India's Dairy Sector Urged to Align with Global Quality Standards

Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan has issued a directive urging India's dairy sector to adhere to international quality and safety norms. This call to action was made during the 51st Dairy Industry Conference organized by the Indian Dairy Association (IDA). Despite being the largest milk producer globally, India's presence in the export market is limited, prompting the government's push for compliance with global standards.

Paswan highlighted the government's plan to assist smallholders, village cooperatives, and large-scale processors in upgrading their operational hygiene and technical capacities. A comprehensive roadmap is being prepared to support these entities. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries plans to offer fiscal incentives and grants for cold chain infrastructure development to aid modernization efforts.

Product diversification and scaling up of value-added manufacturing lines such as specialized cheeses and whey proteins are emphasized as critical for the sector's growth. Agribusiness analysts noted that relying solely on fluid milk markets can limit margins and expose the sector to supply volatility.

Paswan praised the cooperative model for its role in rural development but stressed the need for technological advancements. Grassroots collection centers are encouraged to adopt automated testing equipment and real-time quality monitoring systems to ensure supply chain integrity.

The Indian Dairy Association and processing cooperatives are encouraged to work with state regulatory bodies to enforce uniform quality standards. The conference concluded with a call for investment in advanced research, cold logistics, and packaging innovations to meet rigorous quality compliance standards.

Ensuring compliance with these standards is expected to protect domestic consumer health and position India as a reliable exporter of premium dairy products.