Punjab Online Food Delivery Hygiene Rating Ban

The Government of Punjab implemented a decisive public health measure banning the online sale and delivery of food from outlets that do not meet prescribed hygiene standards. This initiative, introduced under the “Tandarust Punjab Mission”, aims to ensure that all food delivered through online platforms adheres to basic safety and hygiene parameters as defined by national and state food-safety regulations.

Background

The rapid expansion of online food delivery services in Punjab brought with it a new set of challenges related to food safety. Consumers ordering food through digital platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, and Uber Eats had limited visibility into the hygiene and cleanliness of the kitchens preparing their food. The state government, concerned about the public health implications, introduced a system that required all Food Business Operators (FBOs) registered with online delivery platforms to possess a valid Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) hygiene rating.
This initiative aligned with Punjab’s broader goal of improving public health and ensuring food security through the Tandarust Punjab Mission, which promotes clean, nutritious, and safe food for all citizens.

Key Features of the Ban

• The government mandated that no online food order shall be delivered from an establishment without a hygiene rating or with a rating below three on a five-point scale.
• Online food delivery aggregators were made responsible for verifying and displaying the hygiene rating of each listed food outlet.
• Outlets without valid ratings were required to obtain them within a fixed period, failing which their online operations would be suspended.
• The Punjab Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was authorised to monitor compliance and enforce the ban through inspections, penalties, and delisting orders.
• The ban applied uniformly across the state, covering all restaurants, cloud kitchens, and food vendors supplying through digital delivery channels.

Implementation Timeline

• The announcement of the policy took place in mid-2019, giving food outlets a short grace period to secure their hygiene ratings.
• From 30 April 2020, the ban came into full effect: no online delivery was permitted from any outlet that had either failed to secure a hygiene certificate or held a rating lower than “3”.
• The ban was issued for an initial period of one year, with the intention of renewing it annually based on compliance progress.

Purpose and Objectives

The core objectives behind the ban were:

• To safeguard consumer health by ensuring that all food prepared for online delivery meets essential hygiene and safety norms.
• To improve transparency in the rapidly growing online food market, empowering customers to make informed choices.
• To hold aggregators accountable by requiring them to list and display verified hygiene ratings of partner outlets.
• To create a culture of compliance among restaurants and cloud kitchens by linking their market access to hygiene performance.

How the Hygiene Rating System Works

The hygiene rating system is based on inspections conducted by trained auditors authorised by the FSSAI. Establishments are assessed on multiple parameters including:

• Cleanliness of food-preparation areas
• Personal hygiene of food handlers
• Sanitation and pest control measures
• Storage and temperature control of food items
• Waste management and disposal systems
• Overall maintenance and record-keeping practices

Each outlet receives a rating from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent), represented by smiley icons. Only those scoring 3 or above are allowed to continue online food delivery operations in Punjab.

Impact of the Ban

The policy has had significant implications for multiple stakeholders:
For Consumers:

• Improved assurance of hygiene and food safety in online orders.
• Greater transparency through visible ratings on delivery apps and packaging.

For Restaurants and Cloud Kitchens:

• Necessitated compliance with hygiene audits and investments in sanitary upgrades.
• Encouraged professionalisation and training in safe food-handling practices.
• Non-compliant outlets faced delisting, temporary closure, or suspension of online delivery rights.

For Aggregators:

• Obliged to conduct due diligence before partnering with outlets.
• Required to update platforms with visible hygiene ratings for every listed restaurant.

For Government Agencies:

• Enhanced monitoring capacity of food-safety inspectors through digital tracking and audits.
• Greater coordination between state and national agencies such as FSSAI.

Challenges in Implementation

• Compliance Burden: Many small eateries and unregistered cloud kitchens found it difficult to meet audit costs and procedural requirements within the stipulated time.
• Lack of Awareness: Some food operators were unfamiliar with the hygiene rating process or its significance.
• Enforcement Capacity: The limited number of certified auditors and inspectors posed challenges for large-scale, timely audits.
• Temporary Disruption: Some restaurants were temporarily removed from online delivery apps during the transition period.

Despite these challenges, the move was widely supported by consumer groups and health authorities as a step toward improving public health standards.

Significance and Long-Term Vision

The ban represents a proactive public-health governance model, linking technology-driven food services with regulatory compliance. By integrating hygiene ratings into the digital food ecosystem, Punjab positioned itself as a pioneer in enforcing consumer protection in the online food delivery sector.