In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has struck down a controversial regulation issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), stating that it exceeded the legal scope of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Key Judgment Highlights
A Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia ruled that the 2006 Act applies strictly to food meant for human consumption, and not to animal or cattle feed.
The court emphasized that the definition of “food” under the Act clearly refers to substances intended for human consumption, thereby excluding animal feed from its regulatory ambit.
What Was the Regulation About?
The now-quashed rule prohibited feeding milk- and meat-producing animals with feed containing meat or bone meal of bovine or porcine origin.
It also required commercial animal feed to mandatorily comply with standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Why the Court Struck It Down
The court observed that:
- The regulation attempted to govern animal feed, which falls outside FSSAI’s jurisdiction.
- The Food Safety Act focuses solely on human food safety, not livestock feed.
On BIS certification, the court clarified that under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, compliance with BIS standards is voluntary, and cannot be made mandatory through FSSAI regulations.
Petition Behind the Case
The ruling came in response to a petition filed by Godrej Agrovet Limited, a major player in animal and cattle feed manufacturing, which challenged the legality of the regulation.
What Happens Next?
While the court struck down the FSSAI rule, it clarified that:
- The government can still make BIS standards mandatory
- But only by following the proper legal route under the BIS Act
Why This Matters
This decision clearly defines the regulatory boundaries between food safety laws and animal feed governance in India. It also reinforces that authorities must act strictly within the powers granted by legislation.
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