Kerala court orders FSSAI to act on microplastic concerns in packaged drinking water

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has instructed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to promptly review a plea calling for stronger regulations to curb microplastic contamination in bottled and packaged drinking water across the country.

The direction came from a Bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice V. M. Syam Kumar while disposing of a petition filed by environmental activist C. R. Neelakandan. The petitioner had urged the court to intervene, alleging that regulatory bodies – especially FSSAI – had failed to act despite mounting evidence that commercially sold drinking water contains harmful levels of microplastics and nanoplastics.

In his plea, Neelakandan warned that these particles can enter the human body through ingestion and accumulate in vital organs, potentially causing inflammation, oxidative stress, hormonal disruption and other serious health impacts. He also called for mandatory front-of-package warnings on bottled and packaged drinking water, clearly alerting consumers to the presence of microplastic particles and outlining the associated health risks.

Neelakandan informed the court that he had submitted a formal representation to FSSAI on 26 September, but the agency had not responded. This prompted him to approach the judiciary seeking directions.

After considering the arguments, the High Court closed the petition and instructed FSSAI – the authority empowered to frame food safety regulations – to examine the representation without undue delay and take an appropriate decision.