Pressure from regulators causes Q-Comm platforms to face a shortage of skilled personnel in food safety.
In a significant move to ensure food safety and accountability, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has intensified its regulatory framework for quick commerce platforms across the country. Similar actions have taken place in Pune, Bandra, Bhiwandi, and Hyderabad, as the authority seeks to maintain high standards amid the rapid growth of e-commerce food delivery.
The new regulations focus on formal agreements between brands and quick commerce platforms, mandating compliance with FSSAI norms, covering licensing under the Food Safety and Standards Act and strict hygiene and storage standards for perishable goods. Additionally, platforms are required to display FSSAI license/registration numbers on transaction documents and promote the FSSAI's Food Safety Connect app to empower consumers to report food safety complaints.
Training requirements for all food handlers and delivery personnel have also been introduced, with mandatory participation in the FSSAI's Food Safety Training & Certification (FoSTaC) program. Registration or licensing of all warehouses handling food products is now compulsory, with compliance monitoring via data on backend logistics through the Food Safety Compliance System portal.
These regulations signify a shift from mere advisories to enforceable accountability, recognising quick commerce operators as co-custodians of regulated food products, not just facilitators. However, the new regulations have created an acute need for skilled food safety professionals proficient in hygiene protocols, supply chain oversight, regulatory norms, and training delivery.
Meeting FSSAI’s expanded enforcement requires companies to invest significantly in hiring and upskilling dedicated food safety staff. The talent crunch for FoSTaC-certified supervisors is worsening, with most quick-commerce players racing to hire but the pool of certified candidates being limited. Salary premiums for certified supervisors have risen 20-30% over the last six months due to the talent shortage.
Industry-wide collaboration, technology-driven monitoring tools, government and industry initiatives, and strengthening institutional support for startups and SMEs are potential solutions to address this talent shortage. Meanwhile, ongoing enforcement actions include regular high-level meetings enforcing strict food safety protocol adherence and warning of severe penalties for non-compliance.
The FSSAI has also been closely monitoring backend logistics, training certifications, and licensing data via the Food Safety Compliance System portal (FoSCoS). Recent actions have seen the Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration shutting down warehouses belonging to Zepto and Blinkit, confiscating expired goods.
In Mumbai, home to the maximum number of entrepreneurs under 30 according to the Hurun list, quick commerce platforms are finding it challenging to maintain continuous regulatory compliance and manage risks associated with lapses in food handling, storage, and logistics. Excessive dependence on temporary staff may result in surface-level compliance and increased risk of violations.
However, companies are starting to invest in long-term solutions, such as tying up with training partners and building internal programs to develop their own FoSTaC-certified workforce. The demand for FoSTaC-certified food safety supervisors is expected to grow more acute during the festive season, with companies offering aggressive compensation to attract qualified food safety professionals.
The FSSAI CEO, G Kamala Vardhana Rao, recently met with over 70 representatives from quick commerce and e-commerce platforms, emphasising the importance of food safety norms and the consequences of non-compliance. The regulator has warned that any deviation from food safety norms will be met with serious consequences.
In summary, the FSSAI’s amplified regulatory framework for quick commerce platforms is reshaping the sector by imposing rigorous food safety accountability, thereby intensifying the demand for skilled food safety professionals. Addressing this talent shortage through training, technology, and industry cooperation will be critical to sustaining compliance and growth in India’s fast-expanding quick commerce landscape.
- The regulations introduced by the FSSAI in quick commerce platforms necessitate an investment in hiring and upskilling dedicated food safety staff due to the rising demand for FoSTaC-certified supervisors.
- Companies are starting to collaborate with training partners and developing internal programs to build their own FoSTaC-certified workforce, anticipating a more acute demand for food safety professionals during the festive season.
- The FSSAI has been implementing strict regulations and penalties for non-compliance with food safety norms, signifying a shift from mere advisories to enforceable accountability.
- As the e-commerce food delivery market grows rapidly, the FSSAI's regulatory framework focuses on maintain high standards related to licensing, hygiene, storage, and display of FSSAI license numbers on transaction documents.
- Regulatory actions against quick commerce operators, such as the shutdown of warehouses and confiscation of expired goods by the Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration, underscore the importance of food safety compliance in the industry.
