The Bombay High Court said that Johnson and Johnson should start manufacturing baby powder at their own risk. However, the ban imposed by the Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) on sale and distribution remains in force till November 30.
Bombay High Court directed the state government that baby powder will be newly tested in three laboratories. The court said new samples of powder must be tested within three days and report within a week.
FDA had banned Johnson’s Baby Powder banned on the grounds that it is harmful to health. The FDA of Maharashtra has cancelled Product manufacturing Licence of Johnson’s Baby Powder manufactured by M/s Johnson’s & Johnson’s Pvt. Ltd. after it was found to be ‘Not of Standard Quality’.
On Monday, a division bench of Justices S V Gangapurwala and S G Dige had directed the Maharashtra government to re-examine samples of baby powder manufactured by Johnson & Johnson Pvt Ltd in government or government approved laboratories.
The court asked additional government pleader Milind More to submit names on November 16 of such labs where the tests can be conducted. The court was hearing a petition filed by the company challenging two orders of the state government, one dated September 15 cancelling the licence and the second dated September 20 ordering immediate stop to the manufacturing and sale of the company’s baby powder product.
