Uttarakhand's ban on Maggi to continue for some time

Even as the Karnataka and Gujarat governments have lifted the ban on sale of Maggi noodles, the Uttarakhand government is not in a hurry to lift the ban on production and sale of Maggi noodles. Nestle's largest manufacturing facility for Maggi in India is located at Pantnagar, Uttarakhand.

Surendra Singh Negi, health minister, Uttarakhand, said the government would wait for the hearing on November 3 in the Uttarakhand High Court at Nainital, pertaining to the Maggi noodles case.

He said the government was also seeking legal advice.

The Uttarakhand food safety department had in June imposed a blanket ban on production of Maggi noodles from the Pantnagar plant, as well as on the marketing and sale in the hill state, after samples of the popular food product failed laboratory tests.

According to the notification issued by food safety commissioner Om Prakash, the ban was to remain in force for 90 days.

However, legal experts say the state government cannot take a decision unless the Uttarakhand High Court takes up the issue on November 3.

"The case is still sub judice as far as the Maggi controversy is concerned," said a top government official.

Nestle had started production of Maggi noodles in 2006 from the Pantnagar factory to take benefit of various incentives available in the state. The plant has been closed since the June ban.