FSSAI principal display panel (PDP) rules
The principal display panel is the part of the pack intended or likely to be shown to the customer under normal conditions of display, sale or purchase. FSSAI sets a minimum area for it in its own Labelling and Display Regulations; the Legal Metrology rules separately govern declarations such as the net quantity, the retail sale price and the consumer-care details.
What the principal display panel is
The principal display panel (PDP) is the part of the container or package intended or likely to be displayed, presented, shown or examined by the customer under normal and customary conditions of display, sale or purchase (FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, regulation 2(1)(s)). FSSAI sets its minimum area in regulation 6(2).
The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 are a separate regime: they govern declarations such as the net quantity, the retail sale price (MRP) and the consumer-care details.
FSSAI's minimum PDP area — regulation 6(2)
Regulation 6(2) sets a minimum, not a fixed size — a principal display panel larger than the minimum is allowed. The principal display panel must be at least:
For a rectangular package, 40% of the height multiplied by the width of the package's largest panel. A largest panel of 10 × 20 cm (200 cm²) needs a principal display panel of at least 80 cm².
For a cylindrical or nearly cylindrical, round or nearly round, oval or nearly oval package, 40% of the height multiplied by the package's average circumference.
For a package of any other shape, 20% of its total surface area. A package with 500 cm² of total surface needs at least 100 cm².
A package of 10 cm³ capacity or less may carry the required information on a card or tape firmly affixed to it (regulation 6(2)(d)).
Legal Metrology — a separate regime
The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 govern declarations such as the net quantity, the retail sale price (MRP, inclusive of all taxes), the unit sale price (Rule 6(11)) and the consumer-care details. On the principal display panel, the size of the numerals and letters declaring the net weight, the retail sale price, the expiry, best-before or use-by date and the consumer-care details follows the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and its rules (the proviso to FSSAI regulation 6(3)). Other numerals and letters on the panel follow the minimum heights of FSSAI's own Table I in regulation 6(3), by principal-display-panel area, with further rules for some declarations (for example on returnable glass bottles, and the Schedule II declarations under regulation 7).
What must appear on the PDP
The name of the food, the net quantity and the retail sale price (MRP) are shown on the principal display panel, and the veg / non-veg mark sits on the PDP close to the name. The FSSAI logo with the licence number appears on the label.
How LabelYog handles it
LabelYog fits the mandatory declarations to the trim size you print and places the veg / non-veg mark and the FSSAI logo to specification.
Sources
Regulation 6(2)'s minimum areas were read at source on 20 October 2026 (FSSAI's compendium of the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, Version VIII, 9 September 2025); the First Amendment Regulations, 2026 (in force 1 July 2027) do not change regulation 6. Where this summary and the gazette differ, the gazette prevails.
At a glance
- PDP = the part of the pack intended or likely to be shown to the customer under normal display (Reg 2(1)(s))
- FSSAI minimum (Reg 6(2)), rectangular: 40% × height × width of the largest panel
- Cylindrical, round or oval: 40% × height × average circumference
- Any other shape: 20% of the total surface area
- A PDP larger than the minimum is fine
- Net quantity, MRP, consumer care and other declarations: Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011
- Letter sizes: net weight, MRP, expiry / best-before / use-by date and consumer care per Legal Metrology; the rest per FSSAI Table I (Reg 6(3)), with further rules for some declarations (Reg 7)
- Name, net quantity, MRP and the veg / non-veg mark on the PDP
Questions
What is the principal display panel under FSSAI?
The part of the pack intended or likely to be shown to the customer under normal conditions of display, sale or purchase. FSSAI's regulation 6(2) sets its minimum area; the Legal Metrology rules separately govern declarations such as the net quantity, MRP and consumer care.
How is the minimum PDP area of a rectangular pack calculated?
Under FSSAI regulation 6(2), it is at least 40% of the height multiplied by the width of the pack's largest panel — 80 cm² for a 10 × 20 cm panel. A larger PDP is allowed.
What about cylindrical or other-shaped packs?
For a cylindrical, round or oval pack, at least 40% of the height multiplied by the average circumference; for any other shape, at least 20% of the total surface area — 100 cm² for a pack with 500 cm² of surface.
What information must be on the PDP?
The name of the food, the net quantity, the MRP and the veg / non-veg mark near the name.
Does LabelYog place these correctly?
Yes — it fits the declarations to your trim and places the mark and FSSAI logo to specification.
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