Will sort out noodles approval issue with FSSAI: Ramdev

Says company representatives are going to the FSSAI headquarters to sort out the issue amicably

Amid questions over approval for newly-launched Patanjali noodles, yoga guru Baba Ramdev today said the company representatives will call on FSSAI officials to sort out the issue amicably.

"Our representatives are going to the FSSAI headquarters with original copies of the selling licence, along with the manufacturer's licence. It seems there is an issue of lack of coordination and it could be resolved by sitting together," Ramdev said.

"We have got approval from FSSAI. Those who are doing contract manufacturing for us have got approval, too. They have the manufacturing licence."

Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal declined to comment, saying it's a matter "between the Ministry of Health and Baba Ramdev".

However, she added: "I am sure that the (health) ministry is looking into it to ensure these kinds of roadblocks are not there."

Yesterday, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Chairperson Ashish Bahuguna had said no approval or licence was granted to Patanjali for its instant noodles.

Ramdev, however, wondered when FSSAI itself has "stopped product approval, where is the illegal act committed".

The food safety regulator had stated that it wasn't possible to continue with process of product approvals, which was facilitated through an advisory in May 2013, following a Supreme Court ruling in August this year that upheld an order of Bombay High Court on the issue.

According to FSSAI's May 2013 advisory, food products covering a broad spectrum including "novel foods, functional foods, supplements, irradiated, genetically modified foods, foods for special dietary uses or extracts or concentrates of botanicals, herbs or of animal sources" should apply for product approval.

The High Court had ruled that the advisory does not have any statutory backing, but FSSAI had approached the apex court against the verdict.

Yesterday, the Congress took a dig at the yoga guru, saying he has developed a new asana called "Noodle asana" which allows him to produce noodles without any regulation.

Patanjali had launched 'atta noodles' earlier this week in 70 gram packs priced at Rs 15, claiming it to be cheaper than competitors', with an eye to take on market leader Nestle's Maggi, which is back at shelves five months after FSSAI had banned it.