Mumbai: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 15 said it has initiated prosecution procedures against Cadbury India Ltd, even as the chocolate major unveiled a strategy to ensure quality of products and replace all "questionable" stocks with immediate effect.

"We have initiated the process to prosecute the company, as it has admitted to faulty packaging," FDA commissioner Uttam Khobragade said.

"FDA will file a criminal case against the company in the court within 20 days, and if convicted, the punishment would be imprisonment for three years," he said.

The company had already caused damage to the society and had failed to take care of quality, even as it was increasing production of chocolates, he said, adding the charges would not be withdrawn.

When asked about the suspension of production at the company's Phalton unit in Pune region, the commissioner said, "We found certain shortcomings in the regulatory procedures and have asked them to improve them.

"The company can restart operations at Phalton unit as soon as it rectifies the defects and confirms to FDA regulatory norms," Khobragade said.

The FDA has also banned the movement of a huge consignment of chocolates within the state, according to market sources, even as Cadbury said it has not received any information regarding stalling of their product movements.

Meanwhile, Cadbury managing director Bharat Puri said it has not received any intimation either from the state or FDA regarding the prosecution.

PTI