SC notice to Centre on fresh plea against test on Maggi

The Supreme Court has issued notice to Union government on a plea by Nestle India Ltd challenging order for fresh testing of its Maggi noodles.

A bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Prafulla C Pant posted the matter for hearing on Wednesday.

Senior advocate L N Rao, appearing for the Maggi brand promoter, contended despite the Bombay HC order for testing of samples from accredited labs, fresh directions were issued by the consumer panel for verifying contents of the fast food. He sought direction for stay on any further testing.

Agreeing to consider his plea, the court directed for serving copy of the petition to the Central government’s counsel.

The court had on December 11 sought response from Nestle on a plea by food regulator FSSAI against the Bombay HC verdict lifting ban on nine variants of the fast food and asking the company to go for fresh tests.

In its petition, the regulator sought a stay on the operation of the final judgment of the High Court, contending its main duty of the authority (FSSAI) is to regulate or monitor the food products at any stage of production and its concern has to be the safety of the food products being consumed in the country.

It further pointed out that the show-cause notice issued to the company was set aside by the High Court exercising its writ jurisdiction without seeking the FSSAI’s response.

The Bombay HC had on August 13, lifted the ban slapped by food regulators on Nestle India’s nine variants, on report of containing excessive lead contents.The HC had directed for fresh tests on the products.