0
0
New Delhi: In a significant move aimed at bolstering transparency and accountability within the food industry, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) held a National Stakeholder Consultation today focusing on a comprehensive overhaul of the regulatory framework governing food labelling, advertisements, and claims. The event, themed ‘Comprehensive analysis of Regulatory Framework on Food Labelling, Advertisement and Claims’, convened at Vigyan Bhawan and witnessed the participation of approximately 700 delegates from various sectors, including government bodies, scientific experts, food businesses, consumer advocacy groups, and academic institutions.
The primary objective of the consultation was to critically assess the efficacy of existing regulations, navigate challenges encountered during their implementation, and explore avenues for harmonization with international standards. This multi-faceted approach seeks to ultimately enhance consumer protection, safeguard public health, and foster innovation within the dynamic food sector.
In her keynote address, Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava underscored the critical need for ethical conduct and truthfulness in food labelling and advertising practices. Acknowledging the rapidly evolving nature of the food landscape, she urged stakeholders to embrace positive changes and global best practices while maintaining rigorous scrutiny of food products. Smt. Srivastava emphasized that such collaborative consultations are indispensable in this era of rapid change.
Echoing this sentiment, Smt. Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, stressed that food labelling should transcend its role as a mere marketing tool and be recognized as a cornerstone of trust between manufacturers and consumers. “We want truthful and honest declaration of whatever is contained in the food product, and the consumer should be left to make the final choice,” she asserted, highlighting the collective responsibility to ensure the accuracy, transparency, and truthfulness of product information to empower consumers in making informed and healthy choices with absolute confidence.
Shri Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, in his special address, drew attention to the necessity for rigorous external validation of scientific claims made in food advertisements. He lauded FSSAI’s proactive decision to implement all label changes and associated regulations on a fixed annual date, July 1st, a move he recognized as significant in mitigating uncertainty for the food labelling industry.
Further emphasizing the gravity of misleading claims in the food sector, Shri Prabhat, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, highlighted the critical need for accountability and precise communication. “There is an increasing need to ensure advertisements are ethical, truthful, and not misleading, particularly in the context of health and nutrition claims. False claims in this sector not only undermine consumer trust but also pose serious public health risks,” he stated.
The consultation featured an insightful technical session providing an overview of global and Indian regulatory frameworks concerning food labelling, advertisement, and claims. This was followed by a session led by FSSAI presenting enforcement case studies under the theme “From Claims to Compliance.” The day culminated in an interactive discussion, fostering a robust exchange of ideas among diverse stakeholders on pivotal challenges, industry responsibilities, and collaborative strategies for the effective implementation of food labelling and advertising regulations.
The National Stakeholder Consultation served as a crucial platform for knowledge sharing and experience exchange, yielding actionable recommendations aimed at refining the regulatory framework, addressing emerging challenges, and promoting collaboration to bolster consumer trust and public health. This event is part of an ongoing series of national dialogues initiated by FSSAI to tackle key regulatory issues requiring multi-stakeholder engagement. By actively involving industry players, academia, consumer advocates, farmer organizations, and regulatory bodies, FSSAI aims to integrate diverse perspectives and ground-level insights into its policy-making process, ensuring that regulations are both practical and aligned with public health priorities.
Shri G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, Chief Executive Officer, FSSAI, along with other senior officials from FSSAI and the Ministry, including Dr. Alka Rao, Shri U. S. Dhyani, and Shri Satyen Kumar Panda, were also present at the event.
Disclaimer: This news report is based on information available at the time of publication and reflects the proceedings of the National Stakeholder Consultation on ‘Comprehensive analysis of Regulatory Framework on Food Labelling, Advertisement and Claims’ conducted by FSSAI. For the latest updates and detailed information, please refer to official sources.
Reference: Press Information Bureau, Government of India. (2025, August 13). National Stakeholder Consultation by FSSAI Charts Roadmap for Transparent, Responsible Food Labelling in India; emphasizes trust and accountability in Food Labelling and Advertising. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2156114
