Food safety watchdog FSSAI outlines pathway for open, reliable food labeling in India through stakeholder consultations
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently held a National Stakeholder Consultation on Food Labelling, Advertisement, and Claims in New Delhi, with over 700 participants from various sectors in attendance.
The consultation, part of FSSAI's ongoing national dialogue series, aimed to review existing regulations, address implementation challenges, and align India's standards with global best practices.
Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, underscored the need for external validation of scientific claims in advertisements. Prabhat, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, warned against false health and nutrition claims, emphasizing their potential to erode public trust and harm health.
Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava emphasized the importance of ethical and truthful practices in the food sector. Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, called for an end to misleading advertising and urged manufacturers to consider labelling as a factor of trust.
The consultation featured technical sessions on global and Indian regulatory frameworks, enforcement case studies, and interactive discussions. Stakeholders exchanged insights on industry accountability, consumer rights, and collaborative enforcement strategies.
One of the key recommendations to emerge from the consultation was the implementation of front-of-pack warning labels (FOPL) on food products high in fats, sugars, or salt (HFSS). This measure is intended to enhance consumer awareness and guide healthier choices.
The industry was also urged to ensure truthful and honest declarations about product contents, and to refrain from misleading advertisements. This emphasizes the importance of transparency and trust in food labelling.
FSSAI announced plans to implement all label changes annually on July 1st. This should reduce uncertainty for the labelling industry and ensure consistent compliance. Proposals also included restricting marketing to children and ensuring that trade agreements do not undermine public health policies.
These recommendations reflect a broader effort to enhance consumer protection, support public health, and promote transparency in the food industry. The consultation is not associated with any specific advertisements or promotions.
[1] Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPL) [2] Truthful and Honest Declarations [3] Global Alignment [4] Accountability in Advertisements [5] Annual Label Changes [6] Restriction on Marketing to Children
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