India milk ban
India further extends ban on imports of milk from China. Credit: Jagoda Kondratiuk / Unsplash.

The Indian Government has further extended the ban on imports of milk, as well as products associated with it from China.

The government first imposed the ban in September 2008, on the apprehensions of the presence of melamine in certain milk consignments from China. Since then, the ban has been extended multiple times.

Melamine is a toxic chemical, which is used in the production of fertilisers.

The Indian food regulatory authority Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recommended extending the ban until all laboratories at the ports are upgraded.

“India is reported to be one of the largest producers and consumers of milk in the world and has a production capacity of 150 million tonnes annually.”

FSSAI said in a notification: “Ban on import of milk, milk products, including chocolates and chocolate products and candies / confectionary / food preparations with milk or milk solids as an ingredient from China may be extended until the capacity of all laboratories at ports of entry have been suitably upgraded for testing melamine.”

The government did not specify a timeline for upgrading laboratories at the ports with equipment to test the melamine content in milk and milk-based products.

India is reported to be one of the largest producers and consumers of milk in the world and has a production capacity of 150 million tonnes annually.

Although it is not a major importer of milk from China, the latest measures have been taken by the government as part of a preventive measure.

The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is reported to be the leading milk-producing state in the country followed by Rajasthan and Gujarat.