The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a recent notification mandating the registration of primary milk producers, aimed at improving milk safety, traceability, and quality. This move targets the unorganized sector of the dairy industry, especially small and marginal dairy farmers, to raise awareness about clean milk production and address prevalent issues related to contaminants, hormones, and antibiotics in milk.
Creating Awareness on Clean Milk Production:
The registration requirement will drive awareness among farmers about the importance of hygiene and safety protocols during milk production. By bringing dairy farmers under formal oversight, FSSAI aims to educate them on best practices for clean milk production, such as:
- Sanitary conditions during milking
- Proper handling of equipment
- Hygienic storage and transport of milk This awareness campaign will be complemented by training programs that focus on reducing microbial contamination at the source, ensuring that milk reaches consumers in a safer, fresher state.
Addressing Contaminants, Hormones, and Antibiotics in Milk:
One of the core issues the FSSAI seeks to address with this notification is the widespread use of contaminants, adulterants, growth hormones, and antibiotics in milk production. Under the new system in due course of time :
- Farmers will be required to follow strict protocols limiting the use of antibiotics and hormones in dairy animals. This will help ensure that the residual effects of such substances do not make their way into the milk supply.
- This initiative in years to come may get provisions for regular inspections and monitoring and allowing authorities to detect and prevent contamination at an early stage at the farm level itself..
- Milk testing at collection points may be considered for surveillance before it is mainstreamed , ensuring that adulterated or contaminated milk is identified before it enters the broader supply chain. This step is critical to reducing the health risks associated with unsafe milk consumption, which can include antibiotic resistance, hormonal imbalances, and exposure to harmful chemicals.
Enhancing Traceability and Identity Preservation in future:
The registration system is designed to enhance the traceability of milk from farm to table. With a formal system in place, every batch of milk can be traced back to its source, allowing for:
- Better control over milk quality at each stage of the supply chain
- Faster identification of issues such as contamination or adulteration
- Improved identity preservation, ensuring that milk marketed as cow/buffalo/A2/organic or hormone-free is genuinely so, thanks to reliable documentation and traceability protocols.
By making primary milk producers accountable and ensuring they adhere to standardized practices, FSSAI’s notification will improve the overall quality and safety of milk in India. This initiative is aligned with global best practices for food safety, helping India’s dairy sector meet international standards and enhance consumer trust.
In summary, FSSAI’s recent notification is a critical step toward clean milk production in India. By registering primary milk producers and enforcing hygiene standards, the initiative will significantly reduce contaminants and improve milk safety, while enhancing traceability throughout the dairy supply chain. This formalization of the unorganized dairy sector is a win-win for both farmers and consumers.