The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently organized a crucial meeting with various e-commerce Food Business Operators (FBOs) with the primary goal of emphasizing and reinforcing the compliance requirements specific to e-commerce platforms dealing in food products. This initiative is part of FSSAI’s ongoing efforts to ensure that food sold online meets strict safety standards to protect consumer health.

During the meeting, FSSAI laid out a comprehensive agenda focused on several key areas. First and foremost, the authority mandated that all food items sold through these e-commerce platforms should have a minimum shelf life of 45 days at the time of delivery. This regulation is aimed at ensuring that consumers receive fresh and safe food products, minimizing the risk of receiving items that are near expiry.

The meeting also served as a platform for FSSAI to reiterate the importance of adherence to the 2011 Food Safety and Standards Act. The Act encompasses various regulations that e-commerce FBOs must follow, including proper licensing, labeling, and packaging standards. FSSAI emphasized that compliance with these regulations is not just a legal obligation but also crucial in building consumer trust and credibility in the online food marketplace.

In addition to regulatory compliance, FSSAI encouraged e-commerce FBOs to adopt best practices in food handling and safety. This includes ensuring proper storage conditions, maintaining cold chain integrity for perishable items, and conducting regular audits of supply chains to ensure that safety standards are consistently met.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on the collaborative efforts needed between FSSAI and e-commerce FBOs to further enhance food safety measures. FSSAI expressed its commitment to providing support and guidance to e-commerce platforms to comply with the established food safety norms and to engage in continuous improvement of food safety practices.

By convening this meeting, FSSAI has taken a significant step towards ensuring that the burgeoning e-commerce sector in India adheres to the highest standards of food safety, ultimately safeguarding the health of consumers across the nation.