The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), through a notification dated 21 May 2026, published draft amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Regulations, 2018 for public consultation. The proposed amendments revise qualification and experience requirements for food safety auditors under Regulation 3(1)(c). The draft expands the list of eligible educational qualifications to include a wide range of disciplines such as Food Technology, Biotechnology, Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Fisheries, Chemistry, Microbiology, Public Health, Medicine, Life Science, and equivalent qualifications recognized by the Food Authority. The amendments also propose mandatory successful completion of an accredited Lead Auditor course in Food Safety Management System (ISO 22000). Further, the revised regulations prescribe a minimum of two years’ work experience in the food sector or industry along with completion of at least ten audits, including internal or third-party audits. FSSAI invited objections and suggestions within sixty days from publication of the notification.
FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 21st May, 2026
F. No. RCD-02002/1/2025-Regulatory-FSSAI. — The following draft of certain regulations further to amend the Food Safety and Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Regulations, 2018, which the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India proposes to make with the previous approval of the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 16 read with section 44 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006), is hereby published as required under sub-section (1) of section 92 of the said Act, for the information of all persons likely to be affected thereby and notice is hereby given that the said draft regulations shall be taken into consideration after the expiry of a period of sixty days from the date on which copies of the Official Gazette in which this notification is published are made available to the public.
Objections or suggestions, if any, may be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi – 110002 or sent on email at regulation@fssai.gov.in.
Objections or suggestions which may be received with respect to the said draft regulations within the period specified above shall be considered by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
Draft Regulations
1. These regulations may be called the Food Safety and Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Amendment Regulations, 2026.
2. In the Food Safety and Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Regulations, 2018, in regulation 3, in sub-regulation (1), in clause (c)-
(1) sub clause (i) shall be substituted with the following, namely:-
“(i) Bachelor’s or Master’s or Doctorate degree from a recognized University or institution in any of the following disciplines, –
1. Food Technology;
2. Food Science & Technology;
3. Food Engineering;
4. Food Process Engineering;
5. Food Process Engineering and Management;
6. Food Processing;
7. Food Engineering and Technology;
8. Food Processing and Preservation;
9. Food Processing Technology;
10. Food Technology and Management;
11. Process and Food Engineering;
12. Food Plant Operations Management;
13. Food Safety and Quality Management;
14. Food Safety & Quality Assurance;
15. Food & Nutrition;
16. Food Nutrition and Dietetic;
17. Food Biotechnology;
18. Biotechnology;
19. Oil Technology;
20. Edible Oil Technology;
21. Dairy Technology;
22. Fruit & Vegetable Technology;
23. Agricultural Science;
24. Agriculture;
25. Agriculture Engineering;
26. Veterinary Science;
27. Fisheries;
28. Horticulture;
29. Horticultural Science;
30. Chemistry;
31. Bio-Chemistry;
32. Microbiology;
33. Industrial Microbiology;
34. Toxicology;
35. Public Health;
36. Life Science;
37. Medicine;
38. Animal Science;
39. Equivalent/recognized qualification of Food Safety Officer notified by the Food Authority, from time to time;
(2) sub clause (ii) shall be substituted with the following, namely:-
“(ii) Successful completion of Accredited Lead Auditor course in Food Safety Management System (ISO 22000).”
(3) sub clause (v) shall be substituted with the following, namely:-
“(v) work experience of minimum two years in food sector/industry; and a minimum of ten audits carried out, including Internal/Third Party”
RAJIT PUNHANI, Chief Executive Officer
[ADVT.-III/4/Exty./107/2026-27]
Note: The principal regulations werepublished in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary Part III, Section 4, vide notification number F. No. TPA/01/REG/FSSAI-2017, dated 28th August, 2018.
