Why in News?
A2 milk certification and labelling is due to recent FSSAI directives aimed at standardising dairy claims and an ICAR-led push for a formal, reliable certification system to protect the interests of indigenous cattle farmers.
About A2 Milk
- Contains only the A2 beta-casein protein.
- Primarily sourced from indigenous Indian breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, and Tharparkar.
Recent Regulatory Status
- Not a Standardized Product: FSSAI’s current "Food Product Standards" (2011) do not officially recognize A1 and A2 as distinct categories.
- Conditional Labelling: While the 2024 ban was withdrawn, companies can only use "A2" labels if they can substantiate the claim through genetic testing of cows or protein analysis of the milk.
Testing Mechanisms
- Genetic Testing: The most accurate method, involving DNA analysis of the cow to confirm the presence of the A2 gene.
- Protein Analysis: Mass spectrometry or other lab tests on the final milk product to verify the absence of A1 beta-casein.
Certification Challenges
- Lack of Infrastructure: There is currently a shortage of high-throughput, affordable testing labs across India to certify milk for millions of small-scale farmers.
- Adulteration Risks: Without a unified certification mark (like the Organic Jaivik Bharat logo), consumers face the risk of buying mislabelled "A2" products at premium prices.
Future Outlook
- The government is considering integrating A2 certification with the Rashtriya Gokul Mission to "preimmunize" the milk of native breeds and increase farmer income.
- Proposals are being reviewed to create a Unified Conformity Assessment Scheme by BIS and NDDB specifically for A2 authenticity.
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