Consider Framing Norms for Artificially Ripened Fruits, Delhi HC

The Delhi high Court has asked Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to consider framing guidelines under which fruits and vegetables ripened artificially by using ethylene gas or other artificial ripeners have details or an indication placed on them.

The division bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju directed FSSAI to "draw up a broad framework" that takes into account all kinds of artificial ripeners so that the consumer of the fruit or vegetable knows if the product has been ripened artificially. "We would like FSSAI to consider framing a regime," said the bench.

The court was hearing petitions by two organisations stating that the custom authorities had detained their ethephon (ethrel) on the grounds that they did not obtain non-objection certificate from the Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee.

The court noted that according to a notification issued by Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in 2015, insecticides which are imported for non-insecticidal purpose require an import. However, the counsel appearing for the two organisations said that it does not come under the ambit of the DGFT to issue such a direction as there is an exemption under the Insecticides Act, 1968.