Delhi High Court Allows Reliance to Sell Campa as ‘Energy Drink’, Stays FSSAI Order

Reliance Consumer Products Limited has received interim relief from the Delhi High Court in its legal fight with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) over the use of the term “energy drink” for its Campa beverages.

The court has allowed Reliance to continue marketing its Campa products as energy drinks for now and stayed the immediate impact of the FSSAI directive. The larger case is still pending and will be heard next on November 5.

What Is the Dispute About?

The matter started with an FSSAI directive dated June 30, which asked manufacturers of high-caffeine beverages sold as “energy drinks” to stop using the description.

The move affected several major beverage companies. Reliance challenged the order in the Delhi High Court, saying the directive had already created problems for its business and distribution network.

During the hearing, the court questioned FSSAI on why Reliance had not been given a notice before the order was issued. The court also observed that it was “never too late” for the regulator to correct the issue.

Reliance Raises Packaging and Stock Concerns

Reliance told the court that a large amount of its finished stock and packaging could become unusable because of the disputed wording.

The company also said the impact had already reached its distribution network. Some stock was reportedly seized by state authorities, while e-commerce platforms were asked to remove the affected products.

Reliance argued that simply changing the description was not an easy solution because large quantities of packaging had already been manufactured. Replacing or modifying the packaging could create additional costs and supply-chain problems.

PepsiCo and Monster Also Challenge FSSAI Order

Reliance is not the only company challenging the regulator’s action.

PepsiCo and Monster Beverage have also approached the Delhi High Court against the June 30 directive. Their cases are scheduled to be heard separately.

Meanwhile, Red Bull has already received court relief allowing it to continue using the “energy drink” description.

The court's latest intervention therefore gives Reliance temporary protection while the broader legal issue is being examined.

Why This Case Matters for the Beverage Industry

At the heart of the dispute is how beverages containing high levels of caffeine can be described and marketed to consumers.

For beverage companies, product names and packaging are closely linked to branding, distribution and consumer recognition. A regulatory change can therefore affect not only labels but also existing inventory, retailers, e-commerce listings and supply chains.

FSSAI's action comes as regulators are paying closer attention to food and beverage products, especially their labelling, warnings and consumer information.

The final decision in these cases could have a wider impact on India's beverage industry, particularly brands that use the “energy drink” category for high-caffeine products.

Key Numbers

• June 30 - Date of the FSSAI directive
• November 5 - Next hearing in Reliance's case
• 3 major players - Reliance, PepsiCo and Monster have challenged the FSSAI action

For now, Reliance can continue selling and marketing Campa as an “energy drink”, but the final outcome will depend on the Delhi High Court's decision in the larger case.