Schedules I explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Regulation 5 of the Packaging Regulations, 2018 says that a list of suggestive packaging materials for specified food categories is in Schedule IV, and that the list is indicative and does not restrict other materials that comply with the specified standards. Schedules I, II and III list the Indian Standards for paper and board, metal and plastic.
The text is read as amended up to 28 March 2025 (FSSAI Compendium Version V dated 02.04.2025). FSSAI compendia are reference consolidations and the Gazette text prevails. Later notifications should be checked on fssai.gov.in. A manufacturer who is choosing packaging for a new product can combine this with FSSAI registration for food manufacturers.
Schedules I, II and III are lists of Indian Standards that paper and board, metal and plastic food packaging must conform to. Schedule IV is a suggestive list: food category by food category, it names packaging materials that may be used. The proviso to regulation 5 says it is an indicative list not restricting the use of any other packaging material complying with the specified standards.
Regulation 5: the suggestive list
"A list of suggestive packaging materials which may be used for packaging of food products falling under the specified categories is provided in Schedule – IV: Provided that this is an indicative list not restricting the use of any other packaging material complying with the specified standards." The list is a guide. A material that is not on it can be used if it complies with the standards in the Regulations; and a material that is on it must still meet the general requirements and the certificate of conformity rule in regulation 3 (see our article on regulations 1 to 3).
Schedules I to III: lists of standards
Each Schedule is a two-column table of serial number and "List of Standards". Regulation 4 ties each material to its Schedule: paper and board to Schedule I, metal to Schedule II and plastic to Schedule III. Regulation 3(12) and (13) apply the same three Schedules to multilayer packaging.
| Schedule | Material | Number of standards | Examples as printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Paper and board | 6 | Grease proof paper IS 6622 (serial 1); folding box board, uncoated, IS 1776 (serial 5); corrugated fibre board boxes (Part 1) IS 2771 (serial 6) |
| II | Metal and metal alloys | 7 | Cold-reduced electrolytic tinplate IS 1993/ISO 11949 (serial 1); crown closures IS 1994 (serial 5); round open top sanitary cans IS 9396 (Part 1) (serial 6) |
| III | Plastic materials | 20 | Polyethylene IS 10146 (serial 1); polypropylene and its copolymers IS 10910 (serial 4); polyalkylene terephthalates (PET and PBT) IS 12252 (serial 7); polycarbonate resins IS 14971 (serial 11) |
The detailed requirements for each material are in our articles on paper, glass and metal and plastic and recycled plastic.
Schedule IV: the suggestive list
Schedule IV, "List of suggestive packaging materials", has ten food categories. Each category lists several materials, and the list for milk and milk products is the longest. The categories as printed are:
- Milk and milk products
- Fats, oils and fat emulsions
- Fruit and vegetable products
- Sweets and confectionery
- Cereals and cereal products
- Meat and meat products or poultry products
- Fish and fish products or seafood
- Sweetening agents including honey
- Salt, spices, condiments and related products
- Beverages (other than dairy and fruits and vegetables based)
Sample rows as printed:
| Sl. | Category | Some of the suggested materials |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milk and milk products | Glass bottle with metal caps or plastic (polypropylene (PP) or High-density polyethylene (HDPE)) caps; rigid plastic container made of PET with plastic caps; tin plate container; wax coated paper butter wrappers; mud or clay pots |
| 2 | Fats, oils and fat emulsions | Tin plate container; glass bottle with metal caps or plastic caps; plastic rigid container (jar) made of HDPE; plastic laminated pouch in duplex board box (bag in box) |
| 8 | Sweetening agents including honey | Glass bottle with metal caps or plastic caps; plastic based thermoformed container; blister pack with foil or polyethylene lid; plastic laminated tube |
| 10 | Beverages (other than dairy and fruits and vegetables based) | Plastic bottles made of either PET or polycarbonate (PC) with plastic caps; heat sealed plastic pouches made of polyethylene (PE); aluminium can with easy open end; tin plate container; wooden cask (for wines) |
Two features of the list are worth noting. It names packaging by structure (for example, "aseptic and flexible packaging material (paper board or aluminium foil or polyethylene) based multilayered structure") rather than by brand. And it includes traditional materials such as mud or clay pots for milk products and a wooden cask for wines. The fish and meat categories list, among others, lacquered tin containers with a metal lid, polyethylene terephthalate punnets and plastic trays with overwrap.
An invented example: Tulsi Dairy packs paneer in a polypropylene tub with a peel-off lid and ghee in a polyethylene terephthalate jar. The tub is close to the listed "plastic based polypropylene (PP) or polystyrene (PS) cups with paper or Peel-off lid" for milk products, the jar is close to the PET items in the fats and oils list, and because the list is indicative, a different structure may also be used if it complies with the specified standards and the certificate of conformity is in place.
Amendments in one line
The Regulations were published on 24 December 2018 and amended by the notifications of 25 January 2022, 30 August 2022 and 28 March 2025 (the compendium Note lists all three).
How this fits with the rest
The general requirements and the conformity certificate are in regulations 1 to 3. The sister articles on product standards show how each food is defined, for example edible oils and milk and milk products. The overview post is food packaging standards under FSSAI, and the Act's rule is in section 23.
Need help choosing packaging?
Schedule IV is a starting point for a new product, but the final pack has to meet the standards and carry a certificate of conformity. Our FSSAI registration for food manufacturers team can help check the packaging file before launch.
Key takeaways
- Schedules I, II and III list the Indian Standards for paper and board (6), metal (7) and plastic (20).
- Schedule IV lists suggestive materials for ten food categories.
- The Schedule IV list is indicative and does not restrict other materials that comply with the specified standards.
- The same Schedules apply to the food-contact layers of multilayer packaging.
Read next
- Regulations 1–3: general requirements
- Regulation 4(1)–(3): paper, glass and metal packaging
- Regulation 4(4): plastic and recycled plastic packaging
- Food packaging standards under FSSAI
Disclaimer: Based on the FSSAI regulations named above as consolidated in FSSAI's compendium versions or as published in the Gazette, with the later notifications the article names (consulted on fssai.gov.in on 2-3 October 2026). Later notifications and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 provisions referred to should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.