Now Reading: Bombay High Court questions who must sample imported food
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Bombay High Court questions who must sample imported food
The Bombay High Court has flagged a recurring confusion over who should draw samples of imported food items, authorised officers of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) or Customs…
The Story in Brief
The Bombay High Court has flagged a recurring confusion over who should draw samples of imported food items, authorised officers of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) or Customs Officers. A Division Bench of Justices B. P. Colabawalla and Firdosh P. Pooniwalla was hearing a petition by Indu Shekhar challenging the detention of food consignments.
The petitioner argued that Customs often draw samples and send them to the Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL), leading to incorrect reports that force importers to approach the court. The Bench found merit in the submission and directed the Revenue Authority to file its stand by September 3, 2026. The matter is listed for final hearing on September 17, 2026.
The Indian Opinion
The usual narrative pits overeager Customs officers against helpless importers, but the real culprit is fuzzy jurisdiction. FSSAI is the food-safety watchdog; Customs is a revenue collector. When their roles blur, consignments rot and courts clog. The Revenue's affidavit due September 3 will either clarify the rulebook or expose bureaucratic turf war. The test is simple: will the government give FSSAI the sole power to sample, or will it leave a loophole for dual testing? A clear answer benefits honest trade.
Source: livelaw.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
