FSSAI Licences Get Perpetual Validity
India’s food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has announced a major reform granting perpetual validity to food licences and registration certificates, eliminating the need for periodic renewals for food business operators. The move, approved by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is aimed at improving ease of doing business…
Global Dairy Commodity Prices Show Signs of Rally
Global dairy commodity prices have shown a rally in the first quarter of 2026, particularly for products originating from Australia and New Zealand, according to a new Q1 Global Dairy Quarterly report by Rabobank. The report notes that overall dairy prices have begun to recover in recent months, supported by strong consecutive increases at Global…
Dairy Sector a ‘Safety Net’ for Farmers: NABARD
The Chairman of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Shaji K V, has highlighted the crucial role of India’s dairy industry in protecting rural livelihoods, describing it as a “safety net for farmers” during periods of crop failure or income instability. Speaking at an agri-business event, he said the dairy sector provides regular cash…
Bihar Dairy Officer Arrested in ₹30,000 Bribery Case
A field officer of the district dairy development department in Bihar was arrested by the Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹30,000 in West Champaran district. The accused, Anurag Abhishek, was posted at the department’s office in Banu Chapar, Hajma Tola under Bettiah, and was caught red-handed on Friday by a…
How Walmart Keeps Great Value Milk So Affordable
Retail giant Walmart has managed to keep the price of its private-label Great Value milk significantly lower than many competing brands through a vertically integrated dairy supply chain and direct control over processing. The company began opening its own milk processing facilities in 2018, allowing it to cut out intermediaries and streamline production, logistics, and…
Hatsun Agro Shares Rise After Milk Mantra Merger
The shares of Hatsun Agro Product Limited gained investor attention after the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Cuttack Bench, approved the merger of its wholly owned subsidiary Milk Mantra Dairy Private Limited with the parent company. The tribunal passed the order on March 10, 2026, approving the scheme of amalgamation aimed at consolidating the group’s…
Telugu States Clash Over ‘Vijaya Dairy’ Sales
A fresh dispute has erupted between the governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over the use of the “Vijaya Dairy” brand logo and the sale of its dairy products in Telangana, highlighting continuing tensions between the two states after their 2014 bifurcation. Telangana authorities have raised objections to dairy products from Andhra Pradesh being marketed…
Mandatory Daily Record of Production and Raw Material Utilisation
I recently reviewed the notification issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in the context of Schedule IV of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. Although I came across it a little late, there is still an opportunity for stakeholders to review the implications and…
Heritage Foods inaugurates new Ice Cream Plant
Heritage Foods Limited, a leading dairy company offering a wide range of milk and value-added dairy products, today announced the inauguration of its new greenfield Ice cream manufacturing facility at Shamirpet, near Hyderabad, Telangana. The facility has been developed as part of the company’s strategy to strengthen its value-added dairy portfolio and cater to the…
FSSAI makes registration to all milk vendors in India
The recent advisory issued by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) mandating registration of milk vendors is a timely and progressive step towards strengthening traceability and accountability in India’s milk distribution ecosystem. For a long time, a significant portion of milk in India has been sold in loose or unbranded form through informal…