The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on 24th June 2022, has operationalized the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Amendment Regulations, 2021. The Food business operators shall follow these revised regulations. The enforcement of these regulations shall commence only after the final regulations are notified in the Gazette of India.
The amendment notifies new definitions to the term Digital and electronic network, E-commerce, E-commerce FBO and Inventory based model of e-commerce FBOs.
As per the new regulation 2.1.20, Food Business Operators shall ensure training of Food Safety Supervisor under training programmes of FSSAI. Food Authority may by an order prescribe the requirements regarding the training of Food Safety Supervisor and also the minimum number of Food Safety Supervisors required for any Food Business Operator. Food Safety Supervisor shall supervise the food handlers and also ensure their training.
The Food Authority may empanel individuals/companies/organisations to facilitate the food business operators in applying for Registration/License and the related activities such as modifications, and submission of annual returns and annual declaration with such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Food Authority under regulation 2.1.21.
The E-commerce FBOs shall obtain central license from the concerned central licensing authority. Provided that E-commerce entities providing listing/directory of FBO/food products may not be required to obtain license under the Act, Rules & Regulations made thereunder, subject to the condition that they are not covered under the definition of food business as per section3 (n) of FSS Act.
Provided that E-commerce entities providing listing/directory of FBO/food products and also facilitating orders/transaction on their website shall require FSSAI licenses.
The sellers/brand owners/manufacturers on the ecommerce platform shall be required to display their License/Registration obtained under the FSS Act and Regulations and hygiene grading of FBO as may be assigned by FSSAI.
The ‘sellers/brand owners/manufacturers’ who display or offer any ‘pre-packed food’ for sale to the customers, either on their own e-commerce platform or on the marketplace based model of e-commerce, shall ensure that legible and clear picture of the ‘principal display panel’ of such pre-packed food is made available for viewing by the customers, except batch number/lot number, best before, expiry date, date of manufacturing/packing and MRP.
Any food article delivered to consumer by e-commerce FBO shall have shelf life of 30 percent or 45 days before expiry at the time of delivery to the consumer. Provided that in case of caters or restaurant receiving order through electronic media only fresh food item shall be delivered to the consumer.
