Delhi High Court Stays FSSAI Action Against Dabur Over 100% Purity and Organic Product Claims The Delhi High Court has stayed an FSSAI order that barred Dabur India from using terms like 100% Pure, Natural, and Organic on its key product lines, citing procedural lapses. Dabur India has secured significant interim relief from the Delhi High Court after the court stayed an enforcement order issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The regulatory directive had prohibited the FMCG major from selling several of its popular food, beverage, and honey products featuring labeling claims such as '100% Pure', '100% Natural', and '100% Organic'. A single-judge bench presided over by Justice Amit Mahajan issued the stay order while hearing Dabur's petition, alongside issuing formal notices to the Union Government, the FSSAI, and other concerned parties. With this judicial intervention, the regulatory prohibition remains suspended until the next hearing, allowing Dabur to continue manufacturing and selling its product lines with existing packaging. Products Targeted Under the Regulatory Order The controversy stems from an order issued by the food safety regulator on August 3, directing Dabur to halt the commercial distribution of specified product lines carrying absolute purity claims. The FSSAI maintained that descriptor terms using '100%' are vague, lack objective criteria for empirical verification, and possess the potential to mislead consumers regarding product composition. The regulatory prohibition encompassed a broad spectrum of Dabur's flagship consumer goods, including • Honey Product Line: Dabur Honey, Dabur Honey Squeezy, Dabur Sundarbans Honey, and Dabur Organic Honey. • Vinegar and Oils: Dabur Himalayan Apple Cider Vinegar and Dabur Virgin Coconut Oil. • Dairy and Coconut Range: Dabur Cow Ghee, Real Activ 100% Tender Coconut Water, and Dabur Hommade Coconut Milk. Dabur's Core Legal Arguments on Procedural Violations Challenging the FSSAI directive in the Delhi High Court, Dabur India argued that the food safety regulator bypassed mandatory statutory processes. Counsel representing Dabur pointed out that under the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018, the authority is obligated to follow due process, including issuing a show-cause notice or an improvement notice prior to taking punitive action. Dabur asserted that it was denied an opportunity to present technical data, explain its manufacturing standards, or offer justification for its label claims, thereby violating the fundamental principles of natural justice. Commercial Fallout and Market Disruptions Highlighting the immediate commercial impact, Dabur informed the court that implementing the FSSAI order without a transition window posed severe business disruptions. Enforcing the order would have necessitated withdrawing extensive product inventories from retail networks across India, followed by costly repackaging and relabeling exercises. Furthermore, Dabur stated that after FSSAI published the order on social media platforms, several e-commerce sites, retail partners, and distributors began refusing shipments or removing the targeted SKUs from digital storefronts, causing ongoing reputational and financial harm to the brand. Distinction Between Product Safety and Labeling Claims A crucial argument presented in Dabur's petition was that the FSSAI had not cast any doubt on the intrinsic safety, quality, or purity of the products themselves. The regulatory order did not categorize the food items as adulterated, unsafe, or hazardous to health. Dabur emphasized that the dispute is confined exclusively to advertising nomenclature and label phrases. The company contended that using descriptions like '100% Pure' or '100% Natural' for single-ingredient items or products sourced entirely from natural origin cannot automatically be deemed deceptive or misleading. Statutory Scope of Section 18 and Next Steps Dabur also challenged the statutory basis of the order under Section 18 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The company argued that Section 18 provides overarching guiding principles for regulation but does not confer standalone powers on a Designated Officer to prohibit the sale of established consumer goods without demonstrating specific regulatory non-compliance. Recognizing the merits of these arguments, Justice Amit Mahajan stayed the operation of the August 3 order pending further proceedings. The upcoming hearings will address larger policy questions regarding the legal standards required to regulate absolute claims in food advertising and whether regulatory agencies must mandate pre-decisional hearings for consumer brands. What this means for you Across India: Consumers will continue to find Dabur honey, ghee, and coconut milk on retail and e-commerce shelves without supply shortages or product withdrawals. For Shoppers: The ongoing legal case will ultimately shape clearer standards for how food brands can use absolute labels like '100% Pure' or 'Organic'. Questions & Answers 1. What order did the Delhi High Court pass in the Dabur case? The High Court granted an interim stay on FSSAI's August 3 order that prohibited Dabur from using '100% Pure', 'Natural', or 'Organic' claims on its products. 2. Which Dabur products were impacted by the FSSAI directive? The order targeted Dabur Honey, Dabur Cow Ghee, Himalayan Apple Cider Vinegar, Real Activ Tender Coconut Water, and Dabur Hommade Coconut Milk. 3. Did FSSAI declare Dabur products unsafe for consumption? No, FSSAI did not declare the products unsafe or adulterated. The dispute is strictly limited to advertising and product label terminology. 4. What was Dabur's primary legal defense in court? Dabur contended that FSSAI violated statutory rules by failing to issue a prior show-cause or improvement notice before placing a sales ban. 5. Who is the judge hearing this case in the Delhi High Court? The case was heard by Justice Amit Mahajan of the Delhi High Court. https://trendkia.com/en/business/100-shuddhata-ke-dave-para-fssai-ke-pratibndha-ke-khilapha-dabur-ko-rahata-delhi-high-court-ne-adesha-para-lagai-roka-14709 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.