LAHORE - Tea whitener makers will start writing “This is not milk” on new packaging within a month or so in line with directions of the Punjab Food Authority (PFA), sources said.

Sources say the PFA will take action against those who will not follow the directions.

At a recent court hearing, a two-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had started proceedings at Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry and issued notices to seven tea whitener and milk manufacturing companies, including Haleeb, Shakarganj Foods and Dalda Foods. The chief justice said on this occasion that he himself was unaware of difference between a tea whitener and milk.

A PFA spokesman told The Nation that there was no deadlock between tea whitener companies and the regulator and “we are in the process of implementing the court orders”.

“The companies, which have stocks in the market, are waiting for the stocks to be sold out. After that, all companies will be told to write “This is not milk” on the packaging of tea whiteners according to PFA directions,” the spokesman said.

Earlier, PFA Director General Noorul Amin Mengal said brands had already agreed to start printing “This is not milk” on the packaging of tea whiteners. “We will implement PFA directions in letter and spirit,” he said.

The PFA had issued notices to food production units in March last year to write “This is not milk” on 15 percent of a tea whitener’s packaging by June 1. They were told they would face action if they do not follow the instructions.

In a related development, the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) government has sought PFA’s assistance to set up its own food regulator on the pattern of PFA. A delegation of the GB administration called on PFA DG Noorul Amin Mengal on Tuesday to discuss this issue.