Six years has passed and India has decided to continue with the ban on import of milk and milk products from China. The ban was imposed in 2008 following the fear that the Chinese dairy products contained melamine, a deadly chemical.
Last week, the Government extended the ban for another year till further orders. Sources in the Union Health Ministry said that the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an advisory saying that following a meeting of the Ministries concerned, the ban has been extended to one year as the neighbouring country has not provided any data addressing the safety concerns.
The ban was to expire on June 23 with the Government in between extending it around thirteen times since 2008 when it was first implemented on the allegations that the dairy products in the neighbouring country had presence of melamine, used for making plastics and fertiliser.
“Ban on import of milk and milk products from China may be extended for a period of one year from June 23, 2013 unless there are dependable reports available about a significant improvement in the situation,” said the sources.
They said, “Consultations were held on June 18 with the concerned departments and Ministries to review the ban on Chinese milk products like chocolates and chocolate products, candies, confectionary, and food preparations made with milk or milk solids.
“The meeting decided the ban be extended for next one year unless there are dependable reports about a significant improvement in the situation,” the sources said.
India, the world’s largest milk producer, does not import milk products from China, but the ban is being imposed as a preventive measure. The country’s milk production is estimated to be 133 million tonne in 2012-13.
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