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SC extends timeline for FSSAI panel to finalise front-of-pack warning labels
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Monday, 21 July, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Abhitash Singh, Mumbai
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In a significant development aimed at improving consumer awareness around packaged foods, the Supreme Court of India has granted an additional three months’ time to the expert committee under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to submit its final recommendations on the proposed front-of-pack nutrition warning labels (FOPL).
The committee, which was initially directed by the apex court on April 9 to conclude its report within three months, had sought an extension to complete its evaluation of the FSSAI’s draft amendments. These amendments are aimed at ensuring that packaged food products prominently display high levels of sugar, salt, and saturated fat on the front of the pack, thereby enabling consumers to make informed dietary choices.
A bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta accepted the request and directed that the committee must now complete its work within the extended timeframe.
The move comes in the backdrop of increasing concerns over the health risks posed by ultra-processed and packaged foods, with rising cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity in India. The proposed labeling system is expected to bring more transparency to food packaging, especially for ready-to-eat and processed food items, by helping consumers quickly identify products that are high in nutrients of concern.
The proposed FOPL framework is part of a larger effort to align India’s food labeling regulations with global best practices, many of which mandate front-of-pack warning labels or simplified rating systems to convey nutritional risk in an easy-to-understand format. The FSSAI is currently reviewing global models, including traffic light labeling and warning symbols, to identify the most suitable format for Indian consumers.
The Supreme Court is currently hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) that seeks stronger regulatory action on food labeling norms and stricter measures to combat misleading packaging. The petitioners have argued that the current back-of-pack nutritional information is often complex and hard to interpret, making it difficult for average consumers to assess the health impact of what they consume.
The court will take up the matter again after the committee submits its detailed report with final recommendations.
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