Health minister orders DRAP to test infant formula sold in Pakistan for ingredients and safety

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has directed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to collect samples of infant formula and other breast milk substitutes sold in Pakistan and test their ingredients and safety, ProPakistani reported on Wednesday 4 November.

He gave the order at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, where lawmakers raised concerns about how formula milk is advertised and whether the Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Act 2002 is being enforced.

What was said in the committee

• Senators Anusha Rahman and Shahzaib Durrani called for stricter enforcement of the 2002 law, which restricts the promotion and advertising of breast milk substitutes, and said companies should not market infant formula as ordinary milk.
• DRAP chief executive Dr Obaidullah said the authority regulates infant formula under its rules for alternative medicines and food products.
• Committee chairman Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti said the disclaimer "Mother's Milk is the Best for a Child" had appeared in advertisements on 29 television channels, but one company had won a stay order from the Islamabad High Court against the notice requiring it.
• PEMRA chairperson Amberin Jan confirmed the court challenge and said PEMRA had asked the Pakistan Broadcasters Association to make sure the disclaimer runs on other channels.

The minister also said he understood the difficulties of mothers who cannot breastfeed, and that the government is preparing an advertisement to promote breastfeeding.

What it means for parents

No product has been found unsafe and nothing has been recalled: the order is for sampling and testing. Until DRAP reports, there is no reason to stop a formula your child is doing well on, and switching suddenly can upset a baby's stomach. Practical steps in the meantime:

1. Buy sealed tins from a pharmacy or large store, check the expiry date and that the label carries the importer's or maker's name and registration details.
2. Avoid loose or repacked formula and tins without an Urdu or English label.
3. Follow the scoop and water ratio on the tin, using boiled water cooled to a safe temperature.
4. Ask your child's doctor before changing brands or moving from formula to ordinary milk.

DRAP publishes recalls and alerts on its website, and we collect them on our medicine recall alerts page. Formula is a big monthly cost for many families; our salary breakdown calculator can help you plan a household budget around it.

We will update this story when DRAP shares the results of its testing.