The Maharashtra Government will now require e-commerce food delivery companies to obtain state approval before opening new godowns (dark stores). It will also conduct mandatory inspections of these facilities every six months. Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Minister Narhari Zirwal announced the policy during a Legislative Council session on July 1.

A video of the session accessed via Maharashtra Times shows Zirwal outlining this new regulatory framework in response to concerns about food safety violations at e-commerce godowns (dark stores).

The decision follows enforcement actions against dark stores operated by quick commerce platforms such as Zepto and Blinkit. 

Zirwal said that godowns (dark stores) used by e-commerce platforms for rapid delivery will not be allowed to operate unless they first pass a state inspection. Once operational, these stores will be subject to periodic inspections every six months.

He added that the FDA had recently inspected 43 e-commerce godowns (dark stores) across Maharashtra, including facilities run by Zepto, Swiggy, and Zomato. These inspections led to 34 notices, five shutdown orders, and one licence suspension. Several godowns (dark stores) were found storing expired food and operating under unsanitary conditions. Zirwal also said that Maharashtra had increased the number of food testing laboratories and expanded FDA staffing to improve enforcement.

When asked about consumer grievance redressal, he pointed to the existing helpline operated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Zirwal added that the state may consider launching a 24/7 helpline in the future. However, it is not clear whether a dedicated grievance mechanism for online food platforms will be introduced.

In June, the Maharashtra FDA suspended Zepto’s food business licence for its dark store in Dharavi, Mumbai. The inspection found expired products, poor storage practices, and cold chain lapses. Zepto later submitted a compliance report and passed a follow-up inspection. Consequently, the licence suspension was lifted and operations resumed.

However soon after, the FDA revoked Blinkit’s licence for its dark store in Balewadi, Pune. As reported by Inc42, FDA officials found that the store did not have a valid licence under Section 31(1) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Other violations included keeping food items on the floor, missing cold storage calibration certificates, and workers without protective caps.

Under Section 31 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, no food business can operate without a valid licence. Designated Officers have the power to issue improvement notices, and suspend or cancel licences under Section 32 if food safety violations are not addressed.

Additionally, FSSAI requires E-commerce platforms like Zepto and Blinkit to obtain a Central License under Schedule I of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, because they operate in multiple states.

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While central licensing applies at the platform level, FSSAI has directed state authorities to step up on-ground enforcement. In 2024, FSSAI asked State Food Commissioners to step up surveillance of warehouses and distribution centres used by e-commerce platforms. Later that year, it issued advisories to e-commerce Food Business Operators mandating hygiene training for last-mile delivery workers, strict enforcement of shelf-life norms, and visible display of licensing details and hygiene ratings.

E- commerce platforms are delivering groceries faster than ever, but many of their storage facilities have gone unchecked.

The recent inspections in Maharashtra exposed a clear gap in oversight. Dark stores were opening and operating without any state checks. The state now plans to change this as e-commerce food delivery companies must seek state approval before opening new godowns (dark stores) and will face inspections every six months.

This development prompts important questions:

As these delivery models become widespread, the systems meant to protect consumers must keep up.

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