New Delhi: India's Supreme Court has directly questioned the Union government's commitment to public health, asking whether the nation should remain an 'underdeveloped country' in its approach to food safety. The pointed query came during a hearing on Thursday, where the apex court directed the Centre to finalise the visual appearance of Front-of-Package Labelling (FOPL) for pre-packaged food products.
A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran expressed strong disapproval of the Union government's stance, which suggested it was not feasible to align with international standards, particularly those observed by developed nations. The court highlighted the critical role of FOPL as a nutritional information graphic, enabling consumers to make informed purchasing decisions and healthier dietary choices.
The hearing stemmed from a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the public charitable trust '3S and Our Health Society', which sought mandatory FOPL implementation across the Centre, states, and Union Territories. The bench underscored FOPL's necessity in raising awareness, especially among children increasingly drawn to junk food. It strongly criticised the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for delays in introducing warning labels, noting that obesity has become a recognised public health challenge in India.
During proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Brijender Chahar contended that adhering to international packaging standards for FOPL was difficult. Justice Pardiwala reacted sharply, asking, 'Are you taking the court for a toss?' The bench explicitly referenced practices in countries like Chile, Israel, and Canada, stating, 'We do not approve the stance of the Union when it says it is not possible to match with international standards, more particularly, developed countries. Should India remain an underdeveloped country? That's the question we are putting forward for the Union to consider.'
The court emphasised that the world should recognise India's concern for its citizens' overall health, particularly that of growing children. It instructed the Union of India to consult experts and decide on FOPL's visual elements—including coloured indicators, interpretive words, numbers, letters or symbols, numerical information, and percentages—within two weeks. The bench sternly warned that it would issue further directions if the government failed to comply. The court observed that implementing FOPL changes should not pose difficulty, as the concept was already acknowledged in the Economic Survey. The recently uploaded order stressed that FOPL transforms labels into functional tools, offering clarity and truly informing consumers, aligning with the right to health encompassed within Article 21's right to life.
Image for illustration purposes only
đź“° Source: Siasat Gulf