The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) convened a National Stakeholder Consultation on the regulatory framework for food labelling, advertising, and claims. The consultation brought together over 700 representatives from various sectors at Vigyan Bhawan to review current regulations and address implementation challenges. The ultimate goal was to align India’s food safety standards with global best practices.
The Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, emphasized the need for ethical and truthful practices in the rapidly evolving food sector. She highlighted that, in a world exposed to global practices, it is vital to scrutinize food products more closely and hold such consultations to adapt to positive changes.
Emphasizing Trust and Accountability
The Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, underscored that food labelling must be more than just a marketing tool; it should be a fundamental factor of trust between a manufacturer and a consumer. She urged the industry to voluntarily make truthful and honest declarations about a product’s contents and to refrain from misleading advertisements and manipulative practices. “The consumer should be left to make the final choice,” she stated.
The Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, noted that scientific claims in advertisements require external validation. He praised FSSAI’s earlier announcement to implement all label changes once annually on July 1st, a step that significantly reduces uncertainty for the labelling industry.
The Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, stressed the need for accountability in food advertisements. He warned that false claims, especially those related to health and nutrition, not only undermine consumer trust but also pose serious public health risks.
The consultation also featured technical sessions on global and Indian regulatory frameworks, along with case studies on compliance by FSSAI. The dialogue fostered actionable recommendations for improving the regulatory framework and addressing emerging challenges, with FSSAI committed to integrating multi-stakeholder perspectives to ensure that policies are both practical and aligned with public health priorities.