India’s top food safety body, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), issued a directive on Friday, May 24, instructing all states to refrain from granting licenses for the sale or processing of human milk. The advisory came in response to requests from various registered societies to initiate the commercialization of human milk. FSSAI sternly warned that any activities related to the commercialization of human milk and its products must cease immediately, with violations subject to punitive measures under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and associated regulations.
According to FSSAI guidelines, the sale or commercialization of human milk is strictly prohibited. It should solely be utilized for feeding newborns or infants in healthcare facilities.
In recent years, concerns have arisen due to the emergence of companies in the market processing human milk for sale. Some of these entities obtained valid FSSAI licenses ostensibly for selling dairy products, only to be discovered later selling powdered human milk sourced from economically disadvantaged women. The Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) has long advocated for government action against such companies, which may exploit women for profit.
Dr. Arun Gupta, BPNI’s central coordinator, emphasized the need for Indian authorities to address the issue in court. He cited the example of Neolacta, a Bengaluru-based subsidiary of a UK company, whose license for commercializing human milk was eventually revoked by FSSAI after a prolonged period. Dr. Gupta urged the Ministry of Ayush to present their response to the Karnataka High Court utilizing FSSAI’s advisory, asserting that market forces should never dictate the commercialization of human milk or human nutrition in general.