The Supreme Court on 28 September 2026 questioned the timeline proposed by the FSSAI for rolling out FoPL. The court urged the regulator to avoid a two‑year consultation lag and to act swiftly for public health protection.
Key Developments
- The bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran asked why the regulator needed a fresh four‑month consultation and a voluntary compliance period of 365 days, noting that the process began in 2022.
- A public interest litigation (PIL) by NGOs 3S and Our Health Society seeks FoPL guidelines similar to those in other countries.
- FSSAI’s affidavit proposes a single‑phase implementation, with the label placed on the top‑left corner of the pack, using a red hexagon on a white square background, modelled on Canada’s format.
- The regulator will set threshold values for added sugar, added fat, and salt per 100 g/ml based on the Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024.
- The court warned that reducing sugar, salt and fat might lead manufacturers to use more artificial preservatives, and asked FSSAI to consider safeguards.
Important Facts
• FSSAI seeks to notify the final regulations by 1 July 2027.
• After notification, FBOs would have 365 days for voluntary compliance.
• The proposed label will be larger than the font used for nutritional information on the back of the pack, ensuring higher visibility.
Exam Relevance
Understanding this case helps aspirants link judicial activism with public‑health policy. It illustrates how the Supreme Court can influence regulatory timelines, a key theme in GS 2 (Polity). The FSSAI role showcases the functioning of statutory bodies under the health ministry, relevant for GS 2 and GS 3 (Health & Nutrition). The move towards FoPL aligns with India’s broader nutrition‑security agenda and the implementation of the Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024, a point of focus in GS 3. Finally, the discussion on possible substitution of harmful ingredients with additives touches upon regulatory challenges in food safety, an area often examined in ethics and governance questions.
Way Forward
The court is likely to issue a binding order fixing a realistic deadline for the label rollout. FSSAI must finalize the draft within four months, address the risk of increased additive use, and ensure that FBOs receive clear guidance for compliance. Continuous monitoring by the judiciary will keep the regulator accountable, and the eventual implementation of FoPL is expected to improve consumer awareness and curb diet‑related non‑communicable diseases in India.