LAHORE: The number of raids and legal actions by the Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Department on the farms using banned injections of rBST/hormones on cattle for more milk production has reduced throughout Punjab since July 2015.

The department with the Punjab Livestock Breeding Authority has been taking action against violation of de-registration and official ban order since its imposition on July 4, 2015.

The number of raids at retail stores and farm houses and seizure of injections has increased considerably from July 2014 to May 2016.

Statistics available with Dawn show that district field formations of livestock department have conducted 2,795 raids at retail stores and seized 15,037 injections. Officials got only two FIRs lodged and also visited 2,976 farms for inspection during the period under review.

However, the department has conducted two major actions in Gawala Colony of Harbanspura in Lahore and Hassanabdal and seized banned injections with registration of one FIR from June 2016 todate.

A provincial home department’s order issued on July 4, 2015 states ‘It has been observed by the department that rBST/rGST is a very dangerous/controversial genetically modified (GM) growth hormone/drug which results in severe and unnecessary pain, suffering and distress in cows associated with serious mouth foot disorders and reproductive problems. The drug can cause lameness in cows which is the highest degree of cruelty that can be purported to animals with devastation to their reproductive systems.”Sale/purchase and use of injections (Boostin, Somatech), all other products carrying GM, artificially created hormones, rBST and rGST etc will be prohibited under Section 144(6) of CrPC 1898 from July 4, 2015 to July 14, 2016”, according to an official order.

An official in the PLDDD claims the home department’s order though have expired on July 14, 2016 and has yet to be expanded, but department is taking action sale/purchase and use of such injections solely on ground of de-registration.

He says the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) first cancelled the registration of two companies currently importing injections in 2015 after the Lahore High Court ruled in favour of the petition filed by the Punjab Livestock Breeding Authority against registration of injections.

He said the cancellation of registration followed the order of the provincial home department which led to a province-wise action.

The official said two companies who faced cancellation of registration in the light of an LHC decision moved to the Sindh High Court to seek stay, but the Punjab government is still continuing enforcement.

He said some quantity of injections is usually smuggled into Punjab from Sindh and KPK and is being used by not more than one percent cattle owners out of around 7 million registered livestock farmers in the province.

Published in Dawn January 22nd, 2017