2 hrs ago
Supreme Court Questions FSSAI Timeline for Packaged Food Warnings
India’s food regulator wants warning signs on the front of some food packages.
The signs would help people notice when foods contain too much sugar, fat or salt.
The proposed sign is a red hexagon on a white background.
A warning could be required when even one nutrient crosses its limit.
Products with artificial sweeteners could also say they contain non-caloric sweeteners.
FSSAI wants four months to prepare rules and 60 days to hear comments.
It then wants companies to follow the rules voluntarily for 365 days.
The Supreme Court questioned why the process should take so long.
The court has reserved its order after hearing a petition for mandatory labels.
The Supreme Court questioned FSSAI’s proposed timeline for front-of-package warnings on packaged foods.
FSSAI proposed red hexagonal labels for products high in sugar, fat or salt.
The regulator proposed a single-phase system, including warnings when one specified nutrient exceeds its threshold.
FSSAI said it needs about four months to finalise draft regulations, followed by 60 days for consultations.
The proposal includes 365 days of voluntary implementation and front-of-pack warnings for products containing artificial sweeteners.
- Who
- The Supreme Court of India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, and the public charitable trust 3S and Our Health Society.
- What
- The Supreme Court questioned FSSAI’s proposed timeline and design for mandatory front-of-package labelling on packaged foods.
- Where
- The hearing took place before the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi.
- When
- The matter was reported on September 28; the court reserved its order after the Monday hearing.
- Why
- The proposed labels are intended to help consumers identify foods high in sugar, fat and salt and make more informed dietary choices.
Faster mandatory consumer protection
Phased implementation with preparation time
Implementation speed
Faster mandatory consumer protection
The Supreme Court questioned why companies should receive a 365-day voluntary compliance period, given the public-health implications of the labelling issue.
Phased implementation with preparation time
FSSAI proposed 365 days of voluntary implementation to allow food businesses time to prepare and reformulate products.
Regulatory process
Faster mandatory consumer protection
The court questioned why FSSAI wanted to begin another consultation process after work on food labelling had started in 2022.
Phased implementation with preparation time
FSSAI said the 2022 process concerned the Indian Nutrition Rating star system, which used a different yardstick, and therefore proposed a new process.
Label design and accessibility
Faster mandatory consumer protection
The court said an effective label should serve people across different literacy levels, languages, regions and age groups, potentially using words and pictorial representations together.
Phased implementation with preparation time
FSSAI’s proposal described a prominent red, word-based warning system identifying nutrients of concern, with a single-phase approach instead of the earlier two-phase plan.
Key facts
- Regulator
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- Proposed warning
- A red hexagon against a white square-shaped background
- Nutrients covered
- Sugar, fat and salt, including specified nutrients of concern
- Regulatory preparation
- Approximately four months to issue and finalise draft regulations
- Consultation period
- 60 days for stakeholder comments through domestic consultation and the World Trade Organization platform
- Implementation period
- 365 days of voluntary implementation after the regulations are notified
- Sweetener warning
- The front-of-pack statement “CONTAIN NON CALORIC SWEETENER” for products containing artificial sweeteners
Quotes
Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran
Supreme Court justices hearing the petition concerning mandatory front-of-package labelling
“Why voluntary compliance for a year? Why do you need so much time? Why do you want to start afresh with the exercise of hearing and calling for objections? You started in 2022 what did you do in the last four years.”
livemint.com
theprint.in
“We appreciate whatever you have done so far and we appreciate your initiative, but there is a lot which is required to be done to give meaningful effect to what we want to achieve and where we want to reach.”
livemint.com
Sources
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