Milk adulteration: FSSAI license mandatory for 2,036 dairy units, suppliers involved in trade in East Godavari

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has now made it mandatory for 2,036 milk vendors, suppliers, and dairy units involved in the milk trade in the East Godavari district, to obtain licence from the FSSAI.

The move came into force with immediate effect in the wake of the death of 16 consumers after consuming milk, adulterated with ‘Ethylene Glycol’, that was supplied by one vendor on February 14 and 15 in Rajamahendravaram City. Eight of the deceased are elderly women. Two elderly people have survived, and two infants who consumed the adulterated milk are still battling for life with acute renal failure. 

On February 14 and 15, the milk vendor, Addala Ganeswara Rao, of Narsapuram village in Kurukonda Mandal in East Godavari district, had allegedly supplied adulterated milk to 110 customers in Rajamahendravaram city.

Two-member committee

In a meeting on the action plan to prevent adulteration of milk, East Godavari District Collector Kirthi Chekuri has constituted a two-member committee to enable licensing of the 2,036 stakeholders directly involved in the dairy section and milk supply in the district. The committee comprises district Animal Husbandry Officer Dr. T. Srinivasa Rao and district Food Safety Officer Dr. K. Supriya.

In a joint survey conducted by the Animal Husbandry Department, as many as 661 milk vendors who are running small dairy units, 650 suppliers who supply milk at the doorstep of the consumer, and 725 milk vendors are engaged in the dairy sector without obtaining any license to carry out their operations in the East Godavari district. 

₹5 lakh fine

“The two-member committee is tasked with ensuring that all the 2,036 stakeholders involved in the dairy sector register and obtain a licence from the FSSAI for their trade with immediate effect. Those involved in the milk supply chain will be fined ₹5 lakh if they fail to obtain the FSSAI license,” said Ms. Kirthi. The Animal Husbandry officials have assured to assist the dairy farmers and supplies for the registration and licensing tasks.