Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an advisory directing milk producers and vendors who are not members of dairy cooperative societies to mandatorily obtain registration or licensing before carrying out food business activities.
In a communication issued on Wednesday, the food regulator said it had noticed that several independent milk producers and vendors are operating without valid registration under the food safety framework. The advisory clarified that milk producers who are registered members of dairy cooperative societies and supply their entire milk to the cooperative are exempt from this requirement, highlighting the organised structure and regulatory oversight within the cooperative sector.
FSSAI has asked enforcement authorities across states and Union Territories to ensure strict compliance with the registration and licensing norms. Food Safety Officers have also been instructed to periodically inspect milk chillers used by producers and vendors to ensure proper storage conditions and prevent spoilage.
The advisory comes amid concerns over suspected milk adulteration in several regions. States have been directed to conduct special registration drives to bring independent milk vendors under the regulatory system while ensuring public health safeguards.
