Issue of food safety delivered by ecommerce platforms raised in Rajya Sabha
Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said ecommerce food supply should be regulated and brought under food safety regulator FSSAI.
The issue of quality, safety, and hygiene of food delivered via ecommerce platforms was raised in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, with Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan saying his ministry will look into the matter.
During Zero Hour, CPI-M leader K Somaprasad said, "There is every chance of adulteration and that badly affects the interest of customers. So, urgent interference of the government is inevitable."
Online food supply should be regulated and should be brought under the food safety regulator FSSAI, he said, and urged the government to take "adequate measures to ensure fair price, quality and food safety on all online food delivery service platforms."
Stating that the issue concerns the general public, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu asked the Consumer Affairs Minister to take note of the matter.
"It is not related to one state but the entire country. On one side, you cannot stop it as this is a facility for people, on the other side, some regulation has to be there," Naidu said.
To which Paswan said he will call a meeting on Friday and discuss the matter with the CPI-M leader as well as with officials.
Earlier, the CPI-M member said ecommerce business in India was growing at a fast rate. Online food ordering and delivery services have witnessed spurt and this business is expected to reach $2.7 billion this year.
"The changing lifestyle, increasing affinity of families to dine out and quick house delivery model has accelerated the online food delivery. But this sector is facing several issues," he said.
Neither online food delivery service companies nor restaurants are ready to assume the responsibility related to quality, safety, or hygiene standards of food, he said, adding this is a very serious issue.
Earlier in June last year, for the security and safety of health of the public, the government had established the FSSAI registration for every type of food business operators in India. All the traders, manufacturers, and restaurants who are involved in food business must obtain a 14-digit licence number that is printed on their food products.
