The government has extended the ban on import of milk items from China for one more year till June 2017. As per notification issued by Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), 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 till June 23, 2017 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
India does not import milk products from China, but has imposed the ban as a preventive measure. India had first imposed the ban in September 2008. It was apprehended that some milk consignments from the country contained melamine, a toxic chemical used for making plastics and fertilizers.
India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of milk. The country’s milk production increased from 137.68 million tonnes (MT) in 2013-14 to 146.31 MT in 2014-15. The state of Uttar Pradesh is the leading milk producer, followed by Rajasthan and Gujarat.