Regulation 9 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 9 (chapter 3 of the Labelling and Display Regulations) tells food service establishments what to show on menus: calorific value per serving for larger operators, allergen information and the veg or non-veg logo for all covered establishments, with exclusions, a duty to give nutrition information on request and a duty on e-commerce operators to pass it on.
The text is read as amended up to 24 March 2026 (FSSAI Compendium Version VIII dated 09.09.2025; the First Amendment Regulations, 2026 apply from 1 July 2027 and do not change regulation 9). FSSAI compendia are reference consolidations and the Gazette text prevails. Later notifications should be checked on fssai.gov.in. Restaurants and caterers can see our FSSAI registration for restaurants page for the licensing side.
Food Service Establishments with a Central licence or outlets at 10 or more locations must show calorific value (kcal per serving and serving size) on menus, with the line "An average active adult requires 2,000 kcal energy per day, however, calorie needs may vary". Covered establishments also show allergen information and the veg or non-veg logo against menu items. Event caterers and premises operating for less than 60 days in a calendar year are excluded.
Regulation 9(1): calorific value
Food Service Establishments having Central licence or outlets at 10 or more locations shall mention the calorific value (in kcal per serving and serving size) against the food items displayed on the menu cards, boards or booklets. Additionally, reference information on calorie requirements shall be displayed clearly and prominently as: "An average active adult requires 2,000 kcal energy per day, however, calorie needs may vary". Our post on the FSSAI direction on calorie display looks at the practical side.
Regulation 9(2): allergens and the veg or non-veg logo
Food Service Establishments shall also mention against the food items displayed on menu cards or boards:
- (a) information relating to food allergens as prescribed under regulation 5(14), with a proviso that allergens may be depicted by easy-to-understand symbols (the list of allergens is in regulation 5(10) to (15)); and
- (b) the logo for veg or non-veg (see regulation 5(4) and (5)).
The text of 9(2) does not repeat the "Central licence or 10 or more locations" threshold that opens 9(1); it speaks of Food Service Establishments generally.
Regulation 9(3): exclusions
These provisions shall not apply to:
| Clause | Exclusion |
|---|---|
| (a) | Event caterers and Food Service premises that operate for less than 60 days in a calendar year (consecutively or non-consecutively) |
| (b) | Self-serve condiments that are given without charge and are not listed on the menu |
| (c) | Special-order items or modified meals and menu items as per the customer's request |
Regulation 9(4): information on request
Food Service Establishments shall also provide, upon request, in the form of booklets or handouts or on their website, for the food items sold to consumers:
- nutritional information as prescribed under regulation 5(3);
- the specific requirements in provisions 1.1(1), (2), (3), 1.4(3), (4) and 1.7 of Schedule II, if applicable; and
- information relating to organic food or ingredients, if claimed.
A proviso says a deviation of 25 percent may be tolerated in case of nutritional information declaration. (Regulation 8(4) cites 1.9 of Schedule II in a similar list; the two cross-references are read as printed. See regulations 7 and 8.)
Regulation 9(5) to (7)
- 9(5) E-commerce Food Business Operators shall get the above information from the respective Food Business Operators and provide it on their website wherever applicable. Our post on FSSAI compliance for e-commerce food sellers covers the wider duties.
- 9(6) Nutritional information and/or ingredients information along with health messages shall be displayed where food is served in a manner as may be required and specified by the Food Authority.
- 9(7) The Authority may specify other food service establishments to comply with the requirements from time to time.
Who is covered, at a glance
| Question | Answer in the text |
|---|---|
| Who shows calories? | Establishments with a Central licence or outlets at 10 or more locations (9(1)) |
| Who shows allergen and veg or non-veg information? | Food Service Establishments (9(2)), subject to the exclusions in 9(3) |
| Who is excluded? | Event caterers; premises operating for less than 60 days in a calendar year; self-serve condiments given without charge and not on the menu; special-order items |
| What is given on request? | Nutrition information, specified Schedule II declarations and organic information (9(4)) |
| What deviation is tolerated? | 25 percent in nutritional information |
| Who passes data to online platforms? | Each food business operator; the e-commerce operator displays it (9(5)) |
An invented example
Spice Route Kitchens has a Central licence and 14 outlets. Every menu shows kcal per serving and serving size for each dish and the line on the 2,000 kcal average adult. Each dish carries the veg or non-veg logo and allergen symbols, such as a nut symbol on the satay. Spice Route's pop-up stall at a three-week food festival operates for less than 60 days in the year, so it falls under the exclusion in 9(3)(a). A customer asks for the nutrition information of a biryani; Spice Route hands over a booklet or points to its website, and its numbers may deviate by up to 25 percent. Spice Route's listing on an ordering app is fed by Spice Route's data, which the app displays.
Need help with menu display rules?
Menus, boards, booklets and websites each need to carry the right information, and chains need one standard across outlets. Our FSSAI registration for restaurants team can help with the licence and with menu display compliance for each outlet and platform listing.
Key takeaways
- Establishments with a Central licence or 10 or more outlets show kcal per serving and serving size on menus, with the 2,000 kcal reference line.
- Menus also show allergen information and the veg or non-veg logo.
- Event caterers, premises operating less than 60 days a year, self-serve condiments and special orders are excluded.
- Nutrition and related information is provided on request, with 25 percent deviation tolerated.
- E-commerce operators display the information supplied by each food business operator.
Read next
- Regulations 7 and 8: mandatory declarations and exemptions
- Regulations 10–13: non-retail containers and food additives
- FSSAI direction on calorie display by restaurants
- FSSAI compliance for e-commerce food sellers
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.