Supreme Court presses FSSAI on front-of-package labelling rollout timeline

The Supreme Court of India has sought clarification from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding the timeframe for rolling out front-of-package labelling requirements across the food and beverage industry.

Front-of-package labelling involves displaying simplified nutritional information graphics prominently on food packaging, enabling consumers to quickly assess the health value of products at the point of purchase. Such labelling schemes have been adopted in several countries to support public health initiatives and combat rising rates of diet-related diseases.

The court's intervention highlights growing judicial scrutiny of the FSSAI's pace in implementing food safety and health-related regulations. Industry stakeholders have previously raised concerns about the feasibility and costs associated with overhauling packaging across manufacturing and distribution networks.

The FSSAI's response to the court's queries is expected to clarify whether the authority intends to phase in the requirement gradually or mandate immediate compliance across all food categories. The outcome could significantly impact food manufacturers, retailers, and ultimately consumer access to health information at purchase point.