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On February 12, 2022, India’s Ministry of Finance notified that it is removing the 10 percent Agriculture Infrastructure Development Cess/tax (AIDC) on imports of lentils (HS 0713 40 00) with effect from February 13, 2022, through September 30, 2022.

From October 28-December 31, 2021, FAS New Delhi (Post) organized an 8-week, “Taste of America Food Festival” with Indian retailer, Nature’s Basket. The promotion focused on gourmet U.S. food and beverage products in 36 Nature’s Basket stores throughout India.

Since January 2021, the Indian government has agreed, in principle, to install or upgrade nearly 200 grain-based ethanol production facilities. Cumulatively, these projects would potentially contribute an additional 8.59 billion liters in ethanol capacity per year, supporting India’s blending mandates while simultaneously diversifying its biofuel feedstocks.

FAS Mumbai (Post) forecasts marketing year (MY) 2021/2022 cotton production at 27.4 million 480 lb. bales on an area of 12.1 million hectares. Farmers continue to limit market arrivals due to rising seed cotton prices, increasing input costs for textile value chains.

The southwest monsoon concluded on October 25, 2021, while the northeast monsoon set in on the same date. Rainfall during the northeast monsoon, also referred to as the post-monsoon season (October-December), was 44 percent higher (178 mm) than the normal fifty-year average.

On January 11, 2022, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that India and the United States agreed to a framework that will implement market access for agricultural products from both countries. Among the successes, India agreed to finalize the mutually agreed export certificate to allow the importation of U.S. pork and pork products.

On January 11, 2021, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that India and the United States agreed to a framework that will implement market access for agricultural products from both countries.

On January 11, 2021, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that India and the United States agreed to a framework that will implement market access for a number agricultural products from both countries.

On November 24, 2021, the Indian government approved the extension of the additional free food grains scheme through March 31, 2022. With this extension, an additional 16 million metric tons (MMT) of grains will be released from government stocks.

On December 27, 2021, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued Notification No. F. No. Std/SP-08/A-1.2020/N-03 (see, Appendix I). The notification, was published in the Gazette of India (official gazette) on December 27, 2021, notifying draft amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations (2018).

In calendar year (2021), important food safety related notifications published by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), included: (i) Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations (2021); (ii) Food Safety and Standards (Ayurveda Aahar) Regulations (2021); (iii) Food Safety and Standards (Genetically Modified or Engineered Foods) Regulations (2021); (iv) Implementation date extension for Food Safety and Standards (Labeling and Display) Regulations; and (v) Finalization of Amendments in the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations (2017), relating to registration and inspection of foreign food manufacturing facilities.

FAS Mumbai (Post) forecasts marketing year (MY) 2021/2022 cotton production at 27.7 million 480 lb. bales on an area of 12.4 million hectares. Untimely rains during the Northeast Monsoon (October-December) along with pink bollworm infestation led to lower production in North India.