India: India's DAHD Publishes Revised Integrated Veterinary Health Certificate for the Import of Milk and Milk Products

On March 3, 2023, India’s Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying/Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) published on its website, a revised integrated veterinary health certificate (VHC), that incorporates the DAHD’s sanitary requirements along with those of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) (national food safety authority) food safety requirements. These two Indian government agencies have now aligned their technical aspects, producing a revised integrated veterinary health certificate. The revised integrated VHC requires that the exporting country-of-origin certify milk and milk product consignments being exported to India specific information and attestations. While the effective date of implementation is immediate as of the publication of the revised integrated VHC, India in order to help facilitate trade, is allowing for a transition period of 60-days from the date of notification.