Key Update

The Delhi High Court urged the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to quickly decide on Johnson & Johnson subsidiary JNTL Consumer Health’s plea to use “ORS” in its beverage branding. Justice Sachin Datta directed FSSAI to complete the hearing by Friday, emphasising that the situation cannot linger. He clarified that the earlier stay order issued on October 17 aimed only to give FSSAI time to decide, not to permit companies to continue manufacturing products under the “ORS” label.

Court Awaits Regulator’s Call on JNTL Case

The court heard Dr Reddy’s Laboratories’ (DRL) plea to sell its existing stock of Rebalanz VITORS, a fruit-flavoured drink marketed as an oral rehydration solution. However, Justice Datta said he would wait for FSSAI’s decision on JNTL’s case before ruling on DRL’s request.

FSSAI’s Crackdown on Misleading “ORS” Branding

In its October 14 and 15 orders, FSSAI barred beverage companies from using the term “ORS,” stating that it misleads consumers and violates the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The authority said many of these drinks contain excess sugar and fail to meet medical standards for oral rehydration solutions. After JNTL challenged the directive, the Delhi High Court stayed FSSAI’s orders and allowed the company a week to present its case. FSSAI has since scheduled a hearing and is expected to issue its decision soon.

Manufacturing on Hold

Justice Datta ordered DRL to stop producing “ORS”-labelled drinks until FSSAI delivers its decision. Although DRL argued that the stock is perishable and already in the retail chain, the court insisted that manufacturing must remain suspended. The court will review the matter again on October 31 after FSSAI submits its findings.

Source: The Indian Express