LAHORE: In a significant ruling, the Drug Court in Lahore has ordered urgent action to regulate the manufacturing, sale, and quality control of baby milk, infant formula, and other baby food products across Pakistan.
The directive comes after a petition raised alarm over the availability of substandard and unregistered baby food items allegedly linked to serious health issues among infants. The court acknowledged critical regulatory gaps that have left these widely used products virtually unmonitored.
Drug Court Chairman Muhammad Naveed Rana highlighted that although laws like the Drugs Act 1940, the Drugs Act 1976, and the DRAP Act 2012 exist, there remains no defined framework to test or oversee the quality of these products. He expressed concern that not a single Drug Testing Laboratory (DTL) in the country is equipped to assess the safety and composition of baby milk and formula products.
The court found it especially troubling that, despite baby foods often containing over 40 ingredients—including vitamins and minerals—there is no system to verify manufacturers’ claims about these contents.
“There is no designated authority monitoring the sale of these products,” Judge Rana observed. “It’s alarming that not one case has been filed against any company for selling unregistered or low-quality baby formula.”
According to the judgment, poor-quality infant formula has been associated with malnutrition, weakened immune systems, digestive disorders, and developmental delays, posing serious risks to children’s health. A medical report cited in the case confirmed that such products are harming thousands of newborns, many of whom consume them based on doctors’ recommendations.
The court also criticized the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) for failing to take legal action against substandard baby food products. Although DRAP has enlisted 291 products under the Alternative Medicines and Health Products (Enlistment) Rules, 2014, no penalties or enforcement measures have been reported since DRAP’s formation in 2012.
Judge Rana emphasized that under the 18th Amendment, provincial governments have the power to enact their own health and safety regulations and urged them to take swift legislative action.
He directed DRAP, the Punjab Director General of Drugs Control, and the Secretary of the Provincial Quality Control Board to develop and implement a comprehensive regulatory and testing framework for baby food products. The court has given them three months to report back on progress, with the next hearing scheduled for June 16.
The judgment also called upon the federal and provincial health and law ministries to act immediately in the interest of safeguarding infant health, described as vital to the future of the nation.
Official copies of the court’s order have been sent to the federal health and law ministers, the Punjab chief minister, and other relevant authorities for immediate follow-up.
The decision was endorsed by Drug Court technical members Dr. Tanvir Ahmad Usmani and Muhammad Irfan Munir.
The case was filed by petitioner Mujahid Abbas, who argued that infant formula must be strictly regulated under existing drug laws. He highlighted the health dangers posed by untested formula products and criticized the high prices charged by companies for these essential items.
