Maharashtra has petitioned the Bombay High Court to suspend Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) 2023 order that bars state officers from inspecting centrally licensed food businesses, arguing it conflicts with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
- Maharashtra wants state officers to inspect centrally licensed food firms
- FSSAI’s 2023 order restricts state inspections of centrally licensed entities
- Case to be heard in Bombay High Court on November 26, 2026
What happened
Maharashtra’s food safety commissioner filed a petition in the Bombay High Court against the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Union health ministry. The petition challenges the 2023 FSSAI order that prevents state food safety officers from inspecting or taking action against food businesses licensed by the central authority. This move specifically affects larger entities, including quick-commerce dark stores run by platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart, which require central licenses due to their turnover exceeding Rs 50 crore annually.
The Maharashtra government argues this restriction is inconsistent with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which designates both central and state food authorities as responsible for enforcing the Act. The state is requesting the court to suspend the FSSAI order while the legal challenge proceeds.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights tensions between the central regulator and state authorities over enforcement jurisdiction for food safety inspections. Maharashtra contends that FSSAI has overstepped its role by creating an enforcement system not envisioned in the 2006 law. Maharashtra believes the central regulator’s role should focus on setting standards and regulating imported foods, while states must retain authority to inspect and act against all food businesses within their territories.
This jurisdictional conflict has significant implications for quick commerce and other large food businesses operating under central licenses, as reduced state oversight may impact regulatory accountability and public health enforcement effectiveness. The case could set important precedent on balancing roles between state and central food safety agencies in India.
What to watch next
The Bombay High Court will hear the petition on November 26, 2026, where it will consider Maharashtra’s request to suspend the restrictive FSSAI enforcement order. The court’s decision could clarify or reshape food safety enforcement powers between state and central authorities.
Meanwhile, FSSAI is working on new regulations to improve labeling accountability for quick commerce platforms, requiring display of manufacturing dates and batch numbers, reflecting ongoing efforts to tighten oversight in this rapidly growing sector. How these regulatory updates align with court rulings on inspection authority will be key to industry compliance and government oversight going forward.