Government revises colour-coded sugar labelling rules for beverages

The Government has revised its mandatory colour-coded sugar labelling rules for beverages, introducing updated display requirements and new provisions covering products supplied between businesses. The amendments, issued under the Food Act by Minister of Health, Nalinda Jayatissa, have been published in an Extraordinary Gazette and apply to sugar-containing liquid food products. Under the revised regulations, beverages containing more than 8 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres must display a red label, those containing between 2.5 and 8 grams an amber label, and products with less than 2.5 grams a green label, allowing consumers to identify sugar content at a glance. The amendments also introduce updated specifications for how the colour-coded labels must appear on packaging, including an alternative label format for glass bottles where space is limited. In addition, the regulations clarify that products supplied on a business-to-business basis for further processing, preparation or resale, rather than direct sale to consumers, fall under a separate classification. The revised regulations were published in the Extraordinary Gazette dated June 23. (Newswire)