A representation in regard to the recent notification by Department of Food & Public Distribution dated 12th June 2023 regarding stock limits for wheat for traders, wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers and processors was sent to Mr. Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India on 20^th June 2023. The said order has created ambiguity with the Food Business Operator’s (FBO) who are in business of selling products made from wheat. In this regard more clarity on certain points is requested which will help the FBOs of food processing industry to implement the stock limits for wheat imposed by the Government and would also help to avoid disruption in supply chains and shortage to the end consumers.

A representation on Making India a Cocoa Processing Hub was sent to Mr. Preet Pal Singh, Joint Secretary, Government of India. Cocoa being a unique intercrop in India aids in doubling farmers’ income. Indian cocoa trees have one of the highest yields globally. Today, India grows around 20,000 MT of cocoa beans, whereas the domestic demand is around 120,000 MT. There is an annual deficit of more than 100,000 MT in India. With domestic demand far outweighing the supply, there is a huge import dependence for both cocoa beans and its byproducts. During the last 3 years (Apr 2020 – Jan 2023), India imported cocoa products of more than $1 billion in value (with a year-on-year growth rate of more than 20%). The industry seeks government support in driving this sector towards greater growth and long-term sustainability through interventions like waiver on import duty on cocoa beans, incentives for establishing cocoa processing units & to promote cocoa cultivation. Cocoa can add significant value to the economy. It provides social, economic, and environmental benefits across value chain i.e., starting from cultivation of crop, processing it to make cocoa products, and using it domestically or for exports. Therefore, waiver of import duty and encouragement to the processing sector will prove beneficial to the Indian economy.

With reference to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India’s notification dated August 16^th regarding seeking inputs for ‘declaring two or more prime constituents of the commodity on the front side of the package with the brand name/logo of the company’ in the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, AMCHAM’s Agriculture & Food Processing committee submitted its suggestions with the objective to strike a balance between being industry friendly and protecting consumer interest, at the same time. The suggestions were sent to Mr. Anupam Mishra, Joint Secretary (CA), Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution on August 31st.