📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Prime Minister's Office
Food
Maharashtra FDA mandates video proof for disposal of expired food items
✍️ Mid-Day
🗓 31 Oct 2026, 09:39 AM
👁 19
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has issued a directive requiring food businesses to record video evidence and maintain traceable logs when discarding expired products.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a new enforcement measure aimed at curbing the illegal disposal of expired food. Under the directive, all food manufacturers, distributors and retailers must capture video footage of the disposal process and retain it for a stipulated period.
The agency also requires businesses to keep detailed, traceable records that identify the batch, quantity and date of the discarded items. These records will be subject to inspection by FDA officials to ensure compliance and prevent the re‑entry of unsafe products into the market.
Failure to adhere to the new protocol could result in penalties, including fines and suspension of licences. The move is part of a broader effort by the state authority to strengthen food safety standards and protect consumers from health risks associated with expired consumables.
The FDA has instructed that the video and documentation be stored in a secure, retrievable format, and that they be made available to inspectors upon request. The directive comes after several incidents of expired goods being repackaged and sold, prompting public concern.
Industry bodies have been asked to disseminate the guidelines to their members and to train staff on the new compliance requirements.
The agency also requires businesses to keep detailed, traceable records that identify the batch, quantity and date of the discarded items. These records will be subject to inspection by FDA officials to ensure compliance and prevent the re‑entry of unsafe products into the market.
Failure to adhere to the new protocol could result in penalties, including fines and suspension of licences. The move is part of a broader effort by the state authority to strengthen food safety standards and protect consumers from health risks associated with expired consumables.
The FDA has instructed that the video and documentation be stored in a secure, retrievable format, and that they be made available to inspectors upon request. The directive comes after several incidents of expired goods being repackaged and sold, prompting public concern.
Industry bodies have been asked to disseminate the guidelines to their members and to train staff on the new compliance requirements.