India Tightens Scrutiny on Antibiotic Residues in Milk Amid Public Health and Export Concerns
June 2025 | New Delhi: The Indian dairy sector is under increasing regulatory and public scrutiny as the prevalence of antibiotic residues in milk continues to raise red flags for consumer health, dairy processing quality, and international trade compliance.
A recent study from Punjab revealed that 16% of dairy farm milk samples contained antibiotic residues, with 4% exceeding maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by Indian authorities. Among commercially marketed milk, over 12.5% tested positive, including samples that crossed the permissible thresholds, exposing widespread gaps in on-farm compliance and screening.
Health Risks and Economic Fallout
Public health experts warn that residues of veterinary antibiotics in milk can trigger antimicrobial resistance (AMR), allergic reactions, and gut health disruption in consumers. AMR, in particular, poses a long-term global threat, making infections more challenging to treat and increasing the risk of widespread disease.
In the dairy processing sector, these residues interfere with fermentation, a critical step in the production of yoghurt, cheese, and other value-added dairy products. Poor curdling and cheese ripening caused by residual antibiotics have led to product spoilage and economic losses for dairy units”
“Milk quality is non-negotiable in both domestic nutrition and international trade. Antibiotic misuse at the farm level compromises not only India’s dairy export credibility,” said a senior official from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, FSSAI’s representative.
Stricter Regulations Effective April 2025
To address these concerns, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has enacted the Contaminants, Toxins, and Residues First Amendment Regulations, 2024, which take effect from April 1, 2025. Key provisions include:
- Ban on High-Risk Antibiotics: Substances like colistin, chloramphenicol, and nitrofurans are now prohibited in milk production.
- Revised MRLs (Maximum Residue Limits): Six new antibiotics, including amoxicillin, gentamicin, and sulfamethazine, have been added to the monitored list, bringing the total to 27 antibiotics.
- Mandatory Screening at the Field Level: Collection centres, chilling units, and bulk milk coolers must now utilise rapid screening tools to detect traces of antibiotics early.
Industry-Wide Implications
The updated rules are reshaping the responsibilities of stakeholders across the dairy value chain:
- Compliance Pressures: Farmers and cooperatives must test milk more rigorously and document veterinary drug use.
- Field-Level Gaps: Affordable, easy-to-use testing solutions remain scarce at the rural procurement level, leaving room for unsafe milk to enter the supply chain.
- Consumer Trust at Risk: Any compromise in milk safety could erode public confidence and damage brand reputations, both domestically and in export markets”T “Theisn’tlengegisn’t’tust abourit’sationsnit’s’s about equipping grassroots producers with tools and training to meet rising safet” “e”chmark”,” “oted a dairy technology expert at a recent Tamil Nadu symposium.
The Way Forward: From Risk to Resilience
To India’s economy and public health, experts suggest a three-pronged approach:
- Capacity building among small and medium dairy farmers on responsible antibiotic usage.
- Adoption of validated, cost-effective rapid test kits for early residue detection at the collection level.
- Investment in traceability technologies that ensure every litre of milk meets national and global safety standards in India
India’s dairy sector continues to modernise; the call for science-led, scalable safety practices has never been louder. With regulatory changes now in motion, the race is on to close compliance gaps—and restore milk to its place as India’s safest, most trusted food.
