January 4, 2011

Nepal to implement milk quality control monitoring

The government of Nepal will monitor packaged milks to control the quality of milk being supplied in the Kathmandu Valley.

Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) has decided to carry out quality-test of milks through Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) and make the report public. Following complaints from consumers on quality of dairy milks, CMC has decided to check the quality of milk in the Valley, as provided in the Consumer Protection Act. Going a step further on earlier tests, CMC has decided to publish the report of such tests, said Kamal Bahadur Thapa, inspection officer at Department of Commerce (DoC).

"It will help consumers choose the best," he said. Earlier reports only mentioned the number of samples without naming the companies. In 2009-10, DFTQC had found rampant sale of sub-standard milk in the Kathmandu markets. Annual report of the department shows 13 out of 55 samples were contaminated while low fat and sweetness were common.

Even trusted brands have not met 3% fat and 8% SNF (sweetness) parameter in packaged milk. The department had found major quality problems in bottled water, dairy milk, and edible oils. Of the 68 bottled water brands tested, 32 were found to be contaminated and 17 out of 31 edible oil brands had the same problem.

CMC has formed two committees to develop market monitoring plans for goods and services. Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) official Om Prakash Bansal has been nominated for goods sector plan and Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) officer Bhupendra Thapa for services sector plan.

CMC has apparently taken note of growing price of medicine and directed MoPH to review rent of medicine shops inside major hospitals. High rentals or leasing prices of medicine shops finally reflect in medicine prices.