The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is set to release new guidelines for food delivery platforms, including Zomato and Swiggy, amid growing adulteration concerns, according to top government officials aware of the matter.
The country's food regulator is in the process of finalising the final draft of the three-page guidelines that seek to address the issues around mishandling of food especially when handled by multiple parties, poor packaging, transportation and logistics as well as storage in dark stores and warehouses, they told NDTV Profit on the condition of anonymity.
This has been prepared after consulting the state food commissioners, the FSSAI's own 250-plus scientists and various other industry stakeholders. The guidelines, referred to as standard operating procedures by the regulator, are likely to be rolled out within a few weeks, officials said.
Companies will have one month to comply with the new guidelines once issued. They will also need to submit a compliance report to the food regulator by the end of that month, the officials said. Meanwhile, the food safety officers across states have been directed to carry out regular inspections and monitor compliance. They are empowered to take necessary action against any companies that violate the norms.
Also Read: FSSAI Asks State Food Safety Officers To Step Up Surveillance At Warehouses Of E-Commerce Firms
In a recent meeting between the regulator and food commissioners from various states and union territories, concerns were raised about loopholes in the supply chain and the need for bold measures to plug these gaps. Additionally, the FSSAI was acting against the numerous consumer complaints it had received on this matter.
A senior official said that the food regulator aims to ensure that food quality and safety standards are strictly upheld across the supply chain — from food business operators to the packaging and transportation of food. The official emphasized that it would be the aggregators' responsibility to ensure that delivery personnel must adhere to hygienic practices, and specific safety parameters should be followed during conveyance of food to consumers in all situations, even in varying weather conditions.
A stricter set of guidelines for quick commerce and e-commerce entities is also in the works, officials said.
The FSSAI is scheduled to meet with top executives from these online platforms this week, as reported exclusively by NDTV Profit on Nov. 6. The regulator will seek their views on how to tackle the growing concerns about food safety and non-compliance with the regulations governing packaged food products sold online. Key issues under consideration include the sale of products with shorter self-lives and inappropriate display of expiry dates and best-before dates. Following these discussions, the FSSAI officials will work on formulating the new guidelines.
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