The Hindu Business Line : New Coffee Act in the offing: Minister

The Government proposes to amend The Coffee Act of 1942 to make the statutory Coffee Board less regulatory and more market-oriented to promote domestic consumption and facilitate value-added varieties.

"A new Coffee Act is in the offing," Mr Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Commerce told newspersons on the sidelines of the 113th Annual conference of the United Planters Association of Southern India.

"The Coffee Board Chairman has submitted a draft for amending the 64-year-old Act, which has become obsolete due to a paradigm shift in the environment and a change in the mindset to keep out controls and regulations," he said.

Further, the draft amendments will be put in the pubic domain and circulated among the stakeholders, including growers, corporate producers, exporters and plantation associations such as Upasi for feedback and changes, if necessary, Mr Ramesh said.

"We hope to introduce the amendments in Parliament soon so as to have the new Act effective from the next financial year.

"In a liberalised economy, the Coffee Board will be strengthened to promote domestic consumption, boost exports and assist the sector in marketing and technology to produce more varieties like specialty coffee, instant coffee, etc," Mr Ramesh said.

New office bearers

The United Planters Association of Southern India (Upasi) announced new office bearers on Saturday.

Mr J. K. Thomas, Managing Director of Malankara Plantations Ltd took over as the 114th President of the United Planters Association of Southern India (Upasi) on Sepember 16.

Mr Thomas is also a member of Tea Board and the member of the Tea Trade Association of Cochin, said Upasi press release.

Mr C.P. Kariappa, a small coffee grower from Chikmagalur was elected as the Vice President of Upasi at its 113th annual general meeting on Saturday.