The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an advisory directing milk producers and milk vendors to obtain mandatory registration or a license before starting or continuing their food business operations. The advisory applies to milk producers who are not members of dairy cooperative societies.
According to the advisory, the move is intended to strengthen regulatory compliance in the dairy sector and prevent incidents of milk adulteration. It also aims to ensure safe handling of milk, proper storage practices and protection of public health.
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This comes after recent reports emerged of adulteration in ghee, paneer and other milk products were reported in different cities.
The food regulator has also asked States and Union Territories to conduct special registration drives and enforcement checks to ensure that milk producers and vendors comply with the requirement of obtaining registration or a license.
In its official communication, FSSAI said it had observed that several milk producers and vendors were operating without obtaining registration or licenses required under food safety regulations.
“Advisory regarding mandatory registration/license by Milk Producers (other than members of dairy cooperative societies) / Milk Vendors-reg.It has come to notice that certain milk producers (who are not members of dairy cooperative societies) and milk vendors are operating without registering themselves or obtaining a license for carrying out food business activities,” the authority said.
The authority clarified that the requirement applies to all milk producers who are not registered members of a dairy cooperative society and who do not sell their entire milk supply to such societies.
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“All milk producers (other than those who are registered members of a dairy cooperative society under Cooperative Societies Act and supplies or sells the entire milk to the Society) and milk vendors are hereby advised to mandatorily register themselves with FSSAI, before commencing or continuing their operations,” the statement read.
The authority also pointed out about recent incidents of adulteration, it stated, “In view of recent incidents involving suspected adulteration of milk in all States/UTs, strict compliance with registration/licensing requirements shall be ensured. Enforcement authorities of Central and all States/UTs are requested to direct the concerned Designated Officers/Central Licensing Authorities and Food Safety Officers to verify that all such milk producers and milk vendors possess a valid Registration Certificate or License, as applicable.”
In addition, it also urged local authorities “to inspect milk chillers (used by the milk producer/milk vendors) periodically to ensure proper storage temperature and necessary requirements of the chiller are maintained at all time, so as to prevent spoilage and safeguard public health. Appropriate action may be initiated in cases of non-compliance.”
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States and Union Territories have also been asked to organise special registration drives to ensure that all milk producers who are not part of dairy cooperative societies and milk vendors obtain the required FSSAI registration certificate or license.
The advisory further noted that the food safety regulator had earlier issued a direction for regular enforcement drives related to milk and milk products, it added.
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