 "Maharashtra FDA might take Maggi fight to SC")
The Maharashtra food regulator looks firm in continuing its opposition against the lifting of the ban on Nestle India's noodles brand, Maggi. On Friday, Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister Girish Bapat said the food regulator was examining legal options to challenge the company in the Supreme Court.
"We want the ban on the noodles to continue and shall take a decision on moving the Supreme Court soon depending on the legal opinion, as public health is of utmost concern," Bapat said on Friday. The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) had been preparing a petition to oppose the order issued by a bench of the Bombay High Court on August 13 since Maggi noodles passed the first safety test, allowing Nestle to begin its manufacturing on October 16.
Despite the tussles with the regulators, sale of Maggi has gone beyond the company's estimates. Within days of the November 9 relaunch, Nestle India on Friday claimed to have shipped at least 25 million standard packs of the instant noodle brand to retailers across 100 cities through some 300 stockists. On Snapdeal, 720,000 units of 70 gram each was sold within five minutes of the launch.
"All our partners are enthusiastic about the re-introduction and are helping us in ensuring that the product is available to consumers. We are making our best endeavour to reach the product to our consumers at the earliest but the demand is overwhelming. It will certainly help when the two plants at Pantnagar and Uttarakhand are able to start manufacturing," the spokesperson added.
Maggi received the first blow in May, when the issue of presence of monosodium glutamate and higher than permissible lead surfaced. The Uttar Pradesh FDA had filed the first cases against Nestle India officials in a district court there. Friday's development turns the attention back on the legal tussle between the company and regulatory authorities in India, which started a week after the ban was imposed on June 5.
Reports said Maharashtra FDA's appeal against the Bombay High Court order dated August 13 in the Supreme Court would be represented by Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rahtogi.
According to the Bombay High Court order, Maggi noodles passed two tests in three court-appointed NABL-accredited laboratories before being reintroduced in the market. However, Bapat argued the credibility of the tests conducted on select samples and said batches of the products, which had not undergone tests, might show different results.
In a separate case against Nestle India, the central government is fighting against the company in National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC) claiming Rs 640 crore in damages for damaging public health. During the last hearing in October, NCDRC ordered retests of Maggi noodles, setting aside Nestle India's argument over the commission's jurisdiction. The next hearing is scheduled for November 23.
"We want the ban on the noodles to continue and shall take a decision on moving the Supreme Court soon depending on the legal opinion, as public health is of utmost concern," Bapat said on Friday. The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) had been preparing a petition to oppose the order issued by a bench of the Bombay High Court on August 13 since Maggi noodles passed the first safety test, allowing Nestle to begin its manufacturing on October 16.
| MAHARASHTRA FDA V/S NESTLÉ INDIA |
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Despite the tussles with the regulators, sale of Maggi has gone beyond the company's estimates. Within days of the November 9 relaunch, Nestle India on Friday claimed to have shipped at least 25 million standard packs of the instant noodle brand to retailers across 100 cities through some 300 stockists. On Snapdeal, 720,000 units of 70 gram each was sold within five minutes of the launch.
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Commenting on the developments, a Nestle India spokesperson said, "We have only seen news flashes in the media today (Friday) and have not received any intimation. Should there be any further developments, we shall defend ourselves vigorously."
"All our partners are enthusiastic about the re-introduction and are helping us in ensuring that the product is available to consumers. We are making our best endeavour to reach the product to our consumers at the earliest but the demand is overwhelming. It will certainly help when the two plants at Pantnagar and Uttarakhand are able to start manufacturing," the spokesperson added.
Maggi received the first blow in May, when the issue of presence of monosodium glutamate and higher than permissible lead surfaced. The Uttar Pradesh FDA had filed the first cases against Nestle India officials in a district court there. Friday's development turns the attention back on the legal tussle between the company and regulatory authorities in India, which started a week after the ban was imposed on June 5.
Reports said Maharashtra FDA's appeal against the Bombay High Court order dated August 13 in the Supreme Court would be represented by Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rahtogi.
According to the Bombay High Court order, Maggi noodles passed two tests in three court-appointed NABL-accredited laboratories before being reintroduced in the market. However, Bapat argued the credibility of the tests conducted on select samples and said batches of the products, which had not undergone tests, might show different results.
In a separate case against Nestle India, the central government is fighting against the company in National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC) claiming Rs 640 crore in damages for damaging public health. During the last hearing in October, NCDRC ordered retests of Maggi noodles, setting aside Nestle India's argument over the commission's jurisdiction. The next hearing is scheduled for November 23.