CHANDIGARH : The Punjab government has imposed a one-year statewide ban on the production, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of non-dairy or analog paneer, in a major food-safety enforcement measure aimed at preventing dairy substitutes from being sold in the market as paneer.
The order has been issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Punjab, under Section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Under the prohibition, Food Business Operators (FBOs) will not be permitted to manufacture, store, transport, supply, distribute or sell analog paneer under any name during the one-year ban period.
Enforcement to Cover the Entire Supply Chain
The government has directed food safety authorities to undertake intensive inspections across districts to identify and prevent the manufacture and distribution of analog paneer.
Inspections will cover a wide range of establishments, including:
- Dairy processing units
- Paneer manufacturing facilities
- Wholesalers and distributors
- Retail outlets
- Cold stores
- Warehouses
- Other food businesses handling paneer
The enforcement effort is intended to address the issue across the entire supply chain rather than focusing only on retail markets.
Transport Vehicles Also Under Surveillance
Authorities have also been instructed to inspect vehicles transporting paneer across the state.
The move is aimed at preventing prohibited products from being moved between manufacturing locations, storage facilities and markets despite the ban.
Food safety officials will also examine purchase records maintained by hotels and restaurants to verify the source and authenticity of paneer being procured and used in commercial food preparation.
Focus on Authentic Dairy Paneer
The prohibition represents a significant regulatory intervention in Punjab’s dairy and foodservice market.
Analog paneer is manufactured using non-dairy ingredients or vegetable-based fats and proteins rather than being produced exclusively from milk. The regulatory concern arises when such products are marketed or represented as conventional dairy paneer, potentially misleading consumers.
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The intensive inspection programme is therefore expected to focus not only on manufacturing but also on labelling, sourcing, traceability and documentation.
What the Ban Means for Food Businesses
During the prohibition period, food businesses handling paneer will need to pay particular attention to their procurement and documentation practices.
Hotels, restaurants, caterers, retailers and wholesalers may face scrutiny over:
Where the paneer was purchased → whether the supplier is compliant → whether purchase records are available → whether the product is genuinely dairy-based.
This makes supplier verification and traceability particularly important for commercial food operators.
Implications for Punjab’s Dairy Sector
Punjab is a major dairy-producing state, and the ban could strengthen demand for genuine milk-based paneer if enforcement is effectively implemented.
For organised dairy processors, the measure could also create an opportunity to differentiate products on the basis of milk origin, quality assurance, testing, traceability and regulatory compliance.
At the same time, effective enforcement will be critical. The ban covers multiple stages of the supply chain, meaning authorities will need to monitor manufacturing, transportation, storage, wholesale and retail channels simultaneously.
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