Enforced under Sections 18 and 30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the restriction specifically targets non-standard products where milk fat has been partially or fully replaced with vegetable fats or oils. The ban primarily impacts imitation paneer, cream, and butter, which are frequently purchased by commercial kitchens, hotels, restaurants, and roadside eateries due to lower raw material costs and longer shelf stability compared to fresh dairy.

The directive applies broadly to any non-dairy substitute mimicking natural milk products, as well as items featuring deceptive packaging, labeling, or retail display intended to mislead buyers. However, standardized commercial products governed by specific regulatory definitions—such as standardized frozen desserts and processed cheese—remain exempt from the state ban provided they strictly adhere to federal compositional guidelines.

Chhattisgarh’s Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and local health authorities have been instructed to monitor compliance strictly across markets, processing units, and food service establishments, warning that violators will face legal prosecution under food safety laws. While local sales and preparations are prohibited, state officials noted that manufacturing operations producing analogs exclusively for interstate commerce will be evaluated separately by the state’s Industries Department.