Govt extends ban on import of milk products from China for 6 months

The government has further extended the ban on import of milk and its products, including chocolates, from China for six months till December 23.

"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 for a further period of six months, i.e., till December 23, 2018 or until further orders," DGFT said in a notification.

The ban was first imposed in September 2008 and later extended from time to time. The last ban imposed by Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ended on June 23 this year.

The ban was imposed on apprehensions of presence of melamine in some some milk consignments from China. Melamine is a toxic chemical used for making plastics and fertilisers.

Although India does not import milk, milk products from China, it has imposed the ban as a preventive measure.

India is the world's largest producer and consumer of milk. It produces around 150 million tonne milk annually.

Uttar Pradesh is the leading state in milk production followed by Rajasthan and Gujarat. 

Meanwhile, the government on Monday has denied media reports cliaming that India has reduced exports of essential goods to Maldives, saying requirements were calculated based on actual utilisation in the recent past and were consistent with the trade agreement between the two sides.

According to reports in a section of the media, India has lowered the limits on the export of certain essential commodities such as potatoes and onions to Maldives.

Reacting to the media reports, that come amid a strain in bilateral ties, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar reiterated that India remains firmly committed to strong people to people ties between the two countries and will ensure that the people of Maldives do not have to endure any hardships.

"The reports are misleading. As highlighted in the recent notification by the Director General of Foreign Trade, the requirements are calculated based on actual utilisation in recent past and is consistent with the mechanism of the trade agreement signed between India and Maldives in 1981," Kumar said.

Ties between India and Maldives nosedived after Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen declared Emergency on February 5 following an order by the country's Supreme Court to release a group of opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. The emergency was lifted 45 days later.