NCDRC orders further tests on select samples of Maggi

The Bench of Justice VK Jain and Dr. BC Gupta at the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission today allowed the application of the Union that had sought further tests on Maggi samples and directed that the tests will be conducted on 16 samples out of 31 batches produced by the Government..The Commission also directed that an expert agency in Mumbai shall test and analyse the samples within a period of two weeks, to determine the presence of lead content in the noodles and the taste maker. However the Petitioners raised an objection over the testing taking place in Mumbai stating that the government lab in the city did not have ‘appropriate facilities’ to carry out the necessary tests..They proposed that the tests be conducted in a government accredited lab in Chennai to which the Union’s counsel sought time to take instructions. The Bench has directed both the parties to be present in Court tomorrow so as to mention the matter and incorporate the change of laboratory in the order itself..The Commission has also stated in its order that the said tests shall resume from December 14 and shall be completed before the next date of hearing. As per the Bench’s earlier order of sending samples to Mysore, reports from CFTRI in Mysore and reports from the latest tests shall be produced before the Court on January 12 which is the next date of hearing..The order comes in the background of a hotly contested application moved by the Government. Nestle had accused the Union of dragging the issue and had argued that the Bombay High Court’s decision had settled the position in this regard.