The Uttar Pradesh government has announced stringent enforcement measures against dairy units found using harmful chemicals, foreign fats or other hazardous adulterants in milk and dairy products, with action extending beyond sample collection to immediate closure, product destruction and criminal proceedings.
The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) issued the new enforcement directives as part of the state’s ongoing campaign to ensure the availability of safe and unadulterated milk and dairy products.
The order, issued by Food Safety Commissioner Dr Roshan Jacob, states that milk and dairy products must comply with their prescribed natural composition and food safety standards.
Dairy Units to Be Shut Down Immediately
Under the new directives, if harmful chemicals or foreign fats are detected in a dairy or dairy-product manufacturing or processing unit, authorities will take immediate action against the establishment.
The measures include:
- Immediate closure of the manufacturing unit
- Seizure of the entire stock of dairy products
- Destruction of seized products as per regulations
- Suspension or cancellation of the food licence
- Registration of an FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in cases involving organised adulteration
The government said the objective is to prevent potentially contaminated products from continuing to enter the market rather than limiting enforcement to testing individual samples.
Entire Stock to Be Seized and Destroyed
If hazardous chemicals or foreign fats are detected at a dairy manufacturing or processing facility, the entire stock of milk and dairy products present at the premises will be seized.
Authorities will subsequently destroy the seized products according to applicable regulations.
The approach is intended to address the wider manufacturing process and prevent other products from the same facility or batch from reaching consumers.
Production to Stop Until Proceedings Conclude
The order provides for an emergency prohibition order under Section 34 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, where circumstances warrant such action.
Manufacturing operations will be stopped immediately, meaning the concerned unit cannot continue production while enforcement proceedings are underway.
This represents a shift from an approach focused primarily on identifying individual adulterated samples towards action against the facility and its production practices.
FIRs in Cases of Organised Adulteration
Where authorities find evidence that chemicals hazardous to public health are being used as part of an organised adulteration operation, an FIR will be registered against the individuals responsible under relevant provisions of the BNS.
The government is therefore seeking to hold not only businesses but also individuals involved in deliberate adulteration accountable.
Statewide Ban on Brands Found With Hazardous Adulterants
One of the strongest measures announced is the possibility of a statewide ban on the sale of products from a brand if its milk or dairy products are found to contain hazardous chemicals or foreign fats.
The order also states that products manufactured outside Uttar Pradesh could face a sales ban within the state if they are found to contain such substances.
This could significantly increase compliance pressure on dairy manufacturers and brands supplying products to the Uttar Pradesh market.
Food Licences Face Suspension
The enforcement action also extends to the food licences or registrations of establishments found violating the prescribed requirements.
According to the order, the concerned licence or registration can be suspended under Regulation 2.1.8 (4) of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
This gives authorities an additional administrative tool alongside product seizure, closure and criminal action.
Harmful and Low-Cost Ingredients Found During Inspections
According to the FSDA, inspections have uncovered the use of a range of substances and ingredients in certain dairy-product manufacturing operations.
These reportedly include refined oils and fats, soybean products, talcum powder, detergents, titanium dioxide, liquid glucose, Sepolite, Ranipal, Tinopal and hydrogen peroxide.
Authorities have also reported the use of various neutralisers, surfactants, bleaching and whitening agents and emulsifying substances, as well as materials allegedly used to manipulate BR and RM values to bring products closer to prescribed standards.
The department warned that dairy products manufactured using low-cost, substandard ingredients and potentially hazardous chemicals could pose serious risks to consumers.
Stronger Focus on the Source of Adulteration
The latest directive marks a tougher approach to food adulteration in Uttar Pradesh.
Rather than relying solely on laboratory reports from individual samples, the authorities intend to investigate the source of adulteration, manufacturing practices, stock held at the facility and individuals responsible.
The government has said enforcement efforts will be intensified to prevent unsafe milk and dairy products from reaching consumers.
For the dairy industry, the move is likely to increase the importance of ingredient traceability, manufacturing compliance, quality testing and supply-chain controls, while consumers could benefit from stronger action against deliberate adulteration.
