Only conditional permission for Maggi noodles: Uttarakhand

Amid rumours that the production and sale of Maggi noodles have been banned in Uttarakhand, the state government on Friday clarified it has only given conditional permission to Nestle.

"We have given only conditional permission for the sale and production of Maggi in Uttarakhand. Samples of all the batches being produced at the Pantnagar plant will be taken for testing and if they are found violating the safety standards, we will destroy them," Principal Secretary Health Om Prakash told reporters here. However, Prakash said there was nothing new in the controversy and the permission had been granted few months ago.

Nestle had resumed production of noodles in November from its Pantnagar plant and started its sale in December. The move came after the Centre sent a letter to the state government stating that the Bombay high court orders be followed. The letter came after the state government had sought clarification on the sale and production of Maggi noodles in the country. The high court had given clearance to the two-minute noodles.

Nestle India had withdrawn its petition from the Uttarakhand High Court in Nainital in view of the Bombay High Court's order lifting the ban imposed by food and safety regulators on Maggi noodles. The company's noodles were banned for allegedly containing lead beyond the permissible limit. Nestle enjoys a host of tax incentives in the Pantnagar facility.