Date:06/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/04/06/stories/2005040602560300.htm

Back GoM approves draft of Integrated Food Law

Our Bureau

New Delhi , April 5

THE Group of Ministers (GoM) today approved the draft of the Integrated Food Law, thus paving the way for merger, amendment or repealing of the 15 separate laws that currently govern the country's food sector.

The law also proposes to empower a single authority to implement the integrated law; currently, as many as nine Ministries govern food laws.

These include the Ministries of Health, Commerce, Consumer Affairs, Agriculture, Women and Child Welfare, Animal Husbandry and Water Resources.

While asserting that today's decision of the GoM was the first step towards providing quality and standard to the food sector in India, the Minister of Food Processing, Mr Subodh Kant Sahay, said that it was still not clear which Ministry will get to implement this law.

"The draft law will be sent to the Law Ministry and then to the Cabinet. But under which Ministry will the implementation of the law fall has to be decided by the Cabinet," he said.

Today's meeting was presided over by the Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar.

It was attended by Commerce Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, the Health Minister, Mr Anbumani Ramadoss, and Mr Sahay.

Mr Sahay said that he was hopeful that the Bill would be enacted in this year's Budget session of Parliament.

Among the issues the integrated law is expected to address is food safety.

Stating that the emphasis of Indian consumers on fresh food consumption was linked to the quality perception of processed foods, which in turn is linked to branding and certification standards, the draft stresses overhaul of certification systems and harmonising national standards with CODEX.

The draft also discusses other issues such as affordability and cost of processed foods, their exports, legal framework, infrastructure support, and funding mechanisms.