The Hindu Business Line : Sahay begins consultations on Integrated Food Law

THE Food Processing Minister, Mr Subodh Kant Sahay, has begun the process of consultation with other ministries so that the much-delayed Integrated Food Law may become a reality.

After having made a presentation to the Food and Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar, Mr Sahay has lined up meetings with other ministries concerned and organisations before taking up this issue with the Prime Minister.

In his first informal briefing on Friday, the Minister told reporters that he was working on the proposal of integration of multiple food laws so that all provisions relating to the food sector may come under a single authority.

An integrated law would take care of the long-pending demand of this industry, Mr Sahay said adding the Group of Ministers for this purpose has been reconstituted after a change of government at the Centre and things were expected to speed up now.

Lambasting the Government for multiplicity of laws and regulations on food safety standards, the Joint Parliamentary Committee report on pesticide residues in soft drinks had earlier this year asked Government to quickly finalise the already drafted Modern Integrated Food Law.

The JPC, chaired by Mr Pawar, had found a multiplicity of laws and regulations dealing with food safety standards since as many as eight ministries deal with food laws, resulting in many standard-making bodies such as BIS under the BIS Act, CCFS under the PFA Act, Food Processing Ministry under the FPO and the Agriculture Ministry under AGMARK etc.

According to a McKinsey estimate, the food processing industry is estimated to be Rs 1,50,000 crore and the processed food sector is expected to attract Rs 62,105 crore investment during the Tenth Plan.

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