LAHORE: Authorities will resume routine checking of quality of milk from Monday (today) after an official committee and representatives of Milk Sellers and Suppliers Association agreed on a mechanism.

Checking of milk as part of an anti-adulteration drive in districtswas stopped by the government till Sunday after suppliers and sellers staged a protest in Lahore a few days ago.

Under the new mechanism, milk being transported to major cities -Lahore from Okara and Sahiwal and Lahore`s adjoining Kasur or Sheikhupura districts -will not be discarded before it is proved adulterated and unhygienic, Dawn learnt.

According to milk suppliers, committees had been constituted at tehsil level to check quality of milk, its clearance if proved hygienic and onward supply to vendors and consumers.

`It has been decided that ourmilk will not be drained by checking teams till it is proved unhygienic,` Milk Sellers and Suppliers Association Chairman Rana Irshad Khan told Dawn on Sunday.

He said under the new mechanism, each committee would comprise the respective assistant commissioner, representatives of local food and health officials and three representatives of milk association.

Checking teams and representatives of suppliers will be provided with l
`Government and our teams will have same kits and the test will beconducted in front of our men. If the process proves our milk is unhygienic, the team can drain or discard it on the spot and we will not resist or object to the action,` he explained.

When asked if the milk was checked again by other official teams on the way to Lahore, Khan said suppliers` men would not resist such actions either.

`If our milk containers are stopped on the way by other official teams for checking despite being checl(ed at the origin, we will cooperate with them. But they will check the milk quality with the same kitsconducted in front of our men. If the process proves our milk is unhygienic, the team can drain or discard it on the spot and we will not resist or object to the action,` he explained.

When asked if the milk was checked again by other official teams on the way to Lahore, Khan said suppliers` men would not resist such actions either.

`If our milk containers are stopped on the way by other official teams for checking despite being checl(ed at the origin, we will cooperate with them. But they will check the milk quality with the same kitsconducted in front of our men. If the process proves our milk is unhygienic, the team can drain or discard it on the spot and we will not resist or object to the action,` he explained.

When asked if the milk was checked again by other official teams on the way to Lahore, Khan said suppliers` men would not resist such actions either.

`If our milk containers are stopped on the way by other official teams for checking despite being checl(ed at the origin, we will cooperate with them. But they will check the milk quality with the same kits as decided in Saturday`s meeting,` he added.

However, he said, if milk was cleared at the origin and adulterated by staff of suppliers and sellers on the way, rechecl(ed by an official team on the way to or at Lahore`s exit/entry points by Punjab Food Authority (PFA) teams and found unhygienic after testing, it could be drained and suppliers arrested besides cases registered against them.

Hesaidameetingbetween senior PFA officials and association representatives would be held in Lahore on Monday (today) to decidecomprehensively the standard of milk to be brought and supplied in Lahore.

Talking to Dawn, Lahore Commissioner Abdullah Sumbal confirmed milk would be checked in front of teshil committees or their representatives as well as representatives of suppliers.

`Although suppliers have agreed to the new mechanism, they have certain reservations about checking criteria of the PFA. We believe the PFA`s checking is absolutely fine. A decision would soon be taken. But there would be no compromise on the quality of milk, he explained.