For the interest of food safety, FSSAI has initiated a welcome move for the consumers.
In a Press Release dated 20th July, 2018, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (“FSSAI”) has directed ten leading e-Commerce food service platforms, namely“Box8, Faasos, FoodCloud, Foodmingo, Foodpanda, JusFood, LimeTray, Swiggy, Uber Eats and Zomato” to debar the non FSSAI licensed/registered food operators and ensure compliance of food safety rules and regulations.
This directive comes in the wake of the food safety regulator receiving a series of complaints about sub-standard food being supplied by restaurants and vendors listed on the e-commerce food service platforms.
Back in February this year, a list of guidelines were issued by FSSAI for e-commerce food service platforms and Food Business Operators (“FBOs”) under which, it was mandatory for them to display the FSSAI license number of the restaurants and eateries listed on their platforms. The e-commerce food service platforms were also required to have an agreement with these listed eateries regarding compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act and Rules. It was noticed that the compliance to these guidelines was in breach and there were complaints of sale / offer for sale of food products by unregistered / un-licensed restaurants/hotels on these e-commerce food service platforms.
Keeping these issues in mind, FSSAI has directed the e-commerce food service platforms, to take immediate action to delist the defaulting FBO’s. They are also required to submit an action taken report along with details of FBOs listed on their platforms by 31st July 2018. In addition to this, the e-commerce food service platforms are also directed to furnish their FSSAI License, along with agreements signed with FBOs and make internal inspections to ensure that their FBOs hold valid FSSAI Licenses.
Source: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
