'Negative Impact on Farmers': Amul Asks Narendra Modi To Delay Plastic Straw Ban

Amul, India's largest dairy company, has urged the Union government to delay a proposed ban on small plastic straws, alleging that the move will have a “negative impact” on farmers and milk consumers in the country, Reuters reported.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office on 29 May, Amul made its appeal ahead of the 1 July ban on straws packaged with small packs of dairy products and juices, which has estimated market worth of $790 million, according to an industry association, the report added.

The move has alarmed Amul, as well as global beverage giants such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, especially since the Modi government refused to change its position and instead, asked the companies to move to alternative straws, according to an earlier Reuters report.

Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) markets its milk and other dairy products under the Amul brand.

GCMMF Managing Director, RS Sodhi, said that the straws assist in promoting the consumption of milk and asked that the ban be postponed by a year.

Sodhi, in a letter to the prime minister, wrote that a delay would act as “huge relief and benefits” to almost 10 crore dairy farmers who “safeguard our food security in terms of milk and milk products.”

"The plastic straw in our butter milk and lassi is attached to tetra pack. It is part of primary packaging," he added.

"So we have urged the Environment Ministry to include it as part of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and recycling," Sodhi said.

Importing Alternative Straws 

"Paper straws are not available in domestic market. We don't have capacity. We are not getting paper straws in international market," he said.

Sodhi mentioned that the $8 billion Amul group may have to sell straw-less packs once the ban comes into force on 1 July.

The report added that according to industry estimates, Coca-Cola's Maaza, Pepsi's Tropicana juice and Parle Agro's Frooti are also among the top-selling beverages in India, with 6 billion packs being sold in India every year.

Praveen Aggarwal, CEO of the Action Alliance for Recycling Beverage Cartons, which represents drinks majors, said that some companies were considering the import of paper straws from Indonesia, China, and other countries due to the upcoming ban.

"There will be disruption," he said.