BS RAWAT
NEW DELHI : The Indian government has extended the ban on import of milk and its products, including chocolates and chocolate products and confectionery or food preparations with milk and milk solids, for another three months.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had recommended extending the ban until all labs at ports are modernized to test the chemical including melamine.

“The issue was reviewed in a meeting held in FSSAI on April 5, 2019, with the concerned Departments/Ministries of  the Central Government, wherein it was recommended that the ban on import of milk and its products from China be extended until the capacity of all laboratories at ports of entry have been suitably upgraded,” FSSAI said in a statement.

"Subsequently, the ban was extended from time to time, vide various notifications the last being notification No 46/2015-2020 dated December 24, 2018 which extended  the ban upto April 23, 2019,” the statement said.

The latest ban imposed by the FSSAI ended on April 23, 2019.

According to the FSSAI officials, the ban was imposed on apprehensions of presence of melamine in some milk consignments from China. Melamine is a toxic chemical used for making plastics and fertilizers.