Amazon Ordered to Hand Over Expired Stock Amid Maharashtra FDA Crackdown

The Bombay High Court has ordered Amazon Retail India to hand over all expired and perished goods from its warehouse in Bhiwandi to the Maharashtra Food and Drug Authority for disposal. The e-commerce company must cover all associated expenses.

Under an interim arrangement, Amazon will compile a detailed inventory of spoiled and expired inventory stored at the Thane district facility. The company will then transfer the items to the designated Food and Drug Authority officer, who is mandated to oversee their destruction in accordance with statutory procedures.

The dispute originated after inspectors from the authority visited the Bhiwandi warehouse on June 24 and suspended its operating license the following day without first serving an improvement notice. Amazon lodged an appeal against the suspension; however, while that appeal was pending, the agency issued a show-cause notice on July 1 and subsequently cancelled the facility's license.

The High Court had previously criticized the regulatory agency during a hearing on Friday, characterizing its enforcement approach as disproportionate and urging the body to operate through systematic administrative channels.