Shimla, Dec 26 (IANS) 

The Himachal Pradesh High Court Thursday vacated the stay on the state government's notification banning 25 junk food items in plastic packaging and directed it to implement the ban in the state from Jan 26 next year.

However, the ban excludes drinking water, both packed and mineral.

A division bench of Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice V.K. Sharma further directed the government to ensure that edible oils and fats should not be sold in plastic bottles and pouches and instead should be packed in tin containers.

The bench also directed the government to ensure that from March 31 no foodstuff, including primary and essential food, is manufactured, transported, sold, packaged and distributed without conforming to the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 and Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulation of 2011.

The court also directed the state to appoint a food commissioner, if not already appointed, within four weeks. It directed the government to ensure that no person is permitted to commence or carry on any food business without obtaining a license.

The court had reserved its judgment Dec 6.

As per the court's judgment, eatables like potato chips, cookies, candy, chewing-gum, ice-cream, chocolates and noodles would not be available in polythene packets.