was to be a mandatory or voluntary provision, and also issues on having a certification system for vegetarian and non-vegetarian cosmetics.

The September 2026 amendment formally incorporates this requirement into the new packaging rules and deletes the old sub rule under which the provision used to appear.

Where Will Consumers See the Mark?

The symbol must be placed on top of the main display panel of the package. The importance of that lies in the fact that it would not require people to look for the classification after they flip or scan through the product details.

The implication of this for consumers is clear: whenever a person takes up a covered product, the color-coded dot should give an instant clue about whether it is vegetarian or non-vegetarian.

What Does This Mean for Manufacturers?

Producers, packers, and any other business dealing with covered products should ensure that their packaging complies with Legal Metrology regulations as per the amendment.

This may necessitate changes in the company’s formulation, sources of ingredients, packaging procedures, among others before they place products in the market with the declaration.

In cases where producers use several ingredients and have several sources for raw materials when manufacturing their products, there may be need for careful scrutiny in classification.

In other words, the amendment will affect not just consumers but the entire personal care industry.

Will Existing Products Immediately Disappear From Shops?

This notification indicates that the amendment to the regulations has been in effect since the date of publication in the Official Gazette, which is September 21, 2026.

Nonetheless, the actual changeover of packaging within the market will rely on how manufacturers replace their existing stock and enforce compliance with any relevant requirements. Consumers could be seeing either old or new packaging during the transition period.

Just because a particular package is old doesn’t mean it does not conform to the new regulation or vice versa.

Why This Matters to Consumers

This new requirement may make shopping for such products a lot easier for those looking to either avoid or pick certain products due to their ingredient origins.

This also establishes a consistent visual method of identification of products in which the origins of ingredients may not be easy to determine for a regular consumer.

Other than the technical names of ingredients, consumers will now have another factor to keep in mind when shopping for products.

What Should Consumers Look For?

While buying soap, shampoo, toothpaste, cosmetics or toiletries, it is necessary to look at the top part of the principal display panel where the required color coded symbol needs to be seen.

The green dot will mean that it is of vegetarian origin, while a red or brown dot will indicate non-vegetarian origin under the revised guidelines.

Those consumers who wish to check out individual ingredients can go through the complete list of ingredients and manufacturer information also. The color coded symbol is just an extra classification.

Conclusion

The most recent amendment by the Centre has introduced a major modification in the labeling of personal care products that we use in our daily lives. The soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, cosmetics and toiletries included in this regulation will have to have clear indications of their being either vegetarian or non-vegetarian in nature on their labels.

This would allow the consumers to easily distinguish about the type of product that they are buying through the green, red and brown colored dots on their packaging.

For manufacturers, it would mean making changes in their labeling systems while for the consumers, it would mean getting yet another detail before they can buy their products.

Next time you pick up a soap, shampoo or toothpaste, the green, red or brown dot on the main display panel of the product will give you an indication about the type of product.

What New Rules Mean for India?

Could New IT Rules Change OTT Content?
Check out how mandatory certification could affect OTT films.

What Does The 60% Seat Rule Mean?
Find out how the airline seat rule affects extra charges.

How Will Stricter Online Rules Impact Content?
Uncover the government’s proposed measures for regulating online content.

Will UPI Fees Change After ₹2,000?
Browse the latest 2026 clarification on UPI merchant payment charges.

Are UPI Payments Under ₹2,000 Fee-Free?
See how the new zero-fee mandate applies to RuPay and UPI payments.