In a significant order, the Bombay High Court has held that the Union Government cannot ban exports of any product with retrospective effect, while allowing a private company to go ahead with exports of milk powder.

It also said that such restriction cannot be applied to concluded contracts where letters of credit were opened prior to the imposition of the ban.

The order was passed on a petition filed by Parag Milk Foods Pvt Ltd challenging the Government notification issued on February 18 this year, banning export of milk products to meet the demand in domestic market.