Front-of-Pack Labelling To Be Rolled Out In Single Phase: FSSAI Tells Supreme Court

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has informed the Supreme Court that Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FoPL) for packaged food items will be rolled out in a single phase, marking a shift from its earlier approach that sought to introduce the labelling norms in two phases depending on the number of “nutrients of concern” in a product.

In an affidavit filed before the court, the FSSAI has clarified that it proposes to adopt a single-phase approach for the implementation of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling. To finalise the draft regulations, it requires a four-month period, and there shall be a “voluntary implementation period of 365 days” by Food Business Operators (FBOs), it added.

“This time period has been provided in order to avoid any commercial hardships to the FBOs as they have pre-packaged material already printed in bulk,” the FSSAI said.

The FSSAI's response comes to the Supreme Court September 10 order which sought further information from the Centre and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on its proposal for implementing phased front-of-pack labelling (FoPL) to safeguard the collective health and well-being of people, especially growing children in India.

A Bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran had asked the Union government to explain how schools plan to incorporate, through curriculum, initiatives and workshops, the manner in which information provided on packaged food items, including nutritional information and FoPL, should be interpreted. Court also sought details on other aspects of nutritional literacy, "in recognition of the vulnerable position that children are in vis-à-vis impulse or uninformed dietary decision-making".

The Supreme Court also raised key questions over the proposed introduction of front-of-pack warning labels on packaged food products containing high levels of sugar, salt, sodium and fats, particularly concerning the threshold that would determine when an ingredient is considered “high”.

Court had earlier asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to consider introducing front-of-pack warning labels for products high in sugar, salt and saturated fat. Justice Pardiwala questioned how the proposed warning system would operate and asked: “If a product is to carry a label saying high in sugar / high in salt / high in sodium, what is the threshold?”

Justice Pardiwala questioned how the proposed warning system would operate and asked: “If a product is to carry a label saying high in sugar / high in salt / high in sodium, what is the threshold?”

'We are concerned with the Health of People'

The Bench had underscored that the matter concerned public health, particularly the health of children. “We are concerned with the health of people, more particularly growing children,” the Bench observed. The Court said it was taking the issue very seriously and expected all parties to cooperate in what it described as a matter of national interest. The Bench directed the parties to carefully study the order and assist the Court on the regulatory framework governing front-of-pack warning labels.

The Court also made it clear that the next hearing would require the parties to come prepared with the necessary material and would not merely be another round of submissions. The matter will now be taken up on September 28.

About the PIL

In February, the Court had asked Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to consider introducing mandatory front-of-package warning labels (FOPL) on packaged food products high in sugar, sodium and saturated fat observed that such regulatory measures are essential to safeguard citizens’ right to health.

Last year, court had directed the Expert Committee constituted by the FSSAI to prepare its recommendation and submit a Report within 3 months. On 30th January 2026, a compliance affidavit affirmed by Dr. Kavitha Ramasamy, Joint Director, FSSAI was filed before the Supreme Court. FSSAI told the court by way of a compliance affidavit that it intends to conduct further research and undertake a systematic mapping of a representative sample of different varieties of packaged foods across both solid and liquid categories.

It further intends to conduct surveys among consumers to assess the extent of usage of label information; conduct periodic review of the FoPNL trends globally and ensure wider stakeholder consultation with the industry; small, medium and micro enterprises.

"Prima-facie, we are of the view that whatever exercise has been undertaken so far has not yielded any positive or good result. The PIL was filed with a particular purpose. It raised an important issue as regards the right to health of the citizens of this country. Today, what has been suggested by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner also makes some sense and we want the authority to take this aspect into consideration. The suggestion is that on the wrapper/packet of any pre-packaged food product, there must be warning in the form of front of-package labelling", the bench had noted.

The petitioner, 3S and Our Health Society, has drawn attention of the Court on the alarming rise in the spread of diabetes and associated diseases in our country. "Diabetes has emerged as a silent epidemic in India, affecting millions of individuals and posing a significant burden on our healthcare system....Shockingly, 1 in 4 individuals in the country is grappling with diabetes, predominantly attributed to obesity", the PIL states.

On the increased consumption of junk foods, it has been submitted that pervasive marketing of these unhealthy products exacerbates the situation, leading to weight gain and elevated intake of sugars, salt, and saturated fat. Highlighting the potential benefits of implementing Front of Package Labelling (FOPL) with warning labels as proposed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the plea states, "Front of Package Labelling serves as a powerful tool in empowering consumers to make informed choices about their diet and reducing the adverse impact of commercial interests of big corporates. It enables citizens to easily identify and understand the nutritional content and harmful ingredients present in packaged food and beverages, thereby making healthier choices....".

It has been submitted that the implementation of FOPL with warning labels would not only help tackle the rise in cases of diabetes and associated diseases but also address other non-communicable diseases, including obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular conditions.

Case Title: 3S and Our Health Society v. Union of India & Ors.