FSSAI Mandates Licensing for Dairy Units in East Godavari After Milk Adulteration Incident

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has implemented a mandatory licensing requirement for 2,036 stakeholders involved in the dairy sector in East Godavari district. This decision comes after an incident in Rajamahendravaram City where milk adulterated with Ethylene Glycol resulted in 16 fatalities, including eight elderly women.

The adulterated milk was supplied by a vendor named Addala Ganeswara Rao from Narsapuram village. In response, East Godavari District Collector Kirthi Chekuri formed a two-member committee to facilitate the licensing process. The committee includes Dr. T. Srinivasa Rao, the district Animal Husbandry Officer, and Dr. K. Supriya, the district Food Safety Officer.

A joint survey identified 661 small dairy unit operators, 650 doorstep milk suppliers, and 725 other vendors operating without licenses. The new regulation requires these vendors to register and obtain FSSAI licenses immediately. Failure to comply will result in a fine of ₹5 lakh.

The Animal Husbandry Department has pledged support to help dairy farmers and suppliers with the registration process. The initiative aims to prevent future adulteration incidents by ensuring that all parties involved in the milk supply chain are properly licensed and regulated.