Russia may allow Indian dairy products imports soon

With Russian experts clearing a few domestic dairy product units, Indian dairy exporters are expected to soon start shipping consignments to that country, a senior commerce ministry official said.
Due to strict quality standards in Russia, the Indian dairy products exporters face market access problem in that market.
In the wake of western countries imposing trade sanctions on Russia after the Ukraine crisis, dairy products exporters see a huge potential in Russia.
"It is Russia which has to clear our dairy sector and that has not yet been completed. Russians experts came here, they inspected a few plants. Some of them have been cleared, so we are hoping that in the next month or two, at least 3-4 of our plants will get cleared and then exports will start," the official said.

India is the world's largest producer of milk but exports to Russia are negligible. Russian importers mainly import agricultural goods and dairy products from Europe and neighbouring nations.
A team from Russia's phytosanitary watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, had visited India to inspect several cheese and dairy product units.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is looking into the matter.
As per estimates, Russia's annual dairy product import requirements are about 5,000 million tonnes and due to the trade sanctions they are facing problem in meeting the demand.
Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), makers of Amul brand dairy products are keen on exports to Russia.

Russia imports about 8-10 lakh tonnes of milk powder and 20 lakh tonnes of cheese per annum. India is a key player in skimmed milk powder sector.