<p>The State government has decided to lift the ban on Maggi. Nestle India, however, cannot sell the old stock and the newly manufactured packets will be subjected to tests before they can be put on sale.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Speaking to the media here on Monday, Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader termed the Centre’s decision to ban Maggi as “irresponsible” and “immature”. He said the State government has decided to “withhold implementation of the ban”. <br /><br />Citing lack of clarity on part of the Union government as the reason for this decision, Khader said Karnataka had not banned Maggi but was merely implementing the Centre’s order. There was no clarity on part of the Union government about the permissible limit of lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG), he added. <br /><br />Though this effectively means that the state government has lifted the ban on Maggi, the minister was treading carefully with his words. <br /><br />In fact, it appeared that even the State government lacked clarity. “It is not that Maggi will be available in the market beginning tomorrow (Tuesday). The new produce will have to undergo laboratory tests before the state government permits sale,” said Khader. He was also quick to add that they were not asking the company to restart production. <br /><br />The confusion<br /><br />As per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the permissible amount of lead is 2.5 parts per million (ppm). When it was tested in a laboratory in Karnataka, the reports showed that lead content was within the limit. “However, when it was sent to a Kolkata laboratory, the results showed that the content was 2.6 ppm. We asked for clarification,” said Khader.<br /><br />It has been four months and there is no response,” said Khader. Moreover, there is no clarity about the permissible limit of MSG, he said. <br /><br />While the State government wanted to send samples to laboratories in other states, officials here were given oral instructions by the Centre not to send it anywhere else, the minister claimed. The State government is willing to implement the Centre’s directive as long as it had clarity about its own decision, Khader added. <br /></p>
<p>The State government has decided to lift the ban on Maggi. Nestle India, however, cannot sell the old stock and the newly manufactured packets will be subjected to tests before they can be put on sale.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Speaking to the media here on Monday, Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader termed the Centre’s decision to ban Maggi as “irresponsible” and “immature”. He said the State government has decided to “withhold implementation of the ban”. <br /><br />Citing lack of clarity on part of the Union government as the reason for this decision, Khader said Karnataka had not banned Maggi but was merely implementing the Centre’s order. There was no clarity on part of the Union government about the permissible limit of lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG), he added. <br /><br />Though this effectively means that the state government has lifted the ban on Maggi, the minister was treading carefully with his words. <br /><br />In fact, it appeared that even the State government lacked clarity. “It is not that Maggi will be available in the market beginning tomorrow (Tuesday). The new produce will have to undergo laboratory tests before the state government permits sale,” said Khader. He was also quick to add that they were not asking the company to restart production. <br /><br />The confusion<br /><br />As per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the permissible amount of lead is 2.5 parts per million (ppm). When it was tested in a laboratory in Karnataka, the reports showed that lead content was within the limit. “However, when it was sent to a Kolkata laboratory, the results showed that the content was 2.6 ppm. We asked for clarification,” said Khader.<br /><br />It has been four months and there is no response,” said Khader. Moreover, there is no clarity about the permissible limit of MSG, he said. <br /><br />While the State government wanted to send samples to laboratories in other states, officials here were given oral instructions by the Centre not to send it anywhere else, the minister claimed. The State government is willing to implement the Centre’s directive as long as it had clarity about its own decision, Khader added. <br /></p>
