December 30, 2019
 

Indian dairy feed producers told to meet safety standard

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has set a deadline of June 10, 2020 for feed manufacturers to comply with regulatory standards prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). It has also banned feed imports which do not have the BIS certification mark, The New Indian Express reported.

Cattle feed is a major source by which milk gets contaminated with Aflatoxin M1, a carcinogen. The order by the FSSAI has been issued to all States, two months after a national-level survey revealed the presence of the carcinogen in milk samples taken from Tamil Nadu and a few other States.

FSSAI has said foods of animal origin (such as milk) are occasionally found to be non-compliant with relevant standards prescribed under the law. It is studying the possibility of framing feed regulations, supported with appropriate amendments to the Food Safety Act. "On an interim basis, it has been decided that commercial feeds and feed materials intended for food-producing animals (such as cattle and sheep) shall comply with relevant BIS standards and shall not be manufactured/imported, distributed and sold except under BIS certification mark," said the directive issued on December 10 by P Karthikeyan, deputy director, FSSAI, New Delhi.

Milk producers say cattle feed ingredients are sourced from small-scale companies in rural parts of the State and currently there are no provisions to monitor quality standards.

"Most farmers will not even weigh the feed purchased. Regulation of cattle feed may be appreciated, but a majority of dairy farmers are unaware of the standards and other safety parameters," said M G Rajendran, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Milk Producers' Welfare Association (TNMPWS).

Tamil Nadu Food Grain Merchants Association State president S P Jayaprakasam said the association was informed by State health officials that Tamil Nadu Agricultural University will conduct a detailed study into cattle feed before regulations are decided on. "We will create awareness among the manufacturers over toxic content. However, fodder gets contaminated mainly because of fertilisers". "All dairy farmers are being sensitised by our field level staff and veterinarians over quality of feed," said a senior official of Animal Husbandry department.