‘If you cannot do it, we will pass an order’: Supreme Court’s final warning to Centre on food labels
New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a final warning to the Centre over the implementation of front-of-pack warning labels for packaged food products containing high levels of sugar, salt and saturated fat, media reports said.
The top court directed the Centre to take the required action on the warning labels and reminded the government of its earlier order in the matter.
‘Do not act under corporate pressure’
In a strong observation, the court said decisions concerning public health should not be influenced by corporate interests.
"The matter concerns the health of citizens - particularly growing children - and decisions regarding it should not be influenced by corporate pressure," the court told the Centre and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran made the observations while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).
FSSAI questioned over industry opposition
The bench pulled up FSSAI after the petitioner alleged that the food regulator had cited opposition from the food industry to the use of warning labels.
The petitioner referred to the minutes of an FSSAI meeting held on March 7, in which the issue was discussed.
FSSAI had proposed a tabular nutrition declaration displaying recommended daily intake values for added sugar, saturated fats and salt instead of prominent warning labels.
The proposal reportedly came amid opposition from sections of the food industry to warning labels.
Court questions government’s approach
The Supreme Court questioned whether the government was unwilling to take the required action and reminded the Centre of its previous order.
The court also observed that the government "was yielding" to pressure from large corporate entities.
When Additional Solicitor General Brijender Chahar, appearing for the Centre, sought time to explain the government's proposed course of action, the bench said the government must act in accordance with the court's order.
"If you cannot do it, we will pass an order," the bench said, as quoted by NDTV.
Two weeks' time granted
Chahar argued that it would be unfair to apply international packaging standards to traditional Indian foods. However, the court declined to accept the argument and questioned whether the government was prepared to ensure the health and well-being of citizens, particularly children.
The Supreme Court has granted the government two weeks' time to comply with the labelling proposal.
The Centre has been warned that the court could pass an order at the next hearing if the required action is not taken.
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