FSSAI Proposes Single-Phase Rollout of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labels

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has told the Supreme Court that it intends to roll out front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FoPL) for packaged foods through a single-phase approach, covering sugar, salt and saturated fat content.

In an affidavit filed before the court, the regulator sought four months to issue and finalise the draft regulations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. During this window, FSSAI said it would notify the draft amendment regulations, which must be published for 60 days to invite comments from stakeholders through domestic consultation and the WTO platform. The feedback received will be examined, and the final notification, after approval by the Food Authority, will be sent to the Ministry for publication in the official gazette.

The affidavit followed a petition by a Kerala-based NGO, 3S and Our Health Society, represented by advocate Rajiv Shankar Dvivedi, seeking directions to the Centre to introduce front-of-pack warning labels. The court had earlier pulled up the FSSAI for failing to bring in such labels.

Under the proposal, food business operators would get a voluntary implementation period of 365 days. The regulator said this was intended to avoid commercial hardship, as many operators already hold large stocks of pre-printed packaging material.

FSSAI is proposing a red hexagon with a white square-shaped background as the FoPL format, broadly similar to the labelling system used in Canada. Where only one nutrient of concern is present, that nutrient would be indicated in the hexagon; where two or three are present, they would be shown within a single hexagon, an arrangement the regulator said would give consumers clear and specific information.

Products containing non-caloric sweeteners, including beverages, would carry a warning statement reading "CONTAINS NON CALORIC SWEETENER" on the front of the pack.