The government of Maharashtra has formally challenged a directive issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in May 2023. The FSSAI order effectively stripped state food safety officers of their power to conduct inspections on businesses that operate under central licenses, consolidating that oversight authority at the national level.

Maharashtra officials argue that this centralization hinders their ability to monitor food safety standards effectively within the state. By filing a petition with the Bombay High Court, the state is seeking to overturn the order and restore the inspection powers previously held by local authorities. The core of the dispute centers on the balance of power between state-level food safety enforcement and the national regulatory body. While the FSSAI maintains that centralizing oversight creates a uniform standard for large-scale businesses, the Maharashtra government contends that the loss of local inspection capabilities creates a regulatory vacuum that could compromise public health and safety. The court is now tasked with determining whether the FSSAI acted within its legal mandate when it curtailed the inspection powers of state-level officers.