The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has asked eCommerce food business operators (FBOs) to strengthen their food safety compliance practices. The advisory issued on 3 December 3 2024 comes in the backdrop of the popularity of online food delivery and the need to ensure the safety and quality of food products sold through these platforms.
The FSSAI had earlier convened a meeting with eCommerce food business operators on 12 November 2024 to reinforce compliance requirements.
“Considering the growth of eCommerce in the food sector, compliance by eCommerce food business operators becomes crucial for ensuring the safety, quality, and authenticity of food products being sold online. Compliance also fosters transparency and trust, ensuring customers receive safe and accurately represented products,” FSSAI said in an order.
The regulator said by adhering to regulatory requirements, eCommerce platforms contribute to the overall strengthening of the food safety ecosystem and help mitigate risks associated with foodborne illnesses and fraudulent practices.
eCommerce FBOs have been asked to prioritize the training of the last-mile delivery personnel in food safety and hygiene practices. “This training should cover safe handling and transportation of food to prevent contamination, as well as personal hygiene and proper sanitization procedures.”
The operators must ensure that food and non-food items are delivered separately to avoid the risk of cross-contamination.
Any product claims made on eCommerce platforms must be fully aligned with the information provided on the product’s physical label. To prevent the dissemination of misleading or unsupported claims, no unsubstantiated claims on the product packaging should appear online, the advisory said.
The operators would have mechanisms in place to ensure the products listed on their platforms are in compliance with the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020.
To maintain consumer confidence, food products with sufficient remaining shelf life should be delivered. FSSAI mandates that products must have a minimum shelf life of 30% or at least 45 days before expiry, at the time of delivery.
In line with FSSAI’s commitment to transparency, eCommerce platforms have been asked to prominently display FSSAI license and registration numbers of the sellers and hygiene ratings obtained by food business operators.
The advisory comes days after FSSAI convened a meeting with eCommerce operators on 12 November under the chairmanship of its CEO. The FSSAI CEO had cautioned the FBOs against making unsupported claims online.
The session was attended by over 200 participants who joined both physically and virtually from across the country.
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Naresh Khanna – 10 February 2025
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