FSSAI Conducts Training for Food Businesses on Labelling Regulations
Training Session on Food Labelling Regulations
Photo: @fssaiindia/X
New Delhi, Aug 14: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced on Friday that it held a training session aimed at food business operators (FBOs) focusing on the regulations related to food labelling, display, advertising, and claims. This initiative comes as part of a broader effort to enhance consumer awareness and ensure public health safety concerning packaged food items.
The event, titled 'Understanding Labelling & Display and Advertising & Claims Regulations,' attracted a significant number of participants from the food industry, indicating a strong commitment to adhering to food labelling and advertising standards, as noted by FSSAI on a social media platform.
This training is particularly timely given the ongoing discussions about the necessity for clearer nutritional information and warning labels on packaged foods that are high in sugar, salt, and saturated fats.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court has recently raised concerns with the Centre and FSSAI regarding delays in the implementation of front-of-pack warning labels, emphasizing that public health, especially that of children, must not be compromised.
A bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran has requested the government to clarify the measures taken to enforce stronger nutritional warnings and questioned whether consumer health is being sufficiently prioritized.
The court has also highlighted that clear warnings on food packaging can empower consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.
It expressed skepticism about claims that more stringent warning labels could harm manufacturers' businesses, asserting that the ultimate choice to buy a product lies with consumers and that commercial interests should not take precedence over public health.
The apex court has demanded information from the Centre regarding the proposed labelling framework and has allowed the government time to respond, warning that it may issue further directives if tangible actions are not taken.
Additionally, during a previous hearing, the government contended that aligning with international standards for packaging and nutritional warnings presents practical challenges. However, the court rejected this argument, stating that India cannot use foreign standards as an excuse to postpone essential public health measures.