FSSAI intensifies monitoring of e-commerce, quick-commerce platforms for food safety compliance.

Food regulator FSSAI has intensified its monitoring of e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms, focusing on the food items sold through these channels and the dark stores where inventories are stored.

According to sources, in the past three months, FSSAI, along with state food safety officers, has issued approximately 350 improvement notices to e-commerce and quick-commerce operators.

Not just this, “FSSAI and state food commissioners have conducted about 180 inspections/raids at e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms for alleged violations,” sources said.

The majority of improvement notices were issued in South India, followed by the Northern region.

An improvement notice is the notice issued by Designated Officer if Food Business Operators (FBO) fails to comply with the regulations as mentioned in Section 32 of the FSS Act, 2006.

FSSAI is Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, which is a statutory body under the aegis of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, regulating the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food articles, while also establishing standards to ensure food safety, etc.

Food Business Operators, include restaurants, food manufacturers, food importers, and exporters, e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms and others.

Regarding raids and inspections, sources said that most were carried out in North India, followed by the Western region. FSSAI conducts surprise inspections and collects samples to check for potential adulteration, substandard products, or misbranding.

As per FSSAI mandate, the food safety department keeps surveillance over the market by organising surprise inspections/raids of the food establishments and drawing samples of such food articles as can be potentially adulterated, substandard or misbranded, etc.

The increasing concern about e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms attains importance, given the penetration of these platforms across the country and consumers relying a lot on these platforms for supplies.

Given the widespread use of e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms, the importance of maintaining food safety standards has grown. FSSAI has also directed state authorities to maintain heightened vigilance in these areas.

Not just this, FSSAI has asked all states to maintain heightened vigilance on e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms, sources added.

Additionally, FSSAI is expected to address concerns regarding e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms selling expired or near-expiry food items, along with other related issues, at the upcoming Central Advisory Committee meeting scheduled in Delhi on November 7th and 8th, sources said.
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