India extends ban on import of milk items from China

The Dollar Business Bureau

The government on Friday extended the ban on import of milk and milk products from China for one more year. The prohibition will continue for another year, or until further notification, whichever is earlier.

The earlier ban on import of milk and milk products, consisting of chocolate and chocolate products, candies, confectionary and all other foods prepared with milk ingredient, was effective till June 23, 2016. The new order, however, will extend till June 23, 2017.   

"Prohibition on import of milk and milk products (including chocolates and chocolate products and candies/ confectionery/ food preparations with milk or milk solids as an ingredient) from China is extended for one more year, i.e., till June 23, 2017 or until further orders, whichever is earlier," the DGFT said in an announcement on Friday.

India had first imposed the ban in 2008, after it found that some milk shipments from China contained melamine, a chemical used for making fertilisers and plastics.

India does not import milk products from its neighbour yet it had imposed the ban as a preventive measure.

India is the world's largest producer of milk. The overall domestic production of milk went up to 146.31 million tonnes in 2014-15 from 137.68 million tonnes in 2013-14.

Uttar Pradesh is the leading milk producer, followed by other states such as Rajasthan and Gujarat.