Punjab mandates hygiene rating for online supply of food from FBOs & OFSAs

Punjab Food and Drug Administration (PFDA) on Sunday prohibited online food supply from food business operators (FBOs) and online food supply aggregators (OFSAs) which are t hygienically rated.

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner KS Pannu said prohibition orders are being issued, keeping in view interest of public health.

Thus, distribution/supply/sale of food items through OFSAs from those FBOs who have t been rated on hygiene has been prohibited.

In a statement, KS Pannu said: "It is moral responsibility of FBO and OFSAs to ensure quality and hygiene of food delivered."

"However, duty is also cast upon state authorities to ensure safe food to public under Section 18(1)(a) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006," he said.

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FBO must secure at least three out of five 'smilies'

PFDA Commissioner said that all OFSAs had been advised to ensure that FBO from where y source food for distribution has a good hygiene rating. OFSAs are allowed to source and supply food from only those FBOs who secure at least three smilies out of five smilies in matter of hygiene rating.

" date of getting hygiene rating of FBOs done was extended to October 31, 2019.

However, it has been observed that even after creating awareness regarding importance of hygiene rating, OFSAs have t taken matter seriously, resulting in consumers continuously facing potential of delivery of unsafe/unhygienic food," a Punjab government release said.

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This mechanism of distribution of food by OFSAs has relaxed responsibility of maintaining quality of food, which to date was being directly verified by consumers,  release said.

It furr stated that with introduction of OFSAs, it has become important to ensure that  aggregators supply only good quality and proper hygienic food items to consumers.

KS Pannu said that prohibition orders would be effective in entire state of Punjab for period of one year, starting from April 30.

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(With inputs from ANI)