MUMBAI: Terming the action by the country’s food regulator, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), “arbitrary” the Bombay High Court on Thursday lifted the two-month-old ban on ‘Maggi’ noodles for now. However, the court held that Maggi could be produced and sold again only if three NABL accredited laboratories in Hyderabad, Mohali and Jaipur certified that it was not hazardous for health.
The HC has set a deadline of six weeks for the laboratories to conduct their tests.
Delivering the judgment on Nestle India’s petition challenging the ban, Justice V M Kanade and Justice B P Colabawala set aside the FSSAI order saying the “principles of natural justice were not followed while passing the ban order”.
The HC also directed Nestle India to send five samples from each batch of Maggi for testing in the said three National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
According to the HC, Nestle India could resume manufacturing if the tests proved that the lead content in the product was within the permissible limit.
Reacting to the HC order, Nestle India said, it will comply with the order to undertake fresh tests. “ Nestle India remains committed to working with the FSSAI, FDA Maharashtra and other stakeholders. It is Nestle India’s endeavour to get Maggi noodles back on the shelves as soon as possible for the benefit of our consumers.”
Nestle India had contended that FSSAI had imposed the ban based on the tests carried out on samples past their shelf life and the laboratories where the samples were tested were not accredited by the NABL.
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