Food Regulator FSSAI Bans Commercialisation Of Human Milk

India’s top food safety body, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on May 24 released an advisory about “activities related to the commercialisation of human milk” to be stopped immediately. Under the FSS Act of 2006, it has banned the sale of human milk and its products.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on May 24 banned the processing or sale of human milk under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. FSSAI has also advised that all activities related to commercialising human milk and its products should be stopped. On May 24, an advisory titled ‘Advisory on Unauthorized Commercialization of Human Milk and its Products’ was issued in this regard.

Human milk should only be used to feed newborn babies or infants. Keeping this in mind, as per the FSSAI guidelines, the sale of human milk is strictly prohibited. The safety body has warned that a violation of this advisory will result in punitive measures. It said that FSSAI has “not permitted the processing and/or sale of human milk under the FSS Act, 2006 and the rules/regulations made thereunder”. It further read, “Therefore, it is advised that all such activities related to commercialization of human milk and its products should be stopped immediately. Any violation thereof may result in the initiation of action against the FBO as per the FSS Act, 2006 and rules/regulation made thereunder.”

Reportedly, there have been companies that have been involved in the process and sale of human milk. Some of the companies managed to obtain valid FSSAI licences under the pretext of selling dairy products. Later, it was found that they were selling powdered human milk sourced from women from humble family backgrounds. The FSSAI further directed that the state and central licencing authorities need to ensure that no such licences or registration be granted to such Food Business Operators (FBO) involved in the process of sale of mother’s or human’s milk.

As per reports, FSSAI took some time to cancel the licence of Neolacta, a Bengaluru-based company from the United Kingdom (UK) which was found to be involved in the commercialisation of human milk.