Himachal HC bans sale, entry of food items with plastic packaging

The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Thursday imposed a ban on the sale of junk food in non-biodegradable plastic packaging. The ban will come into effect from January 26.

The ban will come into effect from January 26.

"The High Court of Himachal Pradesh on Thursday vacated the stay on the state government's notification dated June 26, 2013, and directed it to implement the notification banning the storage, supply, sale and entry of non-essential food items packaged in plastic and non-biodegradable material from January 26, 2014," a court release said.

The court has, however, allowed sale of essential items like bread, milk, drinking water and medicines in plastic packaging till March 31, 2014. 

The division bench comprising Justices Rajiv Sharma and V.K. Sharma further directed the government to ensure that edible oil is not sold in plastic bottles/pouches and shall only be packed in tin containers. The court also directed the government to ensure that from March 31, next year no food stuff, including primary and essential food, is manufactured, transported, sold, packaged and distributed without conforming to the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 and Food Safety & Standards (Packaging & Labelling) Regulation, 2011.

The court has directed the district magistrates and superintendents of police in the state to enforce the ban.

While ordering that a food commissioner be appointed within four weeks, the court also directed the state to ensure that no person is permitted to commence or continue any food business without obtaining licence.

Another direction came for laying down the norms as per Section 3A of the Himachal Pradesh Nonbiodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1995 within 12 weeks and to implement Section 7 of the said Act in order to determine the new non-essential food items, which are required to be packaged in biodegradable material.

The court also asked all the municipal authorities to ensure safe storage, transportation, and disposal of plastic waste so that no damage is caused to environment.