In a bid to promote ease of doing business, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Wednesday said that it has decided to enforce any changes or amendments in labelling regulations from July 1 every year. It said this will provide food business operators a predictable regulatory environment and also ensure greater transparency for consumers. The labelling regulations are enforced through Food Safety Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations 2020.

“The date of enforcement has been decided as 1st July every year, subject to minimum of 180 days from the date of notification for the amendments related to FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations and also for any change in labelling specified in other FSS Regulations,” an official statement added.

Various challenges

The Food Authority said this decision is being taken to address various challenges faced by the Food Business Operators (FBOs) and providing them with a predictable and efficient framework for compliance with food labelling regulations. ”For consumers, the initiative ensures greater transparency in food labelling, enabling informed decision-making and boosting confidence in the safety and quality of food products,” it added.

• Also read: Kirloskar family feud heads to SAT over SEBI order of family deed disclosure

FBOs usually face certain challenges when amendments are brought in labelling regulations . This includes making operational changes to adhere to the amended regulations which entail certain associated costs. Also, the use of pre-printed packaging materials has posed a significant obstacle in ensuring compliance with these amendments, FSSAI noted.

The Food Authority said this move will allow FBOs to utilise pre-printed packaging materials over a longer duration, reducing waste and fostering operational efficiency. “Additionally, this approach supports environmental sustainability by minimising the carbon footprint associated with frequent packaging changes. This consumer-centric measure strengthens trust in the food industry and aligns with FSSAI’s commitment to safeguarding public health,” the statement added.