Labelling norm on packaged food in next 2-3 months: FSSAI

Food regulator FSSAI will finalise the labelling standards on packaged food products in the next 2-3 months and is open to make changes in the draft rules to address the industry's concern, its CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said today.

Last month, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued a draft of Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018 and sought comments from stakeholders.

The regulator has proposed making it mandatory to display red colour-coding on front of the pack of food products that have high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt content levels.

"We are getting stakeholders' comment on the draft regulations. The final regulations is expected in the next 2-3 months," Agarwal told reporters here when asked about the proposed labelling standards.

He said the FSSAI is studying the model used in foreign countries like Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and the US, for colour coding display on the packaged food item. "We are aware of the industry's concern related to colour coding."