Can FSSAI directive on bold labelling be deterrent for FMCG claims?

Regulator tightens noose: Food regulator, Food Standards Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a directive that seeks labelling of sugar, salt, and saturated fat to be done in bold fonts on packaged food packets. The FSSAI making labelling mandatory comes after several companies were found violating the nutritional value of food products. 

Besides, the central government has asked the advertisers of food and medicines to furnish an annual self-declaration certificate on their claims in the ads. Earlier this year, allegations of FMCG major Nestle selling low-sugar baby food in Europe while selling high-sugar content similar food in India had led to a major public outcry. 

Similarly, Yoga guru Ramdev led Patanjali’s false claims of cure with its medicines had drawn the ire of the Supreme Court. It becomes crucial to know if the FSSAI directive on labelling of salt, sugar, and saturated fat on packaged food items becomes a deterrent for Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies. 

FSSAI directive  

Food Safety Standards Authority of India has a shot across a directive that seeks labeling of sugar, salt, and saturated fat in bold fonts on packaged food, and on packets of food. Now, FSSI is making this labeling mandatory after several companies were found violating the prescribed nutritional value of food products. 
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has cracked a whip on FMCG companies directing them to clearly label their products with bold alphabets, which would be crucial for food, baby food, health drinks, and medicinal products. 

Advertising claims  

The central government on July 3 specified that the advertisers or makers of food and medicines will have to issue a self-declaration certificate with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry about the advertisements that they are issuing. 

However, the Centre last week issued an advisory limiting the mandatory self-declaration certificates (SDCs) for advertisements to food and health sectors only. The government also said that the facility for uploading the certificate by the advertiser/advertising agency for TV and Radio ads has been made operational on the Broadcast Seva Portal. For print and digital advertisements, SDCs will have to be uploaded on the website of the Press Council of India (PCI).

It is notable to mention that the self-declaration norms became effective on June 18 after an order by the Supreme Court, which passed a directive that before printing, airing, or displaying any advertisement, the advertiser or the advertising agency shall submit a self-declaration to Broadcast Seva Portal of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

“No advertisements shall be permitted to be run on the relevant channels and/or in the print media/internet without uploading the self-declaration as directed above,” the court had ordered.