PUNE:
Extending the ban on Chinese milk products by a year, the Food and Drugs
Administration (FDA) on Friday said that they would initiate strict
action against those found selling them in and around Pune.
The ban on import of milk and milk products, including chocolate products, candies, confectionery and food preparations having milk as an ingredient, from China has been extended from June 23.
"Import of milk and milk products from China has been banned in the country as melamine, an industrial chemical which could prove to be harmful if consumed, was found in some dairy products imported from China. The ban has been in force since 2008 and was extended periodically. An extension in ban of one more year from June 23 has now been granted," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune division.
Melamine is described as being harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Chronic exposure may cause cancer or reproductive damage.
The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India held consultation with the concerned departments and ministries to review the ban on June 6, based on which, the ban has been extended. The ban on Chinese milk products has been extended at least five times since 2008.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade had first banned import of Chinese milk products in September 2008 after reports suggested that they contained melamine, which damages kidneys in the long run.
"Chinese dairy farmers were using this chemical to increase their profit margins. First, they diluted milk by 30% and to show it has good protein content, they added melamine which is rich in nitrogen the way proteins are. A quality control equipment is designed to detect nitrogen and not melamine," said another official.
"Most of the chocolates were passed off as good by the quality control system after the equipment detected required nitrogen content in milk products," the official said.
The ban has also been extended as doubts lingered about any improvement in the quality of milk from China.
The ban on import of milk and milk products, including chocolate products, candies, confectionery and food preparations having milk as an ingredient, from China has been extended from June 23.
"Import of milk and milk products from China has been banned in the country as melamine, an industrial chemical which could prove to be harmful if consumed, was found in some dairy products imported from China. The ban has been in force since 2008 and was extended periodically. An extension in ban of one more year from June 23 has now been granted," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune division.
Melamine is described as being harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Chronic exposure may cause cancer or reproductive damage.
The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India held consultation with the concerned departments and ministries to review the ban on June 6, based on which, the ban has been extended. The ban on Chinese milk products has been extended at least five times since 2008.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade had first banned import of Chinese milk products in September 2008 after reports suggested that they contained melamine, which damages kidneys in the long run.
"Chinese dairy farmers were using this chemical to increase their profit margins. First, they diluted milk by 30% and to show it has good protein content, they added melamine which is rich in nitrogen the way proteins are. A quality control equipment is designed to detect nitrogen and not melamine," said another official.
"Most of the chocolates were passed off as good by the quality control system after the equipment detected required nitrogen content in milk products," the official said.
The ban has also been extended as doubts lingered about any improvement in the quality of milk from China.
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