BIS and NDRI Collaborate to Enhance Dairy Product Testing Standards

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), a statutory body under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has joined forces with the ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) to enhance the standards for testing dairy products. On March 5, 2024, a daylong brainstorming session titled “Indian Standards on Test Methods for Dairy Products” took place at the NDRI campus in Karnal. The event attracted over 50 participants, comprising scientists, research scholars, and members of the Dairy Products Sectional Committee of BIS.

During the keynote address, Dr. Dheer Singh, Director of ICAR-NDRI and Chairperson of the Dairy Products Sectional Committee, underscored the crucial role of research and development in the creation and revision of Indian standards. He pointed out the necessity for standards that encompass the wide variety of dairy products available in the marketplace. Dr. Singh emphasized the importance of generating robust scientific evidence and data to support these standards, advocating for ongoing collaboration between BIS and various stakeholders to keep Indian standards relevant on a global scale.

The session continued with a virtual address from Suneeti Toteja, head of the Food and Agriculture Department at BIS. She shared the objectives and anticipated outcomes of the program, setting the stage for an engaging technical session. Dr. Bhawana, a Scientist with the Food and Agriculture Department at BIS, provided an overview of the current Indian standards for dairy product testing methods.

Participants also heard from Aditya Jain, Deputy General Manager of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), who highlighted India’s active participation with international standard-setting organizations, including the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Dairy Federation (IDF). Jain stressed the importance of enhancing India’s involvement in global dairy standardization efforts.

The discussions included insights from Dr. Rajeev Chawla, General Manager at the NDDB Centre of Analysis for Livestock and Feed, who informed attendees about emerging trends in dairy and food product testing. Dr. Rajan Sharma, Joint Director of Research at ICAR-NDRI, presented the institute’s substantial contributions to developing analytical methods for dairy products, which have been adopted by BIS and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). He proposed revisions to current BIS standards concerning ghee, malted milk foods, and other testing methods.

Expert groups engaged in extensive discussions regarding analysis methods for various dairy products, including milk, butter, ghee, and cream, as well as sensory analysis. There was a strong focus on aligning existing standards with international practices to harmonize analytical testing methods.

The session yielded several key outcomes, including recommendations for revising current standards, identifying new areas for the development of standards, and recognizing critical gaps that require additional research and development to update or create new testing methods. These recommendations are expected to guide future initiatives by BIS, ICAR-NDRI, and affiliated organizations, ensuring that standards remain scientifically sound and aligned with international benchmarks.

As the dairy industry continues to evolve, such collaborative efforts are essential to maintaining high standards of quality and safety in dairy products, thus benefiting consumers and producers alike.