Food regulator's warning to e-commerce sites, action will be taken on breaking the rules; details will have to be given on the portal

The Food Safety and Regulatory Authority of India (FSSAI) has warned e-commerce platforms to face strict action if they do not adhere to food safety protocols. This warning was issued following a meeting between the FSSAI Chief Executive Officer and 70 representatives from major e-commerce companies. According to the statement, FSSAI CEO G Kamala Vardhan Rao told the representatives that non-compliance with food safety standards will be taken very seriously, and strict measures will be implemented in such cases. He emphasized the importance of food safety amidst the rapidly expanding e-commerce market.

In this regard, Rao instructed all e-commerce companies to prominently display their FSSAI license or registration number on every receipt, invoice, and cash memo provided to customers. The regulator also requested e-commerce companies to upload details of all warehouses and storage facilities involved in their operations on the FOSCOS portal. The possibility of showing expiry dates or use-by dates for food products on consumer interfaces was also discussed during the meeting.

Rao further directed these companies to rigorously follow hygiene and food safety protocols across all their warehouses and storage centers. Additionally, all warehouses linked to e-commerce activities should be registered or licensed by the FSSAI.