Indian Consumer Groups Call Notice of Front-of-Package Label

In the interest of public health in India, consumer groups have urged that a long-awaited regulation on “front of the package labelling (FoPL)” be notified immediately. The Consumer Coordination Council (CCC) of India and the Consumer Protection Association of Agartala, which happens to be situated in the North Eastern state of India, aim to present an eight-point charter of demands to the food safety authority, FSSAI. A FoFL session was organised by CUTS International.

CUTS International Director, George Cheriyan, remarked in a statement that the Food Standards and Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) has previously spent a number of years talking and engaging stakeholders, and that now is the time to move swiftly and establish a strong regulation.

Since the FoPL was implemented, the majority of countries have begun to realise the benefits of positive consumer behaviour. He claims that it has assisted governments in saving money on direct as well as indirect healthcare costs. Without further delay, a regulation for a robust, straightforward, mandatory FoPL is required, he stated.