India Extends Ban on Milk Products from China by Another Six Months

Ban was imposed in 2008 after traces of melamine - a chemical which can cause problems such as kidney stones — were found in their milk products

India has extended the ban on Chinese milk and milk products for another six months, a government statement said.

"The central government further extends the 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," a notification issued on 24 June 2010 by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The text of the notification is giving below.

The ban came into existence on December 1, 2008 for one year and was extended for a period of six months on December 23, 2009.

The DGFT's order, however, did not give any reason for the extension of the ban.

[DGFT Notification No. 49 dated 24th June 2010]

Subject: Prohibition on import of milk and milk products from China.

In exercise of powers conferred by Section 5, read along with Section 3(2) of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, also read along with paragraph 2.1 of Foreign Trade Policy, 2009-14, the Central Government hereby further extends the prohibition on import of milk and milk products including chocolates and chocolate products and candies/ confectionary/ food preparations with milk or milk solids as an ingredient, from China, imposed vide Notification No. 67(RE-2008)/2004-2009 dated 1st December, 2008 and extended vide Notification No. 22/2009-2014 dated 23rd Dec, 2009, for a period of six months from 24th June,2010 and until further orders.

2. This issues in public interest.