Union of India - Act
Agricultural And Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985
UNION OF INDIA
India
India
Agricultural And Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985
Act 2 of 1986
- Published on 8 January 1986
- Commenced on 8 January 1986
- [This is the version of this document from 8 January 1986.]
- [Note: The original publication document is not available and this content could not be verified.]
27.
/1382Object and Reasons Agricultural sector of the economy contributes significantly to our exports and would have to continue to do so. Increasing reliance shall, however, have to be placed on exports of agricultural and processed food products which lead to higher realisation through added value. Value addition would also generate economic activity and employment in the country.2. Although the potential for exports of processed food products is good, there have been several constraints inhibiting its growth. The food processing industry is by and large in the small scale sector using technology of processing and packaging which is out-dated. In order to have a stable market, it is necessary to guarantee the strict standards of quality expected by importing countries and to maintain consistency. This would require inputs of research technology and a considerable degree of organisational effort.3. At present the Processed Food Exports Promotion Council looks after exports of these products. The Council does not have any statutory backing to undertake quality control. It is also not equipped to generate production of value added products or to effectively promote their exports. It has, therefore, been considered necessary to replace the Council by a statutory authority to be designated as the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority. It will co-ordinate its activities with the national bodies like Horticulture Board and State Governments for generating production for export and with research institutes for development of value added products. It would also be able to undertake quality certification and unify the existing inspection and quality control for products such as meat and meat products.4. In order to enable the authority to discharge its functions effectively it is proposed, by a separate Bill, to provide for the levy by way of a cess of the duty of the customs on all the scheduled products which are exported. The intention is to make over, after due appropriation by Parliament by law, the proceeds of the cess to the Authority.5. The Authority is proposed to be constituted, among others, with representatives of the Central and State Governments, Parliament, Trade, Export Promotion Councils and specialists in the field. The main functions proposed to be assigned to this Authority are to develop processed food industry by way of providing financial assistance for undertaking surveys and feasibility studies, participation in the equity capital through joint venture and other relief and subsidy schemes, registration of exporters of the scheduled products, fixing of standards and specifications for scheduled products for purposes of exports, carrying out inspection of meat and meat products in any slaughter house, processing plant, etc., improvement in packaging of scheduled products and marketing of the products outside India and promotion of export-oriented production and product development of scheduled products. The Bill contains a provision that it shall be the duty of the Authority to provide, by such measures as it thinks fit, the development and promotion under the control of the Central Government, of export of agricultural and processed food products included in the schedule thereof mainly with a view to enabling it to undertake the activities mentioned above. Power has also been taken for the Central Government to prohibit or control the imports and exports of the scheduled products.[8th January, 1986.]An Act to provide for the establishment of an Authority for the development and promotion of exports of certain agricultural and processed food products and for matters connected therewith.BE it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-Chapter I
Preliminary
1. Short title, extent and commencement.-
| 13th February, 1986, vide Notification No.S.O.55(E), dated 13-2-1986, Gazette of India, 1986, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 5(ii). |