India-U.K. Free Trade Agreement: A Public Health Concern

• India-UK FTA allows tariff-free entry of UK-made food products into India.

• These products, often High Fat, Sugar, and Salt (HFSS), pose long-term health risks.

• FTA’s cheaper prices and aggressive marketing could harm public health.

• Mexico’s failure to implement robust public health safeguards in NAFTA is a cautionary tale.

• India-U.K. FTA has sub-optimal regulatory frameworks for unhealthy food products.

• UK has banned advertising of HFSS products on TV and online.

• India lacks binding restrictions on junk food advertisements targeting children.

• India’s mandatory FOPNL is pending due to lack of label type and amendments.

• Rising lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension are increasing globally.

• 29 organizations advocate for mandatory warning labels in HFSS and UPF packages.

• India may sign another deal, the India-European Free Trade Agreement, in October 2025.