SC declines to interfere with HC order on Microplastic Warning Labels for Plastic-Packaged Products

On Monday, in a significant push for consumer awareness, the Supreme Court declined to interfere with a direction issued by the Madras High Court mandating warning labels on plastic-packaged products indicating the possible presence of microplastics. The move keeps alive a regulatory shift that could impact packaging practices across industries, signalling judicial backing for precautionary disclosure in the face of emerging health concerns.

The case arose when the Madras High Court directed authorities, including the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), to ensure that products such as bottled water, salt, and sugar packaged in plastic carry bold cautionary labels about potential microplastic contamination. Challenging this, an industry body representing PET packaging manufacturers approached the Apex Court, arguing that the direction was premature in the absence of conclusive scientific findings and could unnecessarily alarm consumers. It was also contended that stakeholders were not adequately heard and that ongoing research had yet to establish definitive risks.

The Division Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta was unconvinced by the industry’s objections, emphasising that consumer awareness cannot be compromised merely because research is still evolving. Delivering a pointed observation, the Court remarked, “Nothing wrong in displaying a warning… Let the public be aware.” The Bench noted that the High Court had relied on material suggesting the presence of microplastics and questioned the reluctance to disclose such information.

Consequently, the Court permitted withdrawal of the plea, leaving the petitioner to pursue remedies before the Madras High Court, thereby allowing the warning label direction to stand.

Disclaimer: This news/ article includes information received via a syndicated news feed. The original rights remain with the respective publisher.