FSSAI issues advisory on safe disposal of seized and expired food items

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an advisory directing all State and Union Territory Food Safety Commissioners and regional directors to ensure environmentally compliant disposal of seized, rejected, and expired food products.

The move follows reports of such items being dumped into rivers and natural water bodies, posing serious environmental and health hazards. The advisory reiterates earlier directives issued on 21 December 2020 under Sections 38(4) and 47(4) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

FSSAI has emphasised that the disposal of food waste into rivers, lakes, or open lands is strictly prohibited. Instead, approved methods such as incineration (in CPCB-authorised facilities), disposal in designated sanitary landfills with leachate control, and composting or anaerobic digestion of biodegradable waste must be adopted in coordination with local municipal bodies or panchayats.

To ensure transparency, all disposals must be supervised by Food Safety Officers, conducted under video documentation, and witnessed by two independent observers. Certificates of disposal are to be submitted to the respective Designated Officer, with copies sent to the State Commissioner of Food Safety and the concerned Food Business Operator (FBO).

Each State/UT has been directed to identify and register suitable disposal facilities and to coordinate with State Pollution Control Boards for large-volume waste handling. Additionally, monthly compliance reports must be submitted to FSSAI by the fifth of every month, highlighting any deviations.

The advisory underscores that proper food waste management is not only a legal obligation but also critical to preventing health risks, environmental contamination, and misuse of unsafe products within the food supply chain.