A set of voluntary tips has been launched in Singapore coping with meals bought on the web.
Singapore Commonplace 687: 2022 (Pointers for meals e-commerce) supplies steering to e-commerce gamers on their roles and duties to make sure the security of meals merchandise bought through on-line platforms.
Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Atmosphere, stated companies, e-commerce platforms, and meals supply firms can acquire readability on greatest practices in meals security within the completely different phases of the availability chain.
“For instance, the usual supplies steering on the roles and duties of stakeholders, in addition to their duties in meals traceability and remembers. The usual additionally goals to enhance the web ordering expertise for finish customers. When carried out, customers can have entry to extra particulars on the meals merchandise they’re buying on-line and be empowered to make extra knowledgeable selections,” she stated.
“I encourage you to undertake the practices outlined and maintain each other to excessive meals security requirements. A number of the trade leaders — foodpanda, Amazon, and Lazada — will likely be sharing how they’ll implement the rules of their firms.”
Business urged to undertake the recommendation
Fu stated e-commerce and supply firms are taking part in an more and more vital position within the meals provide chain.
“Whereas customers procuring at a bodily retailer can examine on the situation of the meals and discover out vital particulars through the label earlier than buy, this isn’t all the time doable when shopping for meals on-line. E-commerce customers must depend on the product data supplied by the e-commerce platform, which might range considerably relying on the extent of oversight the e-commerce platform has on its suppliers,” she stated.
The voluntary commonplace was developed in 16 months by a working group together with Meals Business Asia (FIA), the Singapore Meals Company (SFA), the Singapore Manufacturing Federation and trade gamers resembling native meals e-commerce and meals supply platforms, in addition to supermarkets.
Tan Lee Kim, deputy chief govt officer of the Singapore Meals Company, stated: “The publication and adoption of this commonplace would elevate trade requirements and information meals enterprise operators to attain higher transparency, traceability, and accountability when promoting meals on-line. Moreover, customers could be empowered to make better-informed buy selections by shopping for from companies which have carried out these practices and have better meals security assurance.”
Progress of sector
On-line purchases of meals and the usage of meals supply companies in Singapore has grown lately. In 2021, 2.5 million customers used supply platforms to purchase meals merchandise within the nation, a 14 p.c improve in comparison with 2020.
At present, completely different meals e-commerce and supply platforms have various practices across the traceability, security, and transparency of meals merchandise bought via them.
By implementing the usual, the trade could acquire readability within the standardization of knowledge to be displayed at factors of sale and supply; duties of meals traceability and remembers and possession of managing potential points resembling shopper complaints, meals security incidents or remembers.
The doc additionally goals to enhance finish customers’ expertise by strengthening the credibility and trustworthiness of meals e-commerce platforms and by encouraging stakeholders within the e-commerce provide chain to conduct due diligence via correct implementation of meals security practices as a part of their operations.
Matt Kovac, CEO of Meals Business Asia, stated the usual reveals Singapore’s response to an increase within the adoption of meals e-commerce by customers.
“It’ll present meals enterprise operators with a sensible set of voluntary e-commerce tips that may be utilized to reinforce present processes so as to guarantee meals security while importantly not stifling innovation. Singapore is the primary nation to develop such a complete set of voluntary tips, and therefore the usual could possibly be utilized by different authorities to assist inform greatest practices for the trade,” he stated.
Fu added that Singapore was additionally collaborating within the growth of worldwide requirements for meals bought via e-commerce, as a part of the Codex Committee on meals labeling.
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