SC clears way for Milk Vita to produce pasteurised milk

The Supreme Court today cleared the way for Bangladesh Milk Producers’ Co-operative Union Limited (Milk Vita), a state brand milk producing company, to produce, distribute and sell of its pasteurised milk.

Chamber Judge of the Supreme Court Justice Md Nuruzzaman stayed for eight weeks a part of the High Court order that directed Milk Vita to stop production, distribution and sale of pasteurised milk for five weeks.

The apex court chamber judge passed the order following a petition filed by Milk Vita challenging that part of the High Court order.

Attorney general Mahbube Alam appeared for Milk Vita.

Another lawyer of Milk Vita Barrister Mohiuddin Mohammad Hanif Farhad told The Daily Star that the Supreme Court’s stay order will be applicable only for Milk Vita.

The company can now produce, distribute and sale of its pasteurised milk, he said.

Citing the stay petition of Milk Vita, Farhad said the Milk Vita will face crisis if the High Court order remain in force.

The company will sort out problem and resolve it about pasteurised milk, he added.

Yesterday, the High Court asked the authorities concerned to stop production, distribution and sale of pasteurised milk of 14 companies including Milk Vita for the next 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 gave the order after examining three separate 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 level of the contamination could not be immediately known.

The 14 companies are Aftab Milk and Milk Producer Ltd (Aftab), Akij Food and Bev-erage Ltd (Farm Fresh Milk), American Dairy Limited (MOO), Bangladesh Milk Pro-ducers’ Cooperative Limited (Milk Vita), Baro Awlia Dairy Milk and Foods Ltd (Dairy Fresh), BRAC Dairy and Food Project (Aarong Dairy), Danish Dairy Farm Ltd (Ay-ran) 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).