Akij, Pran can also produce pasteurised milk

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today cleared the way for Akij Food and Beverage Ltd (Farm Fresh Milk) and Pran Dairy Ltd (Pran Milk) to produce, distribute and sell pasteurised milk.

Justice Md Nuruzzaman, chamber judge of the Appellate Division, stayed for five weeks parts of the HC order that directed Akij Food and Beverage Ltd and Pran Dairy Ltd to stop production, distribution and sale of pasteurised milk for five weeks.

The chamber judge passed the order after hearing two separate petitions filed by the companies seeking stay on those parts of the HC order.

The court also asked the two companies to file separate petitions with this court challenging the HC order in five weeks.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, who appeared for the two companies as an individual lawyer, told The Daily Star that the level of lead and antibiotics in the pasteurised milk of Akij Food and Beverage Ltd (Farm Fresh Milk) and Pran Dairy Ltd (Pran Milk) did not cross the danger level.

Following the SC order, there is no bar for the two companies to produce, distribute and sell their pasteurised milk, the AG added.

Earlier yesterday, the SC’s chamber judge cleared the wayfor Bangladesh Milk Producers Cooperative Union Limited (Milk Vita) to produce, distribute and sell pasteurised milk.

The court stayed for eight weeks part of the HC order that directed Milk Vita to stop production, distribution and sale of pasteurised milk for five weeks.

The chamber judge passed the order following a petition filed by Milk Vita challenging that part of the HC order.

On Sunday, HC bench of Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir Lytton ordered the authorities of 14 companies, registered with the BSTI, to stop production, distribution and sale of pasteurised milk for five weeks.

It also directed the authorities to guard against purchase and consumption of pasteurised milk of these companies, including some top brands such as Aarong, Igloo, Milk Vita (state-run) and Pran.

The HC bench issued the order after examining three laboratory test reports, which found that the milk of these companies contains antibiotics -- Oxytetracycline, Tetracycline and Ciprofloxacin -- as well as lead, a harmful heavy metal.

The 14 companies are Aftab Milk and Milk Products Ltd (Aftab), Akij Food and Beverage Ltd (Farm Fresh Milk), American Dairy Limited (MOO), Bangladesh Milk Producers Cooperative Limited (Milk Vita), Baro Awlia Dairy Milk and Foods Ltd (Dairy Fresh), Brac Dairy and Food Project (Aarong Dairy), Danish Dairy Farm Ltd (Ayran), Ichhamoti Dairy and Food Products (PURA), Igloo Dairy Limited (Igloo), Pran Dairy Ltd (Pran Milk), Uttar Bango Dairy (Ultra), Purbo Bangla Dairy Food Industries (Arwa) and Tania Dairy and Food Products (Safe).