Milk Valley, a company that sells cow’s milk through home delivery services, has been fined Tk 50,000 by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) for several alleged violations, including selling ghee and mustard oil without approval from the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI).
The fine was imposed during a raid at the company’s outlet and milk packaging facility in Uttara, Dhaka, on Tuesday afternoon.
The operation was led by Mohammad Hasanuzzaman, office chief and assistant director of the DNCRP’s Dhaka district office.
During the inspection, officials found that Milk Valley’s milk packaging stated that the product could be consumed for up to 15 days after packaging. However, the company could not provide a satisfactory explanation or supporting basis for determining the 15-day shelf life, officials said.
Inspectors also found some chemical substances at the milk packaging facility. The company failed to provide a satisfactory explanation about the purpose for which the chemicals were being used, according to the DNCRP.
Officials further found that the milk packages did not carry batch numbers.
The inspection also revealed that the company was selling ghee and mustard oil without the required BSTI approval.
The DNCRP fined Milk Valley Tk 50,000 under the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009, citing the violations as detrimental to consumer interests.
The company has also been instructed to appear before the DNCRP within two days with a proper explanation and valid approval documents. Failure to comply may result in further legal action, officials said.
In a separate action in Uttara, Al Razzak Live Bakery was fined Tk 20,000 for producing bread without BSTI approval, failing to mention expiry dates on product packaging, and processing bread and cakes in an unhygienic environment.
Another establishment, Al Arabian, was fined Tk 30,000 for keeping stickers indicating the expiry dates of cakes at its outlet, according to the DNCRP.
At the end of the operations, Hasanuzzaman said three establishments in Uttara had been fined a total of Tk 100,000 for offences against consumer interests.
“Regular drives by the consumer rights authority will continue to protect the interests of consumers,” he said.
