Key Update

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently hosted a high-level National Stakeholder Consultation on Food Labelling, advertisements, and Claims in the national capital. The event brought together over 700 participants from government, industry, academia, consumer groups, and regulatory bodies. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the consultation reviewed existing regulations, tackled implementation challenges, and aligned India’s standards with global best practices to strengthen consumer protection, public health, and industry innovation.

Health Secretary Stresses Ethical Practices

In her inaugural address, Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted the need for ethical and transparent practices in the rapidly evolving food sector. She urged stakeholders to adopt positive changes, scrutinise food products more closely, and use such consultations to shape future policy.

Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, called for an end to misleading advertising and urged manufacturers to treat labelling as a factor of trust rather than just a marketing tool. She emphasised that consumers must be able to make informed choices based on accurate declarations, and stressed collective responsibility to ensure transparency in product information.

Experts Push for Scientific Validation of Claims

Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, underscored the need for independent verification of scientific claims in advertisements. He welcomed the FSSAI’s decision to implement all label changes annually on July 1, aiming to reduce uncertainty for the labelling industry. Prabhat, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, warned that false health and nutrition claims can damage public trust and harm health.

Sessions Lead to Actionable Recommendations

The event featured technical sessions on global and Indian regulatory frameworks, enforcement case studies, and interactive discussions. Stakeholders shared insights on industry accountability, consumer rights, and collaborative enforcement strategies, resulting in actionable recommendations to enhance transparency and trust in food labelling and advertising.

This consultation is part of FSSAI’s national dialogue series aimed at developing practical, health-focused policies through close collaboration with industry, academia, and consumer organisations.

Source: Mint