A government laboratory today submitted its test report on Maggi noodles in a sealed cover in the Supreme Court which directed that copies of it be given to the Centre and Nestle India.
A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh directed the registry to give the report of the Mysore-based institute to the parties within three days.
“In pursuance of the earlier order, samples were sent to CSIR, Karnataka for testing of the product. The said institute has filed the report in a sealed cover. The report be given to the counsel for the parties in three days,” the court said while granting liberty to the parties to argue on the basis of the report.
The bench also pulled up a private individual seeking intervention in the matter, saying it cannot allow everyone to come into the issue.
“This is a matter related to testing of products. This is a matter between the Centre and the manufacturer. How can any third person come into it? A procedure for adjudication of dispute needs to be followed,” the bench said.
Earlier on January 13, the apex court had asked the Mysore based government laboratory to clarify whether test reports relating to lead and glutamic acid in Maggi noodles were within permissible parameters under the law.
The apex court had passed the order after perusing two communications received from the Mysore laboratory which had carried out the test about the monosodium glutamate (MSG) content in the samples.
While Nestle India, makers of Maggi, had claimed that the lead content was within the permissible limit prescribed under the Food Safety Act, the Centre said there was a need for comprehensive findings of all other parameters.
The bench had also said the institute in Mysore shall also give clarification on the test relating to glutamic acid.
The Supreme court had on December 16 last year, ordered testing of samples of Maggi noodles in Mysore laboratory after the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) had directed that it be done in Chennai.
( Source – PTI )
