FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The Minister of State for Food Processing, Subodh Kant Sahai (left), addressing the business meet on `Promotion of food processing industries in Karnataka region,' in Bangalore on Tuesday. To his left are P.G.R. Sindhia, Minister fo r Industries, and A.N.P. Sinha, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE: The Centre is contemplating formulating of an integrated food law to replace 16 laws. The proposal is to be placed before the Cabinet in the next fortnight, to be introduced in Parliament in the July session.

Disclosing this to presspersons here on Tuesday, the Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Subodh Kant Sahai, said the idea is to have one law and one regulatory authority, particularly when food safety is becoming a crucial issue in an expanding market.

The onus has to be on the producer of processed foods. It is being done to bring in standardisation of food products, in line with international requirements, he said.

The Government is also working with the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on VAT to bring down the rate of tax to zero and 4.5 per cent on certain perishable and non-perishable food commodities respectively. The Government had approached the Committee, which "in principle" has agreed to the proposal, he said.

The Planning Commission, he said, has agreed to the Government proposal to set up a Food Processing Technology Management Institute at a cost of Rs. 200 crores in the north as the region is lagging behind in food processing.

The southern region is doing well in food processing, he said and remarked that Karnataka could do better if it amended the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act wherein both the farmer and the processor would stand to benefit. Mr. Sahai said that efforts are on to create infrastructure facilities, including cold storage chains across the country as the wastage of fruits and vegetables is enormous at about Rs. 50,000 crores a year.

The Minister for Large and Medium Industries, P.G.R. Sindhia, said that the six food parks (in Jewargi, Maddur, Malur, Hiriyur, Bagalkot and Belgaum) would become a reality soon. The Government is in the process of handing over land to the joint partners and the State Government is seeking from the Centre Rs. 15 crores as against the Rs. 5 crores sanctioned for each of the food parks. A task force for development of food processing industries is being set up, he added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |