Government Orders E-Commerce Companies to Remove Drinks and Beverages from ‘Health Drinks’ Category, Reports ET HealthWorld

In a recent development, the government has instructed all e-commerce companies to remove drinks and beverages, including Bournvita, from the health drinks category on their platforms. The Commerce and Industry Ministry issued an advisory based on the findings of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The order, dated April 10, 2024, aims to ensure proper categorization of food products being sold online.

The NCPCR, after an inquiry under Section 14 of CRPC Act 2005, concluded that there is no specific definition of ‘health drink’ under the FSS Act 2006 and rules submitted by FSSAI and Mondelez India Food Pvt Ltd. As a result, e-commerce companies have been advised to remove drinks like Bournvita from the health drinks category on their platforms.

Furthermore, on April 2, FSSAI directed all e-commerce food business operators to appropriately categorize food products sold on their websites. The FSSAI observed instances of food products licensed under ‘Proprietary Food’ being incorrectly sold under categories like Health Drink or Energy Drink on e-commerce platforms. This advisory is aimed at ensuring the accurate representation of products for consumer awareness and safety.

The move comes as part of the government’s efforts to regulate the online sale of food products and protect consumers from misinformation or misrepresentation. E-commerce companies are expected to comply with the advisory and make the necessary changes to their product categorization as per the government’s directive.