DGFT gives partial relief to casein exporters

In a partial relief to milk product exporters, the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has allowed export of casein and casein products, but only up to the limit of 1,053.62 tonnes.

The exports were banned in February due to rising cost of milk and milk products. Officials clarified that the relief was only for the quantity of casein manufactured on or before February 18, when export of milk and milk product was banned.

“There were representations based on which the decision has been taken to allow casein exports. Milk, however continues to face demand pressure in the domestic market and thus general export could not be allowed at this point of time,” said an official source. In fact, a few months earlier, DGFT had raised the quota for import of skimmed milk powder from 30,000 tonnes to 50,000 tonnes.

Casein is a protein commonly found in milk, making 80 per cent of the proteins in cow’s milk. It has various edible uses, as in cereals, vitamins and minerals, tablets, instant drinks, nutrition foods,etc and numerous industrial uses like paints, glues, cosmetics, leather chemicals, etc. Milk prices have risen by 20 per cent in the retail market and by 12 per cent at the wholesale level in the last year, adding to food inflation, which is well in double-digits.

Rising prices of vegetables, milk and meat have led to a nine-month-high inflation of 12.21 per cent .

Till October 22, vegetable costs jumped 28.9 per cent from a year earlier, milk prices rose 11.7 per cent, while eggs, meat and fish gained 13.4 per cent. India’s annual casein exports are around 10,000 tonnes, mainly to countries such as the US, Germany and Korea.