Delhi HC Upholds Larger Warning Labels on Pan Masala Packs

The Delhi High Court upheld a FSSAI regulation increasing the size of statutory warnings on Pan Masala packages to 50% of front-of-pack labels. The court emphasized the crucial public health measure and dismissed the plea by manufacturers, stressing the necessity of visible warnings for consumer safety.

In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court upheld the regulation issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), mandating that statutory warnings on Pan Masala packages cover 50 percent of the front-of-pack label, replacing the previous requirement of a 3-millimeter warning size.

The bench, led by acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, dismissed a plea by Pan Masala manufacturers challenging the regulation. The court emphasized that the increased warning size is a critical public health measure, making the warnings more noticeable to consumers without disproportionately affecting the rights of the manufacturers.

The court further noted that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had previously discussed the need for larger warning labels on Pan Masala products containing areca nuts. It also stated that changes to similar regulations for alcohol bottles are under consideration, asserting that the petitioners’ demand for equal treatment with alcohol warning sizes is unjustified.