|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
FSSAI issues guidelines for direct selling FBOs, including e-tailers
|
|
Tuesday, 17 January, 2017, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
|
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued guidelines for direct selling food business operators (FBOs), adding that a license is a must for operating as manufacturers, importers, distributors, storage units, marketers, retailers or suppliers.
The guidelines also mentioned the methods of selling, that include house-to-house selling, sale by mail order, sale through mechanical devices or automatic vending machines and electronic platform or through websites. The websites could be owned either by manufacturers or by agents.
According to sources, FSSAI did not use the term e-commerce directly as it wanted to include all kinds of sales that are done directly to the consumers.
The guidelines stated that direct selling FBOs should get the relevant FSSAI license for the intended business as mentioned above. It added that the FBOs shall obtain the license from the central licensing authority for their network of agents, salesmen, etc. Thecriteria are defined based on theiroperations.
Direct selling was defined as the marketing, distributionand sale of goods or providing of services as a part of network of direct selling other than under a pyramid scheme, provided that such sale of goods or services occurs otherwise than through a permanent retail location to the consumers, generally at their houses orworkplaces or through explanation and demonstration of such goods and service at a particular place.
The guidelines defined direct selling FBOs as any entity selling food products directly to the consumers through their network agents, representatives and consultants.
They also required such FBOs to provide complete details of their agents or salesmen, besides unique IDs for them while applying for the licenses. The guidelines also urged the FBOs to maintain the records of their dealings, including product services, the terms of the contract, the price, etc.
The guidelines also mentioned the handling of consumer complaints and grievance redressal mechanism, recall and other obligations of direct selling FBOs, that include the monitoring of practices and the methods adopted by their agents.
FBOs were to submit their observationson the guidelines to FSSAI by February2, 2017.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|