August 16, 2001

    India has been removing restrictions on imports in a phased manner since 1991. In this process import restrictions on some items of milk and milk products were removed on March 31, 2000 and others on March 31, 2001. Total imports of milk products have in fact started declining and were of the order of Rs. 4808.64 lakhs during 2000-2001 as against Rs. 18040.68 lakhs in 1999-2000.

    National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has reported some incidents of import of milk products like cheese, butter, cream and UHT milk in consumer packs not conforming to some of labeling provisions and declaration of Maximum Retail Price under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act and Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) rules, 1977. Use of animal rennet is not banned under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1995.

   Government has taken few corrective actions. Ministry of Health which is the administrative Ministry for PFA Act and Rules, has instructed all the State Governments to exercise vigil to ensure that the quality of all food articles whether imported or indigenously produced and marketed, are subject to regular checking to ensure that the quality of food items, whether imported or indigenously produced, sold in the market conform to the provisions of PFA Act, 1954 and PFA Rules, 1955.

    Ministry of Commerce and Industry vide notification of November 24, 2000 has ordered that all such packaged products, which are subject to provisions of Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977 when produced/packed/sold in domestic market, shall be subject to compliance of all the provisions of the said rules, when imported into India.

    The Department of Revenue vide letter dated March 13, 2001 addressed to all Chief Commissioners of Customs and all Chief Commissioners of Custom and Central Excise has instructed to issue instructions to their subordinate officers to take adequate care in disposal of such uncleared cargo of food items and to ensure that it conforms to all the requirements under PFA Act before these are cleared for home consumption. It has also been instructed that price for disposal of such goods should be fixed considering the market price of such goods so that the interests of consumer/industry is duly protected.

    Ministry of Agriculture, Department of animal Husbandry & Dairying, on its part, has also, vide Notification published vide S.O No.655(E) dated July 7, 2001 restricted, with effect from the date of publication of this notification, the import into India of all livestock products including milk and milk products.

    The above was stated through a written reply by Shri Ajit Singh, Union Minister for Agriculture today in Lok Sabha.