FSSAI Registration becomes mandatory for e-tailers

India: Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has brought new set of rules for e-commerce companies and food startups like Foodpanda India, Zomato, Swiggy etc. operating in food business in Indian market. Food and food businesses come under the ambit of FSSAI, which was established in 2006 under the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006.  

The food regulator invited these e-commerce companies and held a meeting in this regard, and finally FSSAI has made it mandatory for the companies to register and failing to do so would be treated as illegal and stringent action may be taken. Indian food market is seeing some new changes as Indian consumers are evolving every day in their food product choices, way of ordering the food and are more concerned towards the health and value for money.

According to TechSci Research, Food business in India is growing very fast on the back of growing middle class, surging urbanization coupled with lack of time for cooking. E-commerce companies like Flipkart, Amazon and Snapdeal have been selling food products on their online platforms. This new regulation is forecast to benefit the Indian consumers substantially as this would force the e-commerce players to offer quality products and improved services and consumers’ health would not be compromised.