The Centre has amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, requiring packages of soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, other cosmetics and toiletries to display a symbol indicating whether the product is of vegetarian or non-vegetarian origin.

Under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2026, notified on September 21, a green dot is prescribed for products of vegetarian origin, while a red or brown dot is required for products of non-vegetarian origin. The symbol has to appear at the top of the principal display panel of the package.

The amendment came into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

What do the new symbols mean?

  • Green dot: Product of vegetarian origin
  • Red or brown dot: Product of non-vegetarian origin
  • Placement: At the top of the principal display panel
  • Products covered: Soap, shampoo, toothpaste, other cosmetics and toiletries

Is this requirement completely new?

Not exactly.

The green and red/brown dot requirement for these personal-care products dates back to an earlier amendment to the Legal Metrology rules. The requirement had been contained in Rule 6(8), which was introduced in 2014.

The latest September 2026 notification changes the legal structure of the provision. It inserts the requirement as Rule 6(4A)(d) and simultaneously omits the earlier Rule 6(8).

The issue had also been the subject of legal proceedings. In February 2026, the Delhi High Court dealt with a challenge concerning the requirement and directed regulatory authorities to arrive at a clear position on the labelling of cosmetics and toiletries.

Why is the rule important for consumers?

The labelling is intended to make the origin of ingredients easier to identify at the point of purchase. Consumers will not have to rely only on ingredient lists or individual brand disclosures to determine whether a covered product is classified as vegetarian or non-vegetarian under the rules.

The requirement covers everyday personal-care products, meaning the symbols could become a more visible part of packaging for products such as soap, shampoo and toothpaste.

Other packaging changes in 2026

The Centre has also introduced other changes to India's packaged-commodity framework this year.

One February 2026 amendment required e-commerce entities selling imported products to provide a searchable and sortable country-of-origin filter for those listings. That provision was initially scheduled to take effect from July 1, 2026.

A subsequent amendment notified in April 2026 changed the implementation date for the country-of-origin filter provision to July 1, 2027.

Together, these changes form part of a broader regulatory framework governing the information that manufacturers, importers and online sellers must provide to consumers.

The September 2026 notification is significant because it gives the vegetarian/non-vegetarian marking requirement a revised legal footing after years of regulatory and legal debate.

The provision was originally introduced for soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, cosmetics and toiletries in 2014, but its application to cosmetics had faced legal challenges. The Delhi High Court proceedings in 2026 brought the question back into focus.

The latest notification does not simply introduce a brand-new labelling concept. Instead, it moves the requirement from the earlier Rule 6(8) into Rule 6(4A)(d) while removing Rule 6(8).

For consumers, the practical takeaway is straightforward: when buying covered personal-care products, the packaging is required to show a green dot for vegetarian origin or a red/brown dot for non-vegetarian origin at the top of the principal display panel.