Delhi High Court Upholds FSSAI Regulation On Pan Masala Package Warning Size

The Delhi High Court upheld a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulation on Thursday, which increased the size of the statutory warning on Pan Masala packages to cover 50% of the front label, up from the previous 3-millimeter warning size.

The bench, led by acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, dismissed a plea from the Manufacture and Traders of Pan Masala.

In its judgment, the court emphasized that the FSSAI’s intention behind the regulation was to enhance public health measures by ensuring the visibility of health warning statements to consumers.

The increase in warning size was deemed proportionate and an effective means to achieve this goal without unduly infringing on the petitioners’ rights.

Additionally, the court noted that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had discussed measures related to areca nuts in a meeting on December 6, 2018, and had formulated guidelines for their prevention and control.