FSSAI Eyes Tighter Quick Commerce Rules For Expiry Dates, Food Labelling

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is contemplating stricter regulations for ecommerce platforms, including quick commerce companies and cloud kitchens, to enhance food safety compliance and product disclosures. These proposed rules would mandate that online food listings display manufacturing and expiry dates, as well as batch numbers.

Platforms would be held responsible for any misleading claims made by manufacturers. Rajit Punhani, the FSSAI CEO, stated that the regulator is also considering mandatory disclosure of cloud kitchen photos and addresses. The regulator has consulted with ecommerce and quick commerce firms and initiated inspections of their storage facilities.

The proposed changes aim to ensure that consumers are aware of the manufacturing date, expiry date, and batch number of the products they order. The proposed ecommerce rules are part of FSSAI's broader crackdown on food safety and labeling violations. Prosecutions against ecommerce companies have increased at least five to six times over the past year, with FSSAI receiving notices from over 150 food and beverage manufacturers for incorrect or misleading ingredient claims and other labeling violations.

The regulator is also planning to implement front-of-pack warning labels for packaged foods, displaying the amounts of nutrients such as sugar, salt, and saturated fat. Several companies, including PepsiCo, Reliance Consumer Products, and Monster Beverage, have challenged the FSSAI notices in court, seeking procedural relief. The regulator remains confident in its position, citing consumer support.

Additionally, FSSAI is scrutinizing supplements and nutraceuticals sold online, reviewing approvals granted three to five years ago to determine if companies made claims beyond those cleared by the regulator.