New Delhi [India], April 9 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday set a three-month deadline for the Central government to introduce fresh amendments to India’s food safety regulations, ensuring that warning labels are affixed to packaged food wrappers.
Acknowledging that the Union government has decided to undertake necessary amendments to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020, a bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan disposed of the public interest litigation (PIL) that sought mandatory “Front-of-Package Warning Labels on Packaged Foods.”
“We dispose of [the matter] with a direction to the expert committee to prepare its recommendations and submit a report at the earliest, so that, based on that report, necessary amendments can be undertaken. The exercise shall be completed within a period of three months,” the bench stated in its order.
The top court also expressed concern over the appeal of packaged snacks among children, who often consume such products without understanding their contents.
“Y’all have grandchildren?” Justice Pardiwala asked the lawyers present in the court.
“Let them decide the petition; then you will understand what Kurkure or Maggi is. Name the product and let them decide what type of wrapper should be there. They don’t see the content; they only see what is on the packet,” the judge added, in a lighter vein.
The PIL, filed by Advocate Rajiv S. Dwivedi, argued that warning labels help consumers identify unhealthy foods high in added sugars, sodium, unhealthy fats, and other harmful substances.
By making this information clear, such labels promote healthier choices, discourage excessive consumption, and raise awareness about the health risks associated with these products, the plea stated.
The counsel for the Central government informed the bench that it had received around 14,000 objections and suggestions from the public regarding labelling on packaged foods.
It was further submitted that a committee constituted for this purpose would consider these suggestions and make recommendations to the FSSAI for amending current safety regulations on food labelling and packaging.
The petitioner, however, requested that the Court set a clear timeline for the Centre to expedite these amendments.
After considering the submissions, the Court directed the Centre to complete the exercise of amending the packaging and labelling rules for food products within three months. (ANI)
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