India supreme court orders timeline for food warning labels
Picture: Reuters
India’s Supreme Court has ordered the federal government to provide a clear timeline for implementing food warning labels on packaged products within 10 days. The move has increased pressure on New Delhi to implement the public health measure.
The Supreme Court has intensified pressure on New Delhi to introduce stricter warning labels following complaints from a health nonprofit. The development comes amid a nationwide crackdown on food safety that has seen regulators raid eateries across the country.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India last month proposed a two phase labeling program. The first phase would introduce red hexagonal warning labels on products that exceed limits in at least two of three categories: added sugar, salt or saturated fat. Stricter rules would be introduced in the second phase.
“We are afraid that, absent a specific indication, the implementation of Phase II might take a backseat or be indefinitely postponed,” the Supreme Court said in an order late Thursday.
“Assessment of consumer acceptability or giving the industry adequate time for reformulation cannot be reason enough for this uncertainty in time,” the court added.
A government source said the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India will examine the order. However, the regulator is willing to implement both phases at the same time.
The nationwide debate over food safety has intensified since Reuters reported last month that India’s government opted for a weaker labeling regime following lobbying by Coca Cola and groups backing Nestle and PepsiCo. They argued that warning labels were ineffective.
Many companies have voluntarily introduced similar measures in European markets.
India’s food and drinks industry has opposed the warning labels. The industry has called them confusing and ineffective.
Source: Reuters (Adapted)
