It also recommended that the FOPNL regulations include simple, clearly visible, and interpretative labelling mechanisms
| Photo Credit:
A parliamentary panel has asked the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to finalise and notify the ‘Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling’ regulations in a time-bound manner. It has also recommended that all food intended for or marketed to infants and children must mandatorily carry clear and prominent front-of-the-pack declarations on the presence of added sugar in grams per serving wherever applicable. It has said this should be done along with its percentage contribution to the daily energy requirement of the target age group.The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on Thursday presented a report on ‘Regulation of Packaged Commodities with Specific Reference to Sugar Content in Baby Products and other Food Products’ in the Parliament.Review OngoingThe committee said it was dismayed to note that the draft Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL) regulations were notified on September 13, 2022 and that more than 14,000 stakeholder comments have been received and are under examination and wider consultation.“The Committee observed that over two years have lapsed since the draft notification, and the continued delay in finalising the regulations has resulted in the absence of simplified and interpretative front-of-pack information, particularly in relation to sugar content,” the report added.Expressing concerns regarding the increasing consumption of packaged and ultra-processed food, it added that timely availability of clear and easily understandable nutritional information assumes significant importance for enabling informed dietary choices.“The Committee further observed that the current labelling framework relies primarily on numerical disclosures, such as grams and percentages of the recommended dietary allowance, which may not be readily understood by all consumers at the point of purchase,” the report added.It noted that the lack of simple interpretative tools, such as warning labels or colour-coded indicators, limits the effectiveness of any disclosures in guiding consumer behaviour. It added that “clear, prominent, and interpretative front-of-pack warnings,” especially for products high in sugar, can serve as an effective consumer information tool by providing immediate and easily understandable guidance at the point of purchaseIt also recommended that the FOPNL regulations include simple, clearly visible, and interpretative labelling mechanisms. This should involve “colour-coded indicators for sugar levels in all products, using a three-colour format (red, yellow, and green) to denote high, medium, and low sugar levels, or appropriate warning labels for products high in sugar,” it added.Published on July 23, 2026
