The food safety and standards authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an advisory directing all milk producers who are not members of dairy cooperative societies and milk vendors across the country to obtain mandatory registration or licensing before starting or continuing their food business operations.
The food safety regulator says it has come to its notice that several milk producers and vendors are operating without obtaining the required registration or licence under food safety regulations.
In the advisory, the authority stated that all milk producers, except those who are registered members of a dairy cooperative society and supply their entire milk production to the cooperative, must mandatorily register with FSSAI before commencing or continuing operations. Milk vendors selling dairy products are also required to obtain the appropriate registration or licence.
The directive comes amid growing concerns over milk adulteration incidents reported from different parts of the country.
“In view of recent incidents involving suspected adulteration of milk in all States and Union Territories, strict compliance with registration and licensing requirements shall be ensured,” FSSAI says in the advisory.
The regulator has asked enforcement authorities at the Union government as well as in all states and Union Territories (UTs) to ensure compliance with the rules. Designated officers, central licensing authorities and food safety officers have been directed to verify that milk producers and vendors possess valid FSSAI registration certificates or licences.
Officials have also been asked to periodically inspect milk chillers used by producers and vendors to ensure proper storage temperatures and maintenance, in order to prevent spoilage and safeguard public health.
The advisory warned that appropriate action could be taken in cases where producers or vendors are found operating without the required registration or licence.
FSSAI has further directed states and UTs to conduct special registration drives within their jurisdictions to ensure that all milk producers and vendors obtain the necessary approvals.
The regulator also referred to an earlier directive issued on 16 December 2025, instructing authorities to conduct regular enforcement drives for milk and milk products. Under that order, enforcement agencies are required to submit action-taken reports to the authority twice a month.
Concerns about milk safety have intensified following several recent incidents reported in the media.
Last month, as
reported by Moneylife, in one major case earlier this year, police in Gujarat’s Sabarkantha district busted an alleged synthetic milk racket that had been operating for several years. A dairy unit near Salal village in Prantij
taluka was manufacturing fake milk by mixing water with milk powder, caustic soda, refined palmolein oil, soybean oil, detergent powder and urea fertiliser.
Investigators say the accused used small quantities of genuine milk to dramatically increase production. About 300 litres of real milk were allegedly used to produce nearly 1,700 to 1,800 litres of adulterated milk daily by adding chemicals.
During the raid, authorities seized large quantities of adulteration materials including whey powder, skimmed milk powder, urea fertiliser, caustic soda and detergent powder. Officials also recovered nearly 2,000 litres of adulterated milk and over 1,100 litres of adulterated buttermilk that were ready for distribution.
According to investigators, the chemicals were used to enhance the thickness, foam and apparent protein content of milk, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish between genuine and adulterated products.
In another incident
reported by India Today, at least 13 people died and several others were hospitalised in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district after allegedly consuming adulterated milk.
The cases came to light after several elderly residents developed severe symptoms, including vomiting, abdominal pain and acute kidney dysfunction that required dialysis. Local authorities say multiple patients were admitted to hospitals in Rajamahendravaram for treatment, according to the India Today report.
Food safety experts say such incidents highlight the importance of strict regulatory oversight and proper registration of milk producers and vendors, particularly in areas where consumers rely heavily on loose or locally sourced dairy products.
FSSAI says the mandatory registration requirement is aimed at strengthening monitoring of milk production and distribution while improving traceability and accountability within the dairy supply chain.
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