The proposed front-of-pack system would flag high levels of salt, sugar or fat, with regulations expected to take about four months to finalise after the consultation process.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a new front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FoPL) system that would use a red hexagon on a white square background to alert consumers when packaged foods contain high levels of salt, sugar or fat.
The proposal was outlined in an affidavit filed by FSSAI before the Supreme Court, which has been seeking a clear timeline for implementing front-of-pack warning labels.
Under the proposed system, a food product would carry a warning if any one of the nutrients of concern crosses the prescribed threshold. The nutrient exceeding the limit would be identified inside the red hexagon.
Where two or three nutrients cross the specified thresholds, the same hexagon would identify the applicable nutrients together. This means a product would not need to exceed the limits for multiple nutrients to attract a warning.
FSSAI has proposed a single-phase implementation of the FoPL system. The design, featuring a red hexagon against a white background, has similarities to the warning-label format used in Canada, according to the regulator’s court filing.
The proposed framework will now go through public and industry consultation before the regulations are finalised. FSSAI has indicated that it would require approximately four months to issue and finalise the draft regulations, following the regulatory process prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act and related rules.
The proposed warning-label regime is aimed at making nutritional information more visible at the point of purchase and helping consumers identify packaged foods that are high in nutrients associated with dietary health concerns.
The move comes amid continued scrutiny of India’s front-of-pack labelling framework, with the Supreme Court seeking greater clarity on the timeline and implementation process. The final design, nutrient thresholds and implementation requirements will depend on the regulatory process and consultations.