The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) advisory aims to ensure the safety, quality, and authenticity of food products being sold online.

Key Points of the Advisory

• Regulatory Compliance: E-commerce platforms must ensure food products sold comply with Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations 2020.
  • Online claims must align with those on physical labels to avoid misleading consumers.
• Food Safety and Hygiene: Platforms must train last-mile delivery personnel to ensure that delivery staff are well-trained in food safety and hygiene practices.
• Shelf-Life Requirements: Food products delivered must have a minimum of 30% shelf life remaining, or at least 45 days before expiry at the time of delivery.
• Seller Accountability: Platforms must prominently display the FSSAI licence and registration numbers of sellers and Hygiene ratings of the food business operators.

Significance of the advisory

• Essential for ensuring the safety, quality, and authenticity of food products sold online.
• Enhances transparency and trust, fostering consumer confidence and mitigating risks of foodborne illnesses.