From The Economic Times · Ratna Bhushan and Shambhavi Anand · · 1m 10s
FSSAI to update online food rules
FSSAI plans new rules to ensure online food sellers show real expiry dates and batch numbers.
In brief
FSSAI plans new rules to ensure online food sellers show real expiry dates and batch numbers. FSSAI will amend food regulations to require online sellers to display manufacturing and expiry dates on products. Originally reported by The Economic Times.
FSSAI chief says online food rules
FSSAI chief Rajit Punhani says the regulator is updating rules for online food sellers to show real expiry dates and batch numbers.
“We've had stakeholder consultations with ecommerce and quick commerce players. We're planning to amend the regulation so that consumers know the manufacturing date, expiry date and batch number of products they're ordering”
Online sellers face new labeling rules
FSSAI is requiring online food sellers to display manufacturing and expiry dates on product packaging.
“The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Amendment Rules 2017 requires mentioning 'best before' or 'use by' date, month and year' on food packets”
FSSAI targets quick commerce platforms
FSSAI has sent notices to over 150 food and beverage companies including Nestle, PepsiCo, and Dabur for labeling issues.
“The regulator has issued notices to more than 150 food and beverage makers, including Nestle, PepsiCo, Dabur, ITC, Ferrero, Danone, Red Bull and Abbott”
Online food labeling challenges
Online sellers say it's difficult to display detailed product information for hundreds of thousands of grocery items.
“Companies argued it was difficult to display detailed information, including expiry, best-before and use-by dates and batch numbers, for hundreds of thousands of grocery items”
FSSAI pushes for front-of-pack labels
FSSAI is working on front-of-pack warning labels showing sugar, salt and saturated fat levels in food products.
“In a recent affidavit filed at the Supreme Court, FSSAI proposed red, hexagonal front-of-pack warning labels, displaying the amount of nutrients such as sugar, salt and saturated fat in the contents”
FSSAI focuses on enforcement
FSSAI is strengthening state-level food regulation to ensure compliance with new labeling rules.
“His focus, Punhani said, was on enforcement. This involved strengthening of the state-level machinery”
The key point
FSSAI will amend food regulations to require online sellers to display manufacturing and expiry dates on products.