The Food Safety Commissioner, Government of Maharashtra, on July 30, 2026, prohibits the manufacture and sale of analogue/non-dairy paneer and chhana for one year.
The following has been stated:
• The Govt. prohibits the manufacture, processing, preparation, packing, storage, distribution, sale, offering for sale, exposure for sale and importation of analogue/non-dairy Paneer and Chhana throughout Maharashtra for a period of one year from the date of publication in the Official Gazette. The Order defines analogue/non-dairy Paneer/Chhana as products in which vegetable fat or other non-dairy constituents are used wholly or partly in place of milk-derived ingredients.
• The Order also prohibits hotels, restaurants, caterers, eateries, cloud kitchens and other food-service establishments from preparing, serving, storing, stocking or selling analogue/non-dairy Paneer or Chhana in any dish or preparation. Such practices may be treated as an unfair trade practice and a contravention of the responsibilities of Food Business Operators.
• Further, Food Business Operators dealing in genuine Paneer/Chhana are required to ensure proper packaging and labelling in accordance with the applicable Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations. Non-compliant products may be treated as misbranded food, with action under the applicable provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• The Order cites concerns regarding public health, adulteration/substitution of dairy products and the quality of Paneer/Chhana available in the market. It also refers to the prescribed standards for Paneer/Chhana under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, including requirements relating to moisture, milk fat and product categories such as regular/medium-fat and low-fat Paneer/Chhana. Violations will attract applicable penalties and enforcement action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
[Notification No. - COMM/FOOD/ORDER/PANEER/986-2026/7]
