New rules for food delivery firms

The city's food safety watchdog yesterday issued a directive to regulate third-party meal delivery websites.

Under the new rules, which were compiled in association with the Internet administration bureau, online firms will be punished and could face closure if they offer food from unlicensed restaurants or producers, the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration said.

That means operators are now required to check the business licenses and health certificates of all companies included on their websites, and must also publish those companies' registered addresses, it said.

"Third-party food delivery websites and applications are a new type of business that have become very popular," said Gu Zhenhua, deputy director of the administration.

"The new rules are designed to ensure food safety and improve management," he said.

In the event of a dispute, websites must first compensate their customers, and then seek recompense from their suppliers, the ruling said.

The food safety watchdog also advised the websites to reduce their risk of experiencing problems by not providing delivery services for "high risk" foods, such as sashimi and other raw seafood products, pre-prepared salads and cream cakes.

Such items should be handled only by companies with an appropriate cold-chain delivery system, the watchdog said.

The guidelines do not apply to companies that provide their own delivery services, it said.

The tighter controls come in response to a spike in complaints about food delivery companies in Shanghai.

Under present legislation, third-party operators are not required to register with the food safety administration.

Libby Wu, marketing manager at food delivery firm Sherpa's, said all of the companies it deals with are inspected and have their registered addresses published on the site.