Cosmetics and drugs cannot be treated on par with food articles and, therefore, need not be marked with red or green marks, according to the ingredients either non-vegetarian items or vegetarian items.
Such labelling has been mandated only for food items said the Supreme Court on a petition filed by the Union Government and the Indian Soaps & Toiletries Makers Association to overturn the Delhi High Court order made in 2002.
Heeding their plea, the Apex Court said it was neither possible for a drug and cosmetic manufacture to do so nor was it desirable in public interest.
It would be difficult to specify the origin of a vegetarian or non-vegetarian ingredient especially given the diverse food habits across the nation.
Hence, no red or green labelling is necessary as far as drugs and cosmetics are concerned.
(The author is a New Delhi-based chartered accountant)