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FSSAI strictly prohibits disposal of expired food items into water bodies & open lands
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Saturday, 22 November, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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After reports surfacing about the incidents of improper disposal of seized, expired or rejected food items into natural water bodies, FSSAI has 'strictly' prohibited the disposal of seized, rejected, or expired food items, including their packaging, into rivers, lakes, natural water bodies, or open lands under any circumstances.
The food authority has directed the states to use methods including incineration, landfill or biodegradable facilities for the disposal of such food items.
FSSAI has issued an advisory on 'environmentally compliant disposal of seized, rejected and expired food items' and has directed the Designated Officers, Food Safety Officials and enforcement teams under their respective jurisdiction to follow the procedure.
"The Approved Disposal Methods, which may be followed in coordination with the local municipal authority/ panchayat or any other statutory bodies, include but not limited to Incineration: use authorised incinerators compliant with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) norms, ensuring complete combustion and maintain records of the facility used, Landfill: only in designated sanitary landfills with leachate control; biodegradable waste should be segregated and composted where feasible and Biodegradable Waste: Compost or anaerobically digest organic matter through certified facilities," reads the advisory.
The advisory added that the disposal shall be supervised by the Food Safety O?cer (FSO) duly authorised by the Designated O?cer and disposals should be done under video documentation, in the presence of two independent witnesses.
"The certificate of disposal shall be submitted by the concerned FSO/ o?cer supervising the disposal of the said article / item seized to the designated o?cer with a copy to the concerned Commissioner of Food Safety and the concerned Food Business Operator (FBO)," reads the advisory while adding that every Designated O?cer shall identify suitable facilities for incineration/manuring/composting or any other disposal method and furnish a list to the Commissioner of Food Safety of the concerned State.
While the state authorities were asked to submit the report by 5th of the following month, they were also asked to coordinate with State Pollution Control Boards for high-volume disposals.
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