A significant ruling by the Lahore Drug Court has urged authorities to immediately regulate the production, sale, and quality of infant formula, baby food, and similar products. This decision was made after a petition raised alarms about substandard and unregistered baby food affecting the health of infants across Pakistan.
Judge Muhammad Naveed Rana highlighted that none of the drug testing laboratories in the country are equipped to analyze the contents or quality of infant food, leaving these products largely unchecked. The lack of a dedicated authority to monitor their distribution has further worsened the situation.
The court revealed that many baby formulas claim to contain over 40 ingredients, including essential vitamins and minerals, but there’s no system in place to verify these claims. Poor-quality infant formula has been linked to malnutrition, weakened immunity, developmental issues, and even contamination, posing serious risks to infant health. Despite these challenges, no legal actions have been taken against manufacturers or sellers of substandard baby food products.
The judgment also noted that DRAP has categorized 291 baby food products under the Alternative Medicines and Health Products rules since 2014. However, no significant measures have been implemented to penalize the production or sale of harmful items. A medical report further exposed the serious health dangers caused by unregulated formula milk, affecting thousands of newborns fed these products on medical advice.
The court criticized the inaction of relevant authorities and directed DRAP, the Punjab Drug Control Office, and the Provincial Quality Control Board to create regulations and testing systems for infant food within three months. The judgment stressed that provinces, under their legislative powers granted by the 18th Amendment, must step up to protect public health.
The court warned that the health of infants, considered the nation’s future, cannot be compromised. Immediate action was demanded from federal and provincial authorities. Copies of the order have been sent to key officials, including the federal health and law ministers, Punjab’s chief minister, and other relevant stakeholders.
The case was filed by Mujahid Abbas, who argued for including baby formulas under existing drug laws to ensure better quality and affordability. The petitioner also highlighted excessive prices of baby food products and the absence of infrastructure to verify their safety.
