India has approved a proposal by Ministry of Agriculture for the export of caesin, a high protein substance found in milk, and other milk products developed by using the ingredient.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the controlling body for import and export in India, has approved the export of casein and related products.

India has prohibited export of casein and casein milk products since February 2011.

An average of 30-35l fresh milk is required to manufacture 1kg of casein, and that was the main reason behind the export ban of the products prepared from casein in February 2011 when the country saw a shortage of milk availability in the domestic market.

The February 2011 banned export list included SMP, whole milk powder, dairy whitener and infant milk powders, casein and casein products, reported The Economic Times.

Casein now comes under restricted category, and those with licence can export the value-added milk and related products.

With 121.8 million tonnes of annual milk production, India is the largest milk producer in the world.

India earned INR5bn ($9438.41m) from the export of milk powder and casein in fiscal 2009-10, and majority of the shipment was to Japan and Europe.