Single agency for food processing units mooted

By Our Staff Correspondent

MUMBAI, AUG. 29. The Government is actively considering drafting an enactment which will take into account all aspects of the development of the processed food sector, according to Mr. Chaoba Singh, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries. The Act, according to Mr. Singh, will be called the Processed Food Development Act and will cover not only food laws but will also include development fund, equalisation fund, futures market, and compulsory standards in line with Codex. He was speaking at the western region seminar organised by the Confederation of Indian Food Trade & Industry (CIFTI) here today.

The growth of the food processing industry has been hampered by multiple agencies dealing with food laws adding to lot of confusion and creating negative inputs, according to Mr. Singh. The Minister said to address such major issues, there should be only one single authority to deal with all matters relating to food processing industry.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, delineated that this sector was a high priority area for Maharashtra and his government was committed to provide proper handling, processing and marketing facilities to ensure proper growth.

He further outlined that towards shaping the National Policy for Food Processing due consideration must be given to the creation of infrastructure such as cold chain between farm and market place, warehouses, creation of infrastructure in the agricultural produce market committees, bringing about transparency in auction system, commissioning of market information system, and strengthen of National Research System.

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