Amazon Ordered to Hand Over Expired Food Stock in Bhiwandi Warehouse

The Bombay High Court has directed Amazon Retail India to hand over expired and perished food items stored at its warehouse in Bhiwandi, Thane district, to the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for scientific disposal.

This order comes after a recent criticism by the court of the FDA's handling of a case involving Amazon's warehouse. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad stated that Amazon must prepare an inventory of all expired and spoiled products at the warehouse and submit it to the concerned FDA officer.

The court has also directed the FDA to dispose of the goods in accordance with the law, while making it clear that Amazon will bear the cost of the disposal process. Additionally, the High Court has directed the FDA to file its affidavit by August 27 in response to Amazon's petition challenging the suspension of the warehouse's license.

Amazon had approached the court after the FDA suspended the license of its Bhiwandi warehouse, alleging that expired food products were being sent into the retail market instead of being destroyed. The company stated that it challenged the decision before the appellate authority, but the FDA issued a show-cause notice on July 1 and later cancelled the warehouse's license.

In an earlier hearing, the High Court had criticized the FDA's approach, remarking that the agency appeared to be 'trying to kill a mosquito with a sword.'