KARACHI: The Sindh gov­ernment on Monday imp­o­sed a ‘complete’ ban on the sale, purchase and use of the synthetic recombinant bov­ine somatotropin (RBST) inj­ection used for increasing the production of milk in cattle.

The provincial government issued an official notification saying, “in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 144 (6) of the CrPC imposed (a) complete ban on sale/purchase and usage of cattle milk enhancement injections ie bovine somatotropin (RBST) and other related drugs throughout Sindh with immediate effect till further orders.”

Last month, the Supreme Court ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and drug inspectors to check the sale of hormonal injections used to induce dairy cows and buffaloes to produce more milk.

Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, a three-judge bench of the apex court at Karachi registry gave this order while hearing a case pertaining to sale of substandard milk in the city.

Such ban was imposed in Sindh in the aftermath of a recent development according to which the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) decided to direct health departments across the country to recall the synthetic recombinant RBST injection used for increasing the production of milk in cattle.

Sindh government officials said all SHOs of the police stations concerned had been authorised to register complaints under Section 188 of the PPC in writing for violation of Section 144 of the CrPC.

The officials said the Drap’s decision was taken after the Supreme Court vacated a stay granted against the ban of the hormone injection by the Sindh High Court.

The Ministry of National Health Services recently said the apex court vacated the stay against the cancellation of the registration of the RBST injection by Drap.

The officials said the injection was mainly used to increase production of milk in cows.

The officials said after the registration of the injection its excessive use started in the country.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2018