India extends ban on import of milk items from China till June 2015

June 24, 2014

The Indian government extended the ban on imports of milk and its products from China till June 2015. With this the ban 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.
The ban, first imposed in September 2008 due to presence of melamine, used for making plastics and fertilizer, was to expire on June 23, 2014. Though India does not import milk products from China but the ban has been imposed as a preventive measure.
India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of milk. Milk production in India is estimated to have increased by 6% to about 140 million tonnes in 2013-14 from 132.4 million tonnes during the fiscal 2012-13.
Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of milk in India, followed by Rajasthan and Gujarat. The per capita consumption was highest in Punjab followed by Haryana in fiscal 2013-14.