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Quick-commerce operators must meet same stds, says AICPDF
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Thursday, 20 August, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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The All-India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF) has raised serious questions on the functioning of India’s central food regulator, demanding immediate enforcement of strict physical storage standards across ultra-fast delivery operations in the country.
The AICPDF accused the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) of turning a blind eye regarding quick-commerce ‘dark stores.
AICPDF stated that the widespread enforcement drives by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which recently inspected 86 online delivery facilities and suspended 14 licences allegedly linked to various e-commerce platforms over severe sanitation lapses, has exposed the loopholes in the food safety ecosystem.
Inspectors in Maharashtra uncovered alarming safety hazards, including rodent and cockroach infestations, temperature control breaches in cold chains, improper handling of expired goods, and unhygienic storage environments. Public outrage further intensified after viral videos surfaced showing rodents inside grocery storage units in Kalyan and Navi Mumbai.
AICPDF asserted that speed cannot substitute for safety, stressing that consumers should not be forced to act as food safety inspectors upon receiving 10-minute orders. The federation emphasised that digital delivery hubs must be held to the same legal and operational standards as traditional brick-and-mortar storefronts.
To solve systemic overcrowding in micro-warehouses, AICPDF urged FSSAI and the Union Health Ministry to adopt a scientific SKU-to-space framework. They proposed a baseline formula requiring 0.35 to 0.40 square feet of floor space per Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) to prevent pest risks, ensure proper aisle clearance, and guarantee adequate cold storage.
The federation also called for mandatory nationwide audits, strict capacity limits, and clear accountability for platforms across their fulfilment networks.
AICPDF national president Dhairyashil H. Patil said, “We welcome the Maharashtra FDA’s action, but enforcement cannot begin only after a video goes viral. AICPDF has already approached FSSAI and the Union Health Minister with a proposed SKU-to-space framework for dark stores. We urge the authorities to act now, scientifically validate the proposal, and introduce mandatory national standards.”
Patil added that AICPDF therefore believes that there cannot be two standards of food safety. Traditional distributors, stockists, and retailers are required to maintain licences, records, storage standards, hygiene, pest-control measures, and product traceability.
“Quick-commerce operators must meet the same standards, and given the scale of their operations, their compliance systems should be stronger, not weaker,” said Patil.
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