The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a strong warning to e-commerce platforms, urging them to strictly follow food safety regulations or face stringent action. This directive comes in light of rising concerns about the quality and traceability of food products sold online.
In its recent communication, FSSAI emphasized that digital marketplaces involved in the sale of food items must ensure compliance with labelling, packaging, and licensing norms, as prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Growing Concern Over Online Food Sales
With a surge in online grocery and food delivery services, regulators have observed multiple cases where unlicensed sellers, expired items, or incorrectly labelled products were made available on popular e-commerce portals. FSSAI reiterated that marketplace operators share responsibility for ensuring that sellers on their platforms are registered and that products meet quality standards.
According to the authority, non-compliance will attract penal actions, including suspension of operations, financial penalties, and legal proceedings under food safety laws.
Key Directives to E-commerce Platforms
FSSAI has mandated platforms to:
Ensure only licensed or registered food business operators (FBOs) list products
Verify product information, including expiry dates and ingredient details
Display FSSAI license numbers of sellers on product pages
Remove non-compliant listings immediately upon detection
Industry Response
The warning has created urgency among leading online platforms to audit their vendor listings and tighten food category compliance. Several e-commerce firms have begun updating their seller onboarding process and food product display formats to align with FSSAI’s latest instructions.
FSSAI’s Stand on Accountability
FSSAI clarified that merely acting as a digital marketplace does not absolve companies from their responsibilities under the law. The regulator stressed that public health and consumer trust cannot be compromised, especially in the growing online food retail sector.
