Government extends ban on import of Chinese milk products, chocolates

The ban was first imposed in September 2008

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has released a notification on prohibition on import of milk and milk products from China.

The ban on import of milk and its products, including chocolates, from China till laboratories at ports for testing presence of toxic chemical melamine are upgraded.

Food regulator FSSAI had recommended extending the ban until all labs at ports are modernised to test the chemical.

The notification by DGFT says, “Prohibition on import of milk, milk products (including chocolates, chocolate products, candies/confectionary/ food preparations with milk or milk solids as an ingredient) from China is extended until the capacity of all laboratories at ports of entry have been suitably upgraded for testing melamine.”

The ban was first imposed in September 2008 and extended subsequently from time to time. The latest ban imposed by the government ended on 23 April 2019.