The Food Safety and Standards of Authority of India (FSSAI) has recommended that the ongoing ban on import of Chinese milk and milk products including confectionery, should be extended till labs at Indian ports are equipped for melamine testing.
The Indian government had first imposed a ban on import of Chinese milk and milk products in 2008, when milk and infant formula products along with other food materials were found contaminated with melamine in China.
The ban has since been extended from time to time. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) had last notified an extension on December 24, 2018 till April 23, 2019.
The food safety authority said that it reviewed the issue in a meeting held on April 5, with the concerned Ministries and departments.
“Accordingly ban on import of milk and milk products, including chocolates and chocolate products and candies/ confectionery/ food preparations from milk and milk solids as ingredients from China may be extended until the capacity of all laboratories at ports of entry have been suitably upgraded for testing melamine,” FSSAI said in its advisory letter.
China’s dairy products have been under a cloud, since the milk scare incident happened a decade ago.
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