The finished protein tub on the shelf arrives as a “food preparation” and is greeted with a 40 per cent customs duty; even bulk whey protein carries 20 per cent. So, why is the largest milk-producing country in the world (India accounts for 24 per cent of global milk production) importing almost all of its whey? India doesn’t make enough cheese, and when it does, it’s not the right kind to get whey as the byproduct. Finally, given the nature of the structural issues that limit whey production, a high import tariff on whey makes little sense – there is no infant industry to protect here. Therefore, cutting the basic duty to around 5 per cent, closer to the GST rate for whey protein, makes immediate sense.