Pasteurised milk: 11 more companies get SC clearance

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today cleared the way for 11 more companies to produce, distribute and sell pasteurised milk.

Justice Md Nuruzzaman, chamber judge of the Appellate Division of SC, stayed for five weeks the HC order that had directed 14 companies to stop production, distribution and sale of their pasteurised milk for five weeks.

The chamber judge passed the order after hearing 11 separate petitions filed by the companies seeking stay on the HC order.

The 11 companies are Aftab Milk and Milk Products Ltd (Aftab), American Dairy Limited (MOO), BaroAwlia 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), Uttar Bango Dairy (Ultra), Purbo Bangla Dairy Food Industries (Arwa) and Tania Dairy and Food Products (Safe).

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam appeared for the 11 companies as an individual lawyer.

Following the SC order, there is no bar for the 11 companies to produce, distribute and sell their pasteurised milk, the AG said.

Earlier on Monday and Tuesday, the SC’s chamber judge cleared the wayfor Bangladesh Milk Producers Cooperative Union Limited (Milk Vita), Akij Food and Beverage Ltd (Farm Fresh Milk), and Pran Dairy Ltd (Pran Milk)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.

It stayed the HC order for the two other companies for five weeks. 

The chamber judge passed the orders on Monday and Tuesdayafter holding hearing ofseparate petitions filed by the three companies seeking stay on the HC order.

On Sunday, the HC bench of Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir Lytton ordered the authorities of 14 companies, registered with the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute (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.