Monday, 6 October 2014 00:00
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Import of milk powder to the country has declined by 78,000 metric tons compared to the last year, reports said.
The Government believes that the reason for the decline is the increase of consumption of fresh liquid milk. The Government also increased the levy on imported milk powder by nearly 44% in June to protect the local dairy industry while the global prices of milk powder dropped.
Minister of Technology and Research Patali Champika Ranawaka said that the warning regarding imported milk powder containing DCD could also be a reason for the decline of use.
In 2013, Sri Lanka imported 84,000 metric tons of milk powder but in 2014, so far, the country has imported only 6,000 metric tons of milk powder, the newspaper reported. Sri Lanka spent US$ 291 million in 2013 to import milk powder. In 2012, US$ 301 million was spent for the same purpose, according to the annual reports of the Central Bank.
