Chinese chocolates and candies may continue to remain out of bounds of Indians with the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) favouring continuation of ban on import of such products from the neighbouring country for yet another year from June 23, 2013.
The move follows fears of Chinese milk containing melamine a deadly chemical. “Following consultations with various concerned ministries, we have advised the Government to continue the ban on import of milk and milk products from China for yet another year from 23 June, 2013 as there are not sufficient evidence to prove that the products are safe for consumption,” said a senior official from the top food regulator.
The Union Commerce Ministry might soon issue a gazette notification in this regard. This is more than the four years in a row when the imports of milk and milk products from China have been prohibited in the country.
It was in September 2008 that India had banned milk and milk products from China for the first time for three months following reports of deaths and diseases in China due to the consumption of the milk-laced with melamine, a fatal chemical. Till then the ban has continued. The import of chocolates and chocolate products and candies/confectionary/food preparations with milk and milk solids as an ingredient is also included in the ban.
Chinese food products came under scrutiny after the melamine milk scandal in 2008. Official reports had said there were 3,00,000 victims including six infants dying from kidney stones and close to 1,000 babies hospitalised. Melamine appeared to have been added to milk in order to make it appear to have higher protein content.
Following the milk scandal, at least 12 countries banned Chinese dairy products with India banning Chinese chocolates too. The World Health Organization (WHO) referred to the incident as one of the largest food safety events it had had to deal with in recent years.