Food standards: SC seeks analysis of all brands of packaged milk

Court gives more time for submission of a report on child abduction cases

LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the authorities concerned to conduct chemical examination of packaged milk of all domestic and international brands available in the market.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar directed the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) to conduct the analysis within a month.

The bench was hearing a petition against sale of substandard milk.

Justice Nisar observed that it was the government’s responsibility to check quality of edible items. He said those conducting the analysis of milk samples might face pressure from vested interests but they should do their job without any fear.

He made Advocate Haider Rasool Mirza coordinator for the matter and adjourned hearing of the petition for four weeks.

Barrister Zafarullah Khan had submitted that like loose milk packaged milk available in the market was also adulterated with chemicals found in detergents. He said it was not fit for human consumption and its use was leading to spread of diseases including cancer and hepatitis-C. He said there was not a single laboratory in the country with the capability to measure contamination of milk and water by chemical products.

The petitioner said milk produced by cattle injected with steroids to boost production was not fit for consumption. He prayed to the court to ban sale of adulterated milk, bottled water and poultry given hormone boosters.

Separately, the Supreme Court on Friday gave more time to the advocate general to submit a report about progress in investigation of child abduction cases in the province.

Earlier, Advocate General Shakilur Rehman told the bench that two members of a steering committee formed by the court were out of country. Justice Nisar observed that anxiety among the public over the safety of their children had come down since the court took notice of the matter. The bench allowed the AG to take more time to submit the report and adjourned hearing for a month.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2016.