In May this year, authorities ordered the withdrawal of all SMC Plus electrolyte drinks from the market. Following this, Acme Group, responsible for producing the drinks, filed a writ in the High Court, which then stayed the order to withdraw the products.
In August, the High Court extended the suspension for another year. Acme Agrovet and Beverages Ltd, the producer of SMC Plus, had introduced electrolyte drinks in Bangladesh and maintained that no deliberate wrongdoing occurred. The company pointed out that the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) did not offer a product approval process, making it difficult to seek formal approval. When approached, the company was advised to proceed with production, with approval to follow once the criteria for this product category were established. Similar products exist in various countries.
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Additionally, the company stated that approval from drug authorities was not necessary for such drinks. After a fine and the initial withdrawal order, the company immediately filed a writ with the High Court, which resulted in a ruling that suspended the earlier decision. As a result, production and distribution activities of SMC Plus have now resumed.
The case for banning several electrolyte drinks, including SMC Plus, was originally filed by an inspector of the Safe Food Authority in mid-May.
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