Guwahati: India’s food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has issued a formal clarification restricting the use of the word “tea” exclusively to products derived from the plant Camellia sinensis, effectively barring herbal and plant-based infusions from being marketed as tea.
In an official order dated December 24, 2025, FSSAI said it had come to its notice that several Food Business Operators (FBOs) were selling products such as “herbal tea,” “flower tea,” and “rooibos tea,” despite these not being obtained from Camellia sinensis. The regulator clarified that under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, tea — including green tea, instant tea, and Kangra tea — must originate solely from Camellia sinensis. Any other use of the term, it said, is misleading and amounts to misbranding under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Industry reaction
Welcoming the clarification, Bidyananda Barkakoty, Adviser of the North Eastern Tea Association (NETA), said the move was long overdue. “We are very happy with this much-needed clarification from FSSAI, the food safety regulator of India. This definition of tea will remove a lot of ambiguity from consumers’ minds and will also help remove clutter and confusion in the marketplace,” Barkakoty said. He also pointed out that the Indian regulator’s position aligns with international regulatory thinking. “Even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recognised tea derived only from Camellia sinensis as a ‘healthy’ beverage, and not herbal infusions,” he added.
Impact on labelling and enforcement
FSSAI further noted that the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, require food packages to clearly state the true nature of the product on the front of the pack. Plant-based or herbal infusions that do not meet the legal definition of tea cannot use the term directly or indirectly. Such products may instead fall under proprietary foods or require approval under the Food Safety and Standards (Approval for Non-Specified Food and Food Ingredients) Regulations, 2017, depending on their composition.
The directive applies to manufacturers, importers, marketers, retailers, and e-commerce platforms. State food safety commissioners and regional directors have been asked to ensure strict compliance, with enforcement action to follow in cases of violation.