Govt Mulls Action On Quick Commerce Platforms Not Displaying Expiry Dates

After receiving complaints from consumers about quick commerce platforms not making mandatory disclosures, such as expiry and best before date for grocery and other daily essentials being sold on their platforms, the Centre is reportedly planning to take action against them.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which operates under the consumer affairs ministry, is looking into the matter and is expected to take action soon, the Economic Times reported. 

“We are looking at the complaints we have received through National Consumer Helpline (NCH) and segregating them,” the report quoted an official as saying. 

The likes of Swiggy Instamart, Zomato’s Blinkit, and Zepto don’t show best before dates in product images or descriptions. This leaves consumers receiving large quantity orders near their expiry or best before date without any options. 

Meanwhile, the report said that Flipkart Minutes shows the date of manufacturing as well as expiry dates of products such as flour, oil and spices sold on its platform.

The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) (Amendment) Rules 2017 mandate mentioning “best before or use by the date, month and year” on digital platforms.

The development comes at a time when the popularity of the quick commerce segment is on the rise in the country and companies are seeing rapid growth. However, the players in the segment have also come under regulatory scrutiny for different reasons.

In June, the Telangana food safety department raided a warehouse of Zomato-owned Blinkit in Devar Yamjal area of the state’s Medchal Malkajgiri district and found the premises “disorganised, unhygienic and dusty”.

Furthermore, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) ramped up surprise audits and spot checks on dark stores of major quick commerce players in July, particularly for packaged foods, due to rising complaints about hygiene and product quality.

Meanwhile, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, last month, referred a complaint filed against quick commerce players by the All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation to antitrust regulator Competition Commission of India.