Supreme Court Challenges FSSAI on Timelines for Food Labeling Regulations

Supreme Court's Inquiry into Food Safety Regulations

New Delhi: On Monday, the Supreme Court raised concerns regarding the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and its timeline for implementing front-of-package labeling on food items. The court questioned the necessity of prolonged delays when public health is at stake.

Front-of-package labeling (FoPL) serves as a visual guide on food packaging, aimed at helping consumers make healthier choices.

Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran expressed their frustration, asking, "Why does FSSAI want to waste so much time when this is a health issue for citizens?"

"While we commend your efforts thus far, much more needs to be done to achieve our goals for public health. We expect the authority to take our directives seriously," they added.

The court further inquired, "Why is there a need for a year of voluntary compliance? What has been accomplished since 2022?"

FSSAI's counsel explained that the Indian Nutrition Rating (INR) star-rating system initiated in 2022 had different criteria.

The FSSAI has proposed a red hexagonal warning label for packaged foods high in sugar, fat, and salt, which will be displayed prominently on the packaging.

The food authority informed the court that it would take about four months to finalize the draft regulations.

They also mentioned that the draft regulations would be open for public comments for 60 days, allowing stakeholders to provide feedback through domestic consultations and the WTO platform.

Additionally, FSSAI suggested a 365-day voluntary implementation period for food businesses following the notification of these regulations.

Previously, the Supreme Court had requested FSSAI to clarify its plans regarding the labeling of 'nutrients of concern' such as fat, sugar, and salt.

This inquiry was prompted by a petition from the public charitable trust '3S and Our Health Society', which urged the government to enforce mandatory FoPL on packaged foods.

FSSAI had earlier indicated its intention to introduce a clear red warning label for products high in added saturated fat, sugar, and salt.

In a compliance affidavit submitted last month, FSSAI outlined a two-phased approach aimed at providing consumers with straightforward and easily understandable warnings about food products high in specific nutrients.

The affidavit emphasized that the phased implementation of FoPL is designed to ensure both consumer acceptance and give the industry sufficient time for reformulation.