FSSAI moves SC against lifting ban on Maggi noodles

It has contended that HC 'erred' by asking Nestle to provide the fresh samples instead of asking a neutral authority

In fresh trouble for Nestle India Ltd, food regulator FSSAI today moved the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order lifting the ban on Maggi noodles in the country.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) approached the apex court, terming the High Court's August 13 order as "erroneous" and questioned the sanctity of the samples provided for re-test to government-approved labs.

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In its petition, FSSAI has contended that the High Court "erred" by asking Nestle, the Indian arm of the Swiss company itself, to provide the fresh samples instead of asking a neutral authority to do so.

Earlier, the High Court had quashed the orders of FSSAI and Maharashtra food regulator FDA, which had banned nine variants of Maggi noodles in the country. It had said that the principles of natural justice were not followed in executing the ban as the manufacturer was not given a hearing.

The court had allowed Nestle to go in for fresh testing of five samples of each variant of the noodles at three independent laboratories in Punjab, Hyderabad and Jaipur which were accredited with National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

It had clarified that these samples would be taken out of the 750 samples preserved by the company following the ban and if lead content was found below permissible limits by the three labs, Nestle India will be allowed to manufacture Maggi noodles.