Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday allowed the Indian branch of Nestle to export all varieties of Maggi noodles in India.
Meanwhile the domestic restrictions would continue to apply. The matter will now come up for further hearing on July 14.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had on Saturday justified its June 5 ban on Nestle India’s 2-minute Maggi noodles in strongly worded 60-page affidavit that questioned the company’s safety claims.
FSSAI received test reports from 9 states: UP, Delhi, Goa, Kerala, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, MP, Telengana, and Uttrakhand. In two states – Goa (5 samples) and Kerala (5 samples) were found to be in order.
The ban however, challenged by Nestle India on grounds that it was ‘unauthorised, arbitrary, unconstitutional for violating right to equality and trade’, and violative of principles of natural justice since the company was not given a proper hearing.
The high court bench headed by Justice VM Kanade on June 30 heard Nestle’s challenge to the ban which it had not stayed at the first hearing on June 12. Nestle had challenged orders of FSSAI and the Maharashtra Commisioner of Food Safety instantly banning sale of Maggi instant noodles after tests by the government laboratories on samples take across cities showed lead content beyond the permissible limit of 2.5 part per million (ppm) in India’s popular snack. The company had said that its own tests found the noodles safe to eat, but had assured the HC that it would withdraw the packets from store racks in compliance with the ban order.
Bureau Report
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