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ASPA notes, FSSAI action against beverages misusing ORS label underscores accurate labelling
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Saturday, 06 December, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Nandita Vijayasimha, Bengaluru
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Authentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA) has noted that the recent FSSAI action against beverages misusing the ORS label underscores the critical importance of accurate labelling.
Misuse of therapeutic terms on non-pharmaceutical products not only misleads consumers but can also pose health risks by creating confusion about the product’s actual purpose. Pharmaceuticals remain among the top five most counterfeited sectors in India, with ASPA–CRISIL 2022 data showing that 20% of consumer-reported counterfeit encounters involved pharmaceutical products, said Ankit Gupta, president, ASPA.
To protect consumers and maintain clarity between genuine medicines and everyday FMCG items, ASPA advocates integrated security solutions that combine advanced physical features such as holograms, tamper-evident elements, and secure foils with digital tools like serialisation and QR-based verification. "These measures help ensure that legitimate ORS formulations and other medicinal products remain clearly identifiable and safeguarded from misuse. Strengthening such systems builds trust, upholds compliance, and prevents confusion caused by misleading labels," he added.
The FSSAI intervention underscores a wider challenge across FMCG and pharmaceutical categories: misleading or incomplete labels continue to erode consumer trust and compromise product integrity. According to the ASPA–CRISIL 2022 report, while 89% of consumers are aware of counterfeit medicines, nearly 27% remain unaware that they have purchased fake or substandard products. "This gap points to the urgent need for greater consumer awareness and stronger verification mechanisms," Gupta told FnB News in an email interaction.
Mislabelled products whether in healthcare or FMCG pose risks not just to safety but also to brand credibility. ASPA encourages companies to prioritise accurate declarations, transparent packaging practices, and reliable verification systems. Clear labelling, supported by responsible manufacturing and supply-chain practices, can significantly reduce the entry of misleading or non-compliant products into the market and reinforce overall consumer confidence, said the ASPA chief.
Incidents of ORS mislabelling highlight a deeper and long-standing need for stronger authentication, clearer labelling norms, and reliable traceability systems across the pharmaceutical and healthcare landscape. ASPA has long advocated for layered security systems that combine robust physical safeguards such as tamper-evident packaging, security markings, and specialised printing with digital tools like track-and-trace, cloud-enabled verification, and serialisation. "These technologies enable real-time validation across supply chains, helping ensure that genuine medicines remain distinguishable from counterfeit or misleadingly labelled products," said Gupta.
Evidence from the ASPA–CRISIL 2022 report shows that pharmaceuticals continue to be among the most counterfeited sectors, accounting for 20% of consumer-reported cases. Additionally, the ASPA–Accenture 2025 study reflects strong industry momentum toward adopting authentication and traceability technologies. Coupled with awareness efforts for pharmacists, distributors, and consumers, these systems strengthen regulatory compliance, protect public health, and enhance brand credibility. ASPA remains committed to working with regulators and industry partners to build a secure and transparent marketplace, according to Gupta.
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