Schedule 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.
Schedule I to the Fortification of Foods Regulations, 2018 is where the numbers sit for seven staples. For each food it gives the micronutrients, the level of each, and the source compounds from which the nutrient may come. Regulation 4(1) requires the level on the label of a fortified food to fall within the range printed here.
The text is read as amended up to 22 September 2021 (FSSAI Compendium Version V dated 01.06.2022). FSSAI compendia are reference consolidations and the Gazette text prevails. Later notifications should be checked on fssai.gov.in. Producers of fortified staples can have their pack wording reviewed through FSSAI label compliance.
Schedule I covers salt, oil, milk, milk powder, atta, maida and rice. Salt carries iodine and may carry iron; oil carries Vitamins A and D; milk carries A and D; atta, maida and rice carry iron, folic acid and Vitamin B12, with optional extras. Each table gives a range, and a label level must fall within it. Quote the range as printed; the Regulations give no formula.
How to read Schedule I
Each food has a table with three columns: the nutrient (or component), the level, and the source. The level is a range, such as "28 mg- 42.5 mg" per kg. The unit differs by food: parts per million for salt, per gram of oil, per litre of milk, per kg of atta, maida and rice. The Schedule is the reference named in regulation 3(1) and regulation 4(1); see our article on regulations 1 to 4.
1. Salt
Item 1 deals with iodized salt (when fortified with iodine) and iron fortified iodized salt (double fortified salt). Salt shall be fortified with iodine and may also be fortified with iron in combination with iodine. As printed:
| Sl. No. | Component | Level | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iodine content | 15-30 parts per million (on dry weight basis) | Potassium Iodate |
| 2 | Iron content (as Fe) | 850-1100 parts per million | Ferrous sulphate or Ferrous Fumarate |
Footnotes add that the total matter insoluble in water where an anticaking agent has been added shall not exceed 2.2 per cent, that sodium chloride on dry basis shall not be less than 97.0 per cent by weight, and that double fortified salt may contain named food grade additives with an anticaking agent not more than 2.0 per cent on dry weight basis.
2. Fortified oil
Vegetable oil, when fortified, carries Vitamin A at 6 µg RE - 9.9 µg RE per gm of oil (Retinyl acetate or Retinyl palmitate) and Vitamin D at 0.11 µg - 0.16 µg per gm of oil (Cholecalciferol or Ergocalciferol, marked "Only from Plant Source"). A Note gives the conversion units for Vitamin A and Vitamin D. For the oil standards themselves, see our sister article on edible oils.
3. Fortified milk
Species identified milk (buffalo, cow, goat, sheep and camel milk), full cream milk, toned milk, double toned milk, skimmed milk and standardized milk, when fortified, carry per litre: Vitamin A (μg RE) at 270 - 450 and Vitamin D (μg) at 5-7.5, where the milk is to undergo pasteurization, sterilization, ultra high temperature treatment or boiling. This item was substituted by amendment. See the sister article on milk standards.
3A. Fortified milk powder
Milk powder, when fortified, shall be fortified with such levels of Vitamins A and D that the final reconstituted milk complies with the levels for fortified milk when reconstituted as per the label. It shall only be used in Government Funded Programs for preparing reconstituted fortified milk. Its label shall carry four statements: "NOT RECOMMENDED FOR DIRECT CONSUMPTION"; "ONLY FOR USE UNDER ______ (Name of the Government Funded Programme)"; "TO BE CONSUMED ONLY AFTER RECONSTITUTION OF THE ENTIRE CONTENT AS PER THE DIRECTIONS ON THE LABEL."; and "PACK ONCE OPENED, TO BE CONSUMED ON THE SAME DAY."
4 and 5. Fortified atta and maida
Atta or maida, when fortified, shall contain added iron, folic acid and Vitamin B-12 at the levels per kg printed:
| Nutrient | Level per kg |
|---|---|
| Iron (ferrous citrate, ferrous lactate, ferrous sulphate, ferric pyrophosphate, electrolytic iron, ferrous fumarate or ferrous bisglycinate) | 28 mg- 42.5 mg * |
| Iron (Sodium Iron (III) Ethylene diamine tetra Acetate Trihydrate, Na Fe EDTA) | 14 mg- 21.25 mg |
| Folic acid | 75 µg- 125 µg |
| Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamine or Hydroxycobalamine) | 0.75 µg- 1.25 µg |
The asterisk note reads "added at a higher level to account for less bioavailability". In addition, atta and maida may be fortified, singly or in combination, with zinc (10 mg- 15 mg), Vitamin A (500 µg RE- 750 µg RE), thiamine (1 mg- 1.5 mg), riboflavin (1.25 mg- 1.75 mg), niacin (12.5 mg- 20 mg) and pyridoxine (1.5 mg- 2.5 mg). Multi-grain atta may be fortified at the same levels provided the multigrain atta contains more than 50% as wheat flour in it. See the sister article on atta, maida, suji and besan.
6. Fortified rice
Rice, when fortified, shall contain added iron, folic acid and Vitamin B-12 per kg: iron from (a) ferric pyrophosphate at 28 mg- 42.5 mg or (b) Na Fe EDTA at 14 mg- 21.25 mg; folic acid 75 µg- 125 µg; Vitamin B12 0.75 µg- 1.25 µg. Optional additions, singly or in combination, are zinc (as zinc oxide, 10 mg- 15 mg), Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate, 500 µg RE- 750 µg RE), thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and pyridoxine at the same levels as atta. For rice supplied under Government schemes see the fortified rice notification and mandatory fortification of rice and wheat.
An invented example: Lakshmi Rice Mills sells fortified rice. Its label declares iron from ferric pyrophosphate, folic acid and Vitamin B12. Under Schedule I item 6, the iron source named in clause (a) goes with the 28 mg- 42.5 mg range; the Na Fe EDTA source goes with 14 mg- 21.25 mg. The label figures must fall within those ranges, subject to the tolerance in regulation 4(1).
Points to note
Sources are fixed, not open: each nutrient lists the compounds permitted. Vitamin D for oil and milk may be cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol "Only from Plant source". Heme iron is not permitted in any form (regulation 3(4)). The packaging and label words are in regulations 5 to 8. Processed foods have their own schedule, in Schedules II and III.
Need help with a fortified staple?
A fortified staple has to match the Schedule range, the source compounds and the label wording. Our FSSAI label compliance service can check your declared levels and wording against Schedule I.
Key takeaways
- Schedule I covers salt, oil, milk, milk powder, atta, maida and rice.
- Salt: iodine 15-30 parts per million; iron 850-1100 parts per million (double fortified).
- Atta, maida and rice: iron, folic acid and Vitamin B12 at the printed per-kg ranges, with optional extras.
- Fortified milk powder is only for Government Funded Programs and carries four label statements.
Read next
- Regulations 1–4: principles and micronutrient standards
- Schedules II and III: logo and fortified processed foods
- Fortified rice notification
- Food fortification and the plus F logo
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.