India court orders regulator to provide timeline for food warning labels
The court questioned the regulator’s two-phase plan and pressed the government to set a deadline for stricter labels on foods high in sugar, salt and fat.
- On Thursday, the FSSAI told the Supreme Court it is open to implementing stricter red warning labels for packaged foods in one phase, potentially impacting the $100 billion food industry.
- The regulator had previously proposed a two-phased approach, which health experts and activists criticized as an "industry-friendly loophole" that disregarded public health by delaying stricter warnings.
- Supreme Court Justice Pardiwala questioned the two-phase timeline during Thursday's hearing, prompting Additional Solicitor General of India Brijender Chahar to suggest rolling out warning labels "in one go."
- The Bench expressed concern for public health, especially regarding children, and said it will pass a detailed order on this "serious matter" within two days.
- Posting the matter for hearing on September 28, the Supreme Court expects all parties to review the upcoming detailed order in the "national interest" of protecting public health.
38 Articles
38 Articles
India Supreme Court Orders 10-Day Timeline for Packaged Food Warning Labels, Pressures FSSAI
NEW DELHI: India's Supreme Court has ordered the federal government to provide a clear pathway for the implementation of food warning labels on packaged products within 10 days, ratcheting up pressure on New Delhi to implement the public health measure.The Supreme Court has piled pressure on New Delhi to implement stricter warning labels following complaints from a health non-profit, amid a crackdown on food safety which has seen regulators ra…
In India, there is a proposal to place red warning labels on the front of packaged foods to indicate high levels of sugar, salt, or saturated fat. The regulation, prepared by the country's food safety authority, was further strengthened after a recent hearing in the Supreme Court.
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