44.19 pc brands of breast milk substitutes unregistered

Cab conducted the survey on breast milk substitutes in the capital during the months of July-August.

It was found in the survey that a total of 43 brands of breast milk substitutes of nine foreign companies are being sold in the market. Of them, 53.49 brands did not mention the names of local agents and 58.13 did not write the addresses of the local agents on the labels of the products.

"An ordinance on breast-milk substitutes said no person shall promote any breast milk substitutes either by advertisement or by offering any gift, prize, discount coupon, or other free items or by any other means," said Borhan Ahmed, president of Cab while addressing a view exchange meeting on the survey at its office in Shegunbagicha in the city.

'But, according to the Cab survey, 97.67 per cent labels of the breast-milk substitutes use persuasive languages and 53.48 per cent labels display feeder pictures ignoring the existing law', he added.

Cab General Secretary Quazi Faruque said 24 brands of breast milk substitutes are being sold without registration for years.

He also said the government is losing good amount of revenues due to indifference of Institute of Public Health and Nutrition (IPHN) about the registration of breast milk substitutes.

Cab leaders urged the government to take strong measures to stop the non-registration of breast milk substitutes, as most of them have lack of proper ingredients, which is affecting the children's physical and mental growth.