Maharashtra FDA Tightens Infant Food Rules; ‘Mother’s Milk Is Best’ Notice Made Mandatory

Mumbai, September 29, 2026: Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced stricter regulations for infant food products, mandating new labeling, sales and promotion rules. The order, issued by FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, applies to manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, pharmacies, hospitals and e-commerce platforms selling infant nutrition products.

The mandatory notice "IMPORTANT NOTICE & MOTHER'S MILK IS BEST FOR YOUR BABY" must appear on the front of all product packages. Discounts, free samples, influencer promotions and other marketing tactics related to infant formula are now banned. The crackdown follows inspections revealing misleading product names and missing critical information like breastfeeding notices, recommended age of introduction and preparation warnings.

The FDA's move aims to enforce the Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992, in conjunction with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Gaps in breastfeeding practices, with only 53.2% of children under three breastfed within an hour of birth in Maharashtra, according to NFHS-6 data, prompted the need for tighter oversight.

Under the new rules, product labels must include preparation instructions, preparation warnings and a disclaimer about seeking health worker advice before use. Companies are prohibited from using terms like "humanised," "maternalised," "complete food" or "health food." Violations can result in product seizures, legal prosecution and the suspension or cancellation of licenses.

Penalties for misleading advertisements, sub-standard food or misbranded food can reach up to Rs 10 lakh, Rs 5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh, respectively.