Ingredient list on food packs from March 18

Packaged food, including colas, available in market on or after March 18 shall display a list of ingredients as required by a new consumer-friendly food safety law, the Centre today informed the Supreme Court.

Packaged food, including colas, available in market on or after March 18 shall display a list of ingredients as required by a new consumer-friendly food safety law, the Centre today informed the Supreme Court.

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The government said it will implement the Food and Safety and Standards Act 2006 that lays down safety standards for packaged food, including colas, from March 18.

As per the new law, which was notified on September 19, 2008, all food and beverage companies, including Coke and Pepsi, will have to reveal the ingredients on the labels of the package following implementation.

The Centre in its application stated that the 2006 Law, which was framed to regulate the market, would come into effect after six months as per the provisions framed under the World Trade Organisation.

It further said that a gestation period of six months was given to the companies to file their objections.

A bench headed by Justice Dalveer Bhandari, while hearing a public interest litigation by Centre for Public Interest Litigation, an NGO, however, pulled up the government for not clarifying the stage of scientific study done by Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) on carbonated drinks.