New Delhi, April 17:
The Centre today informed the Delhi High Court that
draft guidelines on regulating sale of junk food and aerated drinks in
and around school premises would be ready by July this year.
Appearing before a bench of Chief Justice D. Murugesan and Justice
Jayant Nath, Additional Solicitor General Rajeeve Mehra said private
firm AC Nielsen QRG-MARG Pvt Ltd is in the process of framing norms to
regulate availability of junk food and carbonated drinks within 500
yards of schools.
The draft guidelines would be complete by July 21, he said.
The senior law officer also submitted that after the draft guidelines
were prepared, the food processing companies would be consulted for
their opinion and then the final guidelines will be prepared.
After recording submissions of the Government counsel, the bench fixed July 22 for further hearing of the matter.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Government counsel submitted that the Lt Governor
has the power to issue directions to city schools but the same can be
done only after the Centre frames guidelines on the issue.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by Rakesh Prabhakar, a lawyer for NGO
‘Uday Foundation’, seeking a direction banning sale of junk food and
aerated drinks in and around schools.
In January
last year, the court had given six month’s time to the Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for framing guidelines on banning
sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around educational
institutions.
The court had also asked the FSSAI to
consult the All India Food Processors’ Association (AIFPA) and
restaurant associations for framing the guidelines.
AIFPA, in its application, had said it deals with processing of fruits
and vegetables, meat and fish, milk and milk products and also the
manufacturers of biscuits and confectionery products.
It also said it may give some advice to the FSSAI.
