The Delhi High Court on Friday indicated that it will not interfere with the directive of FSSAI withdrawing permissions for food-and-beverage companies to use the word “ORS” in their labelling unless they met the standard medical formulation. Justice Sachin Datta said if the company, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, wants to “re-sticker” its existing products, it can do so and there is no objection on the part of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The court stated that it will pass a detailed order in this regard. Public health hazards cannot be allowed to continue as health of the citizens is paramount, it said. “It is a health hazard... What I propose to do is this -- This embargo will continue. I am not disturbing this embargo given the public health considerations. You want to re-sticker your existing product, certainly you can do so and there is no objection on the part of FSSAI,” the judge said.
The court was hearing a petition by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd challenging FSSAI’s directive restricting use of the label ‘ORS’ for its oral rehydration solution brand Rebalanz VITORS.
“As far as existing stock is concerned, I will give you liberty to represent to them (FSSAI) and point out difficulties and see if any via media can be reached. I am not enforcing any via media which will compromise public health consideration, that is for FSSAI to consider,” it added.
The company, which has submitted that it has ceased manufacturing fresh stocks of its product (Relalanz Vitors), was seeking an order to enable it to dispose of the already manufactured stock.