law: Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954
  20. Cognizance and
  
  trial of offences. -
  1[(1)   No
  
  prosecution for an offence under this Act, not being an offence under this Sec.
  
  14 or Sec. 14-A] shall be instituted except by, or with the written
  
  consent  of, 2[the Central Government or the State Government 3[***]
  
  or a person authorized in this behalf by general or special order, by the
  
  Central Government or the State Government  2 [***]:
  Provided that a prosecution for
  
  an offence under this Act may be instituted by a purchaser 4 [or recognized
  
  consumer association] referred instituted to in Sec. 12 5[if he or it produces]
  
  in Court a copy of the report of the public analyst along with the complaint.
  6[(2)   No Court
  
  interior to that of Metropolitan Magistrate or a, Judicial Magistrate of
  
  the  first class shall try any offence under this Act.
  (3) Notwithstanding
  
  anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), an
  
  offence, punishable under sub-section (I -AA) of Sec. 16 shall be cognizable
  
  and non-bailable.]
  STATE AMENDMENT
  West Bengal. -For Sec.
  
  20, the following section shall be inserted, namely:"20.  Cognizance
  
  offences and arrest without warrant. -(1) All offences punishable under this
  
  Act shall be cognizable and non-bailable.
  (2) Any police officer
  
  not below the rank of a Sub- Inspector of police may arrest without warrant any
  
  person against whom a reasonable complaint has been made or credible
  
  information has been received 0f his having been concerned in any of the
  
  offences punishable under this Act." 7
  1. Subs. by Act 34 of
  
  1976, Sec. 16 (w.e.f. Ist, April 1976).
  2. Subs by Act 49 to
  
  1964, Sec. II for certain words (w.e.f. Ist March 1965).
  3. The words "or a
  
  local Authority" emitted by Act 34 oi'1976, Sec. 16 I-or certain words 
  
  (w.e.f. Ist April 1976).
  4. Ins. by Act 70 of
  
  1986, Sec. 3 (a) (w.e.f.Ist May, 1987)
  5. Subs. by sec. 3
  
  (b), ibid. (w.e.f. Ist May, for the words "if he produces".
  6. Subs. by Act 34 of
  
  1976, sec. 16.    
  7. Vide the west
  
  Bengal Act (XLII of 1973), published in the Calcutta Gazette, pt. III. No.267,
  
  dated 29th April , 1974 (w.e.f.29th April, 1974).