FSSAI License for Ayurvedic and Herbal Food Products in India 2026

Ayurvedic and Herbal Products: FSSAI vs. AYUSH

One of the most confusing regulatory questions for natural health product businesses in India is: Is my product regulated by FSSAI or AYUSH (Ministry of Ayush)? The answer depends on whether the product is being sold as food or as a medicine.

If your product is...	It's regulated by...	License needed from...
Marketed for consumption as food/nutrition	FSSAI	FSSAI
Marketed with Ayurvedic drug claims (curing/treating disease)	AYUSH (Drugs & Cosmetics Act)	State/Central Drug Controller under AYUSH
Marketed as functional food with wellness claims (not medical claims)	FSSAI	FSSAI + possible product approval

Common Herbal Food Products Regulated by FSSAI

• Herbal teas (tulsi tea, green tea, chamomile tea)
• Honey with herb extracts (turmeric honey, ginger honey)
• Herbal infusions and beverages
• Moringa powder, spirulina powder (as food supplements)
• Ashwagandha capsules/powder (when marketed as dietary supplement, not medicine)
• Triphala powder (sold as dietary supplement, not claiming Ayurvedic drug efficacy)
• Amla products (amla juice, amla candy, amla powder)
• Turmeric (haldi) products in food formats

FSSAI's Permitted Herbs and Botanicals List

FSSAI maintains a list of herbs and botanicals permitted for use in food products under the Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods Regulations. Key permitted herbs include:

• Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)
• Ocimum tenuiflorum (Tulsi)
• Curcuma longa (Turmeric)
• Emblica officinalis (Amla)
• Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy)
• Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellirica (Triphala components)
• Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi)
• Moringa oleifera (Drumstick/Moringa)

Herbs not on the FSSAI permitted list require separate product approval as Novel Food before they can be used in food products.

The "Drug vs. Food" Boundary for Herbal Claims

The line between food and medicine is drawn by the claims made on the packaging:

• Allowed (FSSAI food product): "Ashwagandha is a traditional herb used for vitality" or "Contains natural antioxidants"
• NOT allowed on food labels: "Treats arthritis", "Cures diabetes", "Reduces blood pressure" — these are medical claims that make the product a drug
• Borderline claims: "Supports joint health", "Helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels" — these may be permitted as structure/function claims if backed by evidence, but require FSSAI product approval

Documentation for Herbal Food Products

For FSSAI product approval of herbal nutraceuticals, you need:

• Scientific literature supporting the safety of each herb at the proposed use level
• Traditional use documentation (historical use in Ayurvedic texts is acceptable for well-known herbs)
• Certificate of Analysis for each herbal ingredient (identity, purity, contaminants)
• Full product formulation with quantities
• Stability data (or accelerated stability study results)
• Proposed label

Conclusion

The Ayurvedic and herbal food space in India is growing rapidly, but so is regulatory scrutiny. Getting the FSSAI vs. AYUSH classification right is crucial — mislabelling an Ayurvedic drug as a food product (or vice versa) attracts serious regulatory action. Work with a qualified regulatory consultant to classify your product correctly and prepare the required documentation for FSSAI approval. Velco Legal India has assisted numerous herbal food brands navigate this complex regulatory landscape.