India Orders More Tests on Maggi as court lifts ban

Aug 14, 2015 (LBO) – India has ordered further tests on Maggi, a popular noodle brand before the product can go back on sale following a court overturning a government ban on the product, Thursday, foreign media reported.



"We have examined the evidence in great detail.



Since the petitioner Nestle has already agreed not to make and sell Maggi until the food authorities are satisfied, we see no reason to allow any relief to food authorities," Justice Vidyasagar Kanade was quoted as saying in the news report.



The court directed Nestle to "send five samples from each batch of Maggi [noodles] for testing to three labs. The Bombay High Court called June's ban on Maggi "arbitrary" and said it violated the "principles of natural justice".





The ruling came a day after India said it was seeking damages of nearly 100 million US dollar from Nestle India for "unfair trade practices" in relation to the noodles.

Nestle went to court to challenge the nationwide ban ordered by India's food safety watchdog in June after tests by some states found lead levels exceeded statutory limits. The Company maintains the product is safe to eat, and continues to sell the product it in other countries.









The noodles were, according to data Nestle's fastest-selling food item in India, accounting for about 240 million US dollars in sales annually.