FSSAI cautions FBOs against misusing its name, logo

With misuse of its name and logo by some food companies, regulator FSSAI today said the display of its logo and name in label and advertisements in any form should not suggest that the authority endorses any particular food operator and product.

“It has come to the notice that the name and logo of FSSAI is being misused to mislead the consumers into believing that the products of some food business operators have been tested, approved and endorsed by FSSAI.

Thereby implying that the products of their competitors do not conform to the standards prescribed by FSSAI,” the regulator said in an order. The regulator said that all products manufactured, stored, distributed, sold and imported are required to conform to the standards prescribed by FSSAI.

“It is directed that display of FSSAI logo and name in label and/or advertisements in any form should not be used to misrepresent the authority or to suggest that FSSAI endorses any particular FBO, company, organisation, product etc,” the order said.

The FSSAI logo is only allowed to be used as per Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, it added.

Earlier, this month FSSAI issued new guidelines for e-commerce food business operators hence, making sure that they maintain high quality and standard. As per the new guidelines released by the food regulators, e-commerce food companies will have to obtain licence for their entire supply chain besides ensuring that delivery of products is done by ’trained personnel’.

These e-commerce food business operators are defined as the business verticals that carry their trade through the online module, as per FSSAI. In its new guideline, FSSAI stated, “E-commerce FBOs shall be covered under schedule-I of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011. These e-commerce FBOs have to obtain license from the Central Licensing Authority for the entire supply chain.”

The guidelines further stretched that the supply chain will include the companies Head Office or registered office, manufacturers, transportation, storage and distribution. This move by the regulator came after it received plethora of complaints from the customers about the online food business operators delivering poor quality food and service.