The Hindu Editorial Analysis
25 July 2025
The India-U.K. FTA spells a poor deal for public health
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)
Topic : GS 2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Context
Cheaper junk food from free trade deals can lead to costly health problems.
Introduction
India and the United Kingdom signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on July 24, 2025. The deal was signed by India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and U.K.’s Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.K. Earlier, on July 22, 2025, the Indian Cabinet had approved the agreement. Officially, the deal is called the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, and it was first announced after talks ended on May 6, 2025.
- The India-U.K. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is economically beneficial for both countries.
- But it could cause public health problems in India.
- The FTA allows U.K. food products like biscuits, chocolates, and soft drinks to enter India without tariffs, making them cheaper.
- Many of these items are high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS), which can lead to serious health issues over time.
- Low prices and strong advertising may increase their consumption, harming people’s health.
Lessons from the Mexico-NAFTA Experience
- The concerns about the India-U.K. FTA’s public health risks are real, not imagined.
- In 1992, after NAFTA was signed between Mexico, the U.S., and Canada, Mexico failed to put in strong public health rules.
- This led to:
- A sharp rise in imports of cheap sugary drinks and snacks.
- Increased consumption of high fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) foods.
- A surge in obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related diseases.
- Mexico managed to slow this down only by:
- Introducing a ‘Soda Tax’.
- Placing warning labels on unhealthy food in 2014.
Public Health Risks for India
- From a health perspective, the India-U.K. FTA is worrying for India.
- The U.K. has stronger rules to control unhealthy food sales, while India’s rules are weak.
- For example, the U.K. has banned:
- HFSS food ads on TV before 9 p.m.
- All paid online ads for HFSS foods starting October 1, 2025.
- The U.K. also uses a ‘traffic light’ label system:
- Green = Low fat/sugar/salt
- Amber = Medium
- Red = High
- This helps people choose healthier options easily.
Weak Regulations in India
- India has no strong laws to stop junk food ads aimed at children.
- Current rules are poorly enforced and often ignored.
- Ad regulations are handled by the Advertising Standards Council of India, an industry-led body, not a government one.
- Self-regulation in the food sector has mostly failed.
- Some laws exist to ban misleading ads, but:
- Regulators rarely act against violators.
- No real penalties are given.
- Cartoon characters and celebrity ads make junk food seem normal, especially to children.
- Many celebrities promote products they don’t even use, but this has never caused public anger.
Delay in Warning Labels on Packaged Foods in India
- In India, a decision on mandatory Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL) is still pending.
- The Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 need changes, but no final call has been made yet.
- Research shows that warning labels are the most effective in reducing consumption of High Fat, Sugar, and Salt (HFSS) foods.
- However, Indian authorities are leaning toward “star ratings”, which may be misleading and less effective.
- In September 2022, amendments were proposed to make warning labels mandatory, but no action has been taken even after 3 years.
- After a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in April 2025, the Supreme Court directed the government to make a decision quickly.
- Many experts blame industry pressure, which has pushed for the confusing star rating system instead of clear warning labels (like Chile’s black octagon system).
Rise in Lifestyle Diseases and Food Industry Influence
- Lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure are rising fast across all age groups, especially in children and teens.
- A March 2025 Lancet study showed that obesity is growing globally.
- In India, sales of Ultra Processed Foods (UPF) and HFSS items grew at 13.3% CAGR from 2011 to 2021.
- In June 2025, 29 organisations released a joint statement urging for mandatory warning labels on HFSS and UPF foods.
- The statement also highlighted the serious health risks these foods pose.
FTAs and the Health vs Economy Dilemma
- Trade and FTAs are important for economic growth, but they can also bring cheaper junk food, which is harmful to health.
- These fears are based on solid global evidence.
- Global health experts now talk about Commercial Determinants of Health — how business actions and trade deals affect public health.
- India is planning to sign another trade deal, the India-European Free Trade Agreement (TEPA) with Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein in October 2025.
- More such FTAs may be signed in the future.
- While they bring economic benefits, they could also become “Trojan horses” for non-communicable diseases, unless strong public health protections are put in place.
- There is an urgent need to balance trade goals with people’s health by ensuring clear food labelling and strict rules on marketing junk food.
Steps India Must Take After Signing the India-U.K. FTA
- Now that the India-U.K. FTA has been signed, the legal text will be prepared soon.
- This is a crucial moment for India to act quickly and reduce the health risks from the FTA.
- India must take strong steps to control advertising of HFSS foods, as recommended in the Economic Survey 2024–25 and the Dietary Guidelines for Indians (May 2024).
- The government should immediately implement a mandatory Front-of-Pack Nutrition Label (FOPNL) using clear warning labels.
- The idea of setting up ‘Sugar Boards’ and ‘Oil Boards’ in schools is a good start for building health-focused schools.
- But India should also think about a more complete approach, like creating ‘HFSS boards’ to raise awareness about unhealthy foods.
- Packaged and junk foods should be banned from school and college canteens, and healthy meals must be promoted instead.
Conclusion
Quick action is needed to protect people from the possible impact of current and future free trade agreements (FTAs). Public health workers and health policy makers should take a more active role in dealing with trade-related issues, especially those involving ultra-processed foods and foods high in fat, salt, and sugar. This is a serious public health concern that affects almost every Indian, no matter their age, and it must be treated as a priority.