Madras High Court urges mandatory microplastic warnings on packaged products: Report

Acccording to a report in The New Indian Express, the Madras High Court has instructed the Union government to examine the possibility of mandating warnings on packaged food and beverages regarding the presence of microplastics, according to news agency reports.

The bench expressed concern for public health, particularly the potential impact of microplastics on future generations, and suggested that packaging carry clear notifications, similar to warnings on tobacco products, the report said. 

Officials from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) told the court that research is underway to identify and quantify microplastics in food matrices, including bottled water, packaged beverages and salts. Preliminary findings indicate significant microplastic presence in common consumables.

The court’s direction highlights emerging regulatory attention on plastic packaging and its long-term health implications, signalling that the government may need to adopt clearer labelling requirements if studies confirm widespread microplastic contamination in packaged products.