Bangalore: Karnataka Government will consider slapping a cess on milk coming into the State from neighbouring States, Minister for Agriculture K Srinivasa Gowda informed the Legislative assembly today (August 4, 2004).

Under the WTO (World Trade Organisation) agreement the State has no powers to restrict inter-state movement of milk, he said while answering to Vatal Nagaraj (Ind) during Question Hour.

Gowda admitted that though the State faced surplus milk production, milk from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were being sold in Bangalore.

He said Goa levied two per cent cess on milk supplied by Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and efforts were on to request that State to avoid the levy.

J C Madhuswamy (JDU) demanded the Government to take stringent action against those who supply and sell adulterated milk under the existing provision of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.