Gujarat sets up Food Safety Appellate Tribunal

The move is expected to fast-track the process of litigation in cases like misbranding of food articles among others

The Food Safety Appellate Tribunal became functional in Gujarat recently, which is now going to look at cases related to food safety matters. In the wake of the recent controversy surrounding multinational noodles brands in the country, the move is expected to fast-track the process of litigation in cases like misbranding of food articles among others.

Confirming the development, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) of Gujarat said that the tribunal became operational a few days back at Gandhinagar. "We are one of the few states that would have this tribunal in place. A retired sessions judge has been put in charge of the tribunal that would function out of the Jivraj Mehta Bhavan in Gandhinagar," he said.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been in the process of constituting Appellate Tribunals in a number of states for the last couple of years. However, the responsibility of setting up the tribunals rested with the state governments, while FSSAI would provide the required assistance to complete the process.

According to officials in the know, appellate tribunals have already been set up in Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Chattisgarh, apart from the union territories of Andaman & Nicoban and Chandigarh.

Gujarat has been pro-active when it came to taking steps in relation to the lead content issue in Maggi noodles. It had banned the noodles brand in June, and extended it twice for one month each.