HC seeks test reports of toned milk, curd sold in Valley

Srinagar: To prevent sale of spurious milk, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed authorities to fortnightly lift samples of toned milk and curd and submit laboratory details about the merchandise before it.

However, in case of Khyber Agro, a division bench of Justices Hasnain Massodi and Tashi Rabstan directed authorities to lift samples at least once a week.

“In order to ensure that M/S Khyber Agro Milk is prevented from selling the spurious and synthetic milk to the consumers, authorities are directed to lift samples from the toned milk, skimmed milk, full fat milk or any other type of milk under whatever name marketed and curd marketed by (it), at least once in a week and to forward the samples, so taken to laboratory within the state as also to the Referral Laboratory at Pune or any other such laboratory as identified by Food Authority,” the court said, asking the authorities to produce the analysis report of the samples before the court.

The bench also directed the authorities to lift the samples from the food items marketed by M/S Avon and Kanwal Foods at random “at least once in two weeks.”

“Forward the samples to notified laboratory within the state as also to Referral Laboratory for analysis and produce the results/analysis report before the court,” the court said.

It also directed the authorities to launch prosecution against the manufacturers, dealers, distributors wherever required in light of the analysis reports.

“The authorities are directed to inform the court whether prosecution against M/S Khyber Agro Milk Farms Ltd has been launched after the receipt of analysis reports mentioned in order dated December 23, 2013,” the court said, directing authorities to file status report by next date of hearing.

The court was hearing a PIL—Sheikh Ayoub Vs State— seeking implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 (FSSA) to check food adulteration in the state.

The court also directed government to submit status report regarding the strengthened staff as envisaged by the FSSA, staff recruited from the date Act came into force.

“The status report shall also indicate the particulars of Designated Officers for each district and Food Safety Officer and Food Analyst for each local area with their respective territorial jurisdiction,” the court added.