The Maharashtra government has moved the Bombay High Court against several food safety regulations, claiming the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has unconstitutionally established a parallel enforcement regime that usurps the state government’s powers.
The petition came up for hearing before a bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna on Friday. The petition, filed through the State Commissioner of Food Safety, said the aim of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA) was to decentralise food regulation. The plea has sought HC to quash the unconstitutional amendments and regulations and stay a May 20203 order restricting state officers from inspecting centrally licensed units. The court said it would hear the matter on November 26.
Earlier, enforcement of the Act was through the State Commissioner of Food Safety and designated officers, it pointed out.
