The Indian food and agriculture industry is one of the oldest and most significant sectors, deeply rooted in the agrarian character of the economy. With agriculture contributing substantially to India’s GDP and the food processing industry positioned as a sunrise sector, this domain offers vast opportunities for domestic and foreign investors.
Over the years, with 100% FDI permitted under the automatic route for processed foods (except certain MSME-linked sectors), the industry has become highly dynamic and innovation-driven. Coupled with India’s growing consumer market, rising demand for packaged foods, beverages, and premium alcohol brands, this sector is witnessing rapid expansion but also faces complex regulatory and compliance challenges.
Our Food, Beverages & Alcohol Practice helps clients navigate the intricate legal and regulatory landscape, ensuring compliance while enabling business growth and innovation.
We advise manufacturers, distributors, importers, exporters, e-commerce platforms, QSR chains, food-tech companies, breweries, distilleries, and alcohol brands on regulatory, commercial, and dispute resolution matters.
Our team blends expertise across regulatory law, intellectual property, consumer protection, and corporate transactions, offering tailored solutions to entities engaged in food processing, beverages, and alcohol trade.
Governing food safety, hygiene, and labeling.
Quality certification and food safety standards.
Consumer rights, product liability, and e-commerce regulation.
Licensing for manufacture, distribution, sale, and labelling of alcoholic beverages.
Standards on weights, measures, and labeling.
Environmental safeguards in food and beverage manufacturing.
Governing import/export of food and beverages.
Where applicable to nutraceuticals and fortified foods.
Brand and recipe protection.
Compliance for food-tech and e-commerce platforms handling consumer data.
Food business operator licensing, packaging and labeling compliance.
Export/import licensing.
Legal Metrology and consumer protection oversight.
Product quality certifications.
Regional enforcement of food and beverage laws.
Assistance with FSSAI, BIS, Legal Metrology including Labelling, claim regulation, and shelf-life compliance, Consumer Protection, and environmental regulations.
Drafting, vetting, and negotiating contracts including supply agreements, franchise deals, distribution contracts, and vendor arrangements.
Safeguarding trademarks, branding, packaging, recipes, and geographical indications.
Representation in regulatory proceedings, consumer disputes, product liability claims, and contractual disputes.
End-to-end support in obtaining licenses for food and alcohol businesses.
Excise licensing, cross-border imports, labeling, advertisement restrictions, and state-specific excise compliances.
Compliance for online food platforms under DPDP Act and e-commerce rules.