Maharashtra FDA challenges FSSAI authority in High Court dispute

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has escalated its jurisdictional dispute with the central Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to the Bombay High Court, accusing the federal body of establishing parallel food safety mechanisms that undermine state-level oversight.

The case, which is scheduled for hearing on November 26, centers on allegations that the FSSAI has duplicated regulatory functions traditionally administered by state food authorities. According to the Maharashtra FDA's petition, this parallel structure creates confusion in implementation and fragments enforcement of food safety standards across the state.

The dispute reflects ongoing tensions between state and central food safety bodies regarding regulatory jurisdiction and administrative authority. The Maharashtra FDA has argued that the FSSAI's expanded role in the state effectively sidelines regional authorities and creates inconsistencies in how food safety regulations are applied on the ground.

The High Court's intervention comes as the food safety sector faces increasing scrutiny over coordination gaps between national and state-level agencies. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how food safety oversight is structured across India's states and the balance of power between central and regional regulatory bodies.