VZCZCXRO1428
RR RUEHAST RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM
DE RUEHNE #2579/01 2691143
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251143Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3572
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2803
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 3560
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 2620
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
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RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
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RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002579 
 
STATE FOR OES/PCI, OES/STC, OES/SAT, OES/EGC, AND SCA/INS 
STATE FOR STAS 
STATE PASS TO NSF FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS 
HHS PASS TO NIH 
STATE PASS TO USAID 
STATE FOR SCA, OES (STAS FEDOROFF), OES/PCI STEWART; OES/IHB MURPHY 
PASS TO HHS/OGHA (STEIGER/ABDOO/VALDEZ), CDC (BLOUNT/FARRELL), 
NIH/FIC (GLASS/MAMPILLY/HANDLEY), FDA (LUMPKIN/WELSCH, GENEVA FOR 
HOFMAN) 
PASS TO MAS/DAS/JESTRADA 
PASS TO MAC/DAS/HVINEYARD 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO SENV AMED CASC KSCA ECON ETRD BEXP EINV PGOV
TSPL, TRGY, TNGD, EIND, ENRG, KGHG, IN 
 
SUBJECT: CHINA TAINTED MILK RAISES CONCERN IN INDIA CLOSE TO FESTIVE 
SEASON 
 
NEW DELHI 00002579  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY:  While China's adulterated milk and milk products 
worries consumers and regulators, fanning fears across Asia, India's 
Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA) sought a three month ban 
on the import of dairy products from China.  Incidentally, the 
Indian Ministry of Food Processing Industries is holding a national 
seminar on non- biological contaminants in food including milk and 
processed dairy products, feed and their safety standards.  India at 
this time of the year faces the challenge of adulterated milk and 
milk products at a time of high demand for milk products during the 
Indian festive season beginning October.  This cable outlines issues 
India has faced particularly in the northern States of Delhi, Uttar 
Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (U) India accounts for 14 percent of the world's milk 
production, comprising 40 percent cow and 60 percent buffalo milk 
products.  Of this, only 15 percent of milk is processed in 
factories for liquid milk and milk products.  India is an exporter 
of milk and its products with a total production of about 42.6 
million tons in 2006-07 and is growing at 4% per year.  India 
exported 88 million tons in milk products to the United States last 
year and this is expected to grow to over 100 million tons in 2008. 
However, India blocks all U.S. dairy products due to health 
concerns. 
 
India's Adulterated Milk Challenge 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) Indian sweets made from milk and milk products are an 
integral part of the Indian festivities at this time of the year. 
In past years, India had to grapple with milk sold in cities 
including Delhi and Mumbai adulterated with chalk, urea, soap, and 
other whiteners.   Indian milk sweets are also mixed with synthetic 
colors which are not food-grade.  In a milk adulteration scandal in 
Delhi in 2004, out of the 229 milk samples 40 were adulterated 
mostly in the milk supplied by dairies situated in the outskirts of 
the city.  In November 2007, the Mumbai Minister of State for Food 
and Drug Supplies had said during Diwali, "We have instituted 
special squads and are keeping constant vigil".  In October 2005, 
the Punjab health authorities had instructed civil surgeons to issue 
written directions to all sweet shop owners making it mandatory for 
them to inform about the consignment of milk products being brought 
from other States such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan. 
 
¶4.  (U) Another problem that India faces is the sale of "synthetic 
milk."  This formulation is not milk but comprises a high degree of 
adulterants such as water, pulverized detergent or soap, sodium 
hydroxide, vegetable oil, salt and urea.  Synthetic milk preparation 
also begins at the village level.  The ingredients that go into 
making this dubious milk are calculated in such a way that the fat 
and solids not fat (SNF) percentage is similar to milk.  Synthetic 
milk characteristics include turning pale yellow after some time, 
foam formation when the liquid is rubbed, and high alkalinity (pH 
10-11). 
 
India's Measures to Combat the Challenge 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The Health Minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, in a meeting 
with the Health Attach yesterday stated that he met with senior 
officials of his Ministry to impress on them that they would need to 
stay vigilant on the imports of Chinese milk and milk products 
entering the Indian market. The Minister has instructed his staff to 
 
NEW DELHI 00002579  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
quietly determine if Indian milk is contaminated with melamine. 
Health Attach spoke of the challenge of milk adulteration in Indian 
markets during festival season and Ramadoss said that this was of 
great concern to him and he has instructed his staff to be vigilant 
and conduct periodic testing this year. 
 
¶6.  (U) On 23 September 2008, Food Safety and Standards Authority 
(FSSA) Chairperson Dr. P.I. Suvrathan had called a meeting with 
representatives of key ministries, including agriculture, food and 
commerce, to discuss reports of milk contamination in China.  At the 
same time, officials at the policy level meeting also focused on 
measures that India could take to prevent a similar occurrence.  An 
official stated, "The same thing that happened in China could happen 
in India also."  Like China, India is a large supplier of milk and 
milk products with a market size estimated to be USD 47.6 billion 
and growing at the rate of 7.5% each year.  India is governed by the 
Milk and Milk Product Order (MMPO), 1992 that seeks to ensure the 
supply of liquid milk that regulates its processing and 
distribution. 
 
¶7.  (U) Following this meeting, the FSSA has sought a 3 month ban on 
the import of dairy products from China.  The FSSA will forward this 
decision taken at the above policy meeting to the Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry for consideration and implementation.  Also, 
the FSSA has advised the Ministry of Agriculture to issue an 
advisory to States and importers regarding further import of dairy 
products from China.  The Ministry of Health FSSA is an autonomous 
statutory body set up under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 
for laying down science-based decision making for food safety and 
regulation. 
 
¶8.  (U) Meanwhile, on 23-24 September 2008 a national seminar was 
held in Delhi on Non-biological contaminants in food, feed and their 
safety standards.  The seminar attended by the Vice President of 
India Mr. Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Minister of State for Food 
Processing Industries Mr. Subodh Kant Sahai was to provide a 
platform for experts to deliberate on food safety and relevant 
issues and to help evolve a road map for India to achieve excellence 
in food safety. 
 
¶9.  (U) Mission Health Office will be following developments closely 
and will report on any new developments. 
 
DAVISON