New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has set aside a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) order directing Red Bull India to stop using the term “Energy Drink” on its product labels, after finding that the company was not given an adequate opportunity to respond before the directive was issued.
Justice Amit Mahajan observed that the June 30 communication amounted to an order rather than a show-cause notice.
The court said FSSAI must proceed afresh, issue a proper notice and give Red Bull an opportunity to present its case.
It clarified that it had not decided whether Red Bull’s products actually violate food-safety rules or whether the regulator has the authority to prohibit the descriptor.
Wider FSSAI Labelling Scrutiny
FSSAI had also issued notices to brands including Adrenaline Rush, Sting, Monster Energy, Hell Energy and Campa Energy, questioning their use of the “energy drink” label and related claims.
The regulator has said India has no specifically notified standard for products marketed under that category.
The court’s order gives Red Bull temporary relief while the regulator is required to reconsider the matter through due process.
The ruling does not settle the broader regulatory dispute over how such beverages should be labelled in India.
