Getting Listed on Quick Commerce: Documents and Compliance Checklist for Brands
Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart, Flipkart Minutes and Amazon Now each have their own onboarding process, but they ask for largely the same things. Get these right once and you can onboard on each platform faster. Here's the checklist, with the rules behind each item.
Business registrations
- GST registration in the states you'll supply from, and your company or firm documents.
- A bank account in the business name for settlements.
- Trademark application or registration for your brand name, where you have one; platforms may ask for proof of brand ownership or authorisation.
For food and beverage brands
- FSSAI licence or registration: no food business operator may sell through an e-commerce platform without a valid FSSAI licence or registration (FSSAI directive, as reported by Outlook Business, November 2024).
- Shelf life at delivery: the same directive requires e-commerce food businesses to ensure a minimum shelf life of 30% or 45 days before expiry at the time of delivery to customers. Plan your batch dates around it. See our shelf-life guide.
- Claims must match the label: product claims online must match the label and FSSAI's labelling and display regulations.
Packaging and label declarations
Under Rule 4(10) of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 (in force from 1 January 2018), the mandatory declarations on a package must also be shown on the e-commerce platform, except the month and year of packing (S.S. Rana). These include:
- Name and address of the manufacturer, packer or importer
- Common or generic name of the product
- Net quantity
- Retail sale price (MRP)
- Dimensions, where relevant
- Consumer care details
Make sure your pack and your product listing say the same thing. Mismatches are a common reason listings are held back.
Barcodes
GS1 India is the only organisation authorised to issue barcodes starting with "890" in India. GS1 notes that marketplaces generally ask for a product's GTIN (the EAN-13 barcode number), which lets them pull in product details automatically. Get a unique barcode for every product and pack size.
Product content
- Clear pack shots that show the front of pack, net quantity and key claims.
- Titles with brand, product, variant and size.
- Accurate category and shelf-life information for each product.
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need to sell on Blinkit or Zepto?+
Typically GST registration and business documents, a bank account, brand ownership or authorisation proof, FSSAI licence for food, Legal Metrology-compliant packaging, GS1 barcodes, and product content. Each platform's list can vary.
Is FSSAI required to sell food on quick commerce?+
Yes. FSSAI has directed that no food business operator may sell on an e-commerce platform without a valid FSSAI licence or registration.
What shelf life must food have when delivered by an e-commerce platform?+
FSSAI's November 2024 directive requires a minimum shelf life of 30% or 45 days before expiry at the time of delivery to the customer.
Do I need GS1 barcodes for quick commerce?+
Marketplaces generally ask for a GTIN, and GS1 India is the authorised issuer of barcodes starting with 890 in India. Use a unique barcode for each product and pack size.
Sources
- Outlook Business: FSSAI directs online platforms to deliver food with minimum 45-day shelf life — 13 Nov 2024; licence, shelf life, claims
- S.S. Rana: E-commerce websites now under the Legal Metrology Act — Rule 4(10); from 1 Jan 2018
- GS1 India: EAN-13, the barcode number — Barcodes and marketplaces
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