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On October 10, 2022, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued Order F. No. TIC-B02/2/2022-IMPORTS-FSSAI. The FSSAI order requires the mandatory registration with the competent authority of jurisdiction of the country of export, of all foreign food manufacturing facilities intent on exporting milk and milk products; meat and meat products; egg powder; infant food; and nutraceuticals to India.

From September 5-8, 2022, the Foreign Agricultural Service in New Delhi (FAS India) participated in the Food and Hotel Asia – Food & Beverage 2022 Expo (FHA 2022) in Singapore, South Asia's largest international food trade show.

On September 13, 2022, the Ministry of Health and Family/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued draft notification F. No. Std./SP-08/T(FoPNL-N-01), publishing the same on September 20, 2022, on its website.

On September 26, 2022, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a clarification notice to its earlier notification F. No. 1829/Health Certificate/FSSAI/Imports (2021). The FSSAI clarification notice is in response to World Trade Organization (WTO) members having commented on the FSSAI Order of August 8, 2022, referencing the earlier FSSAI Notification No. 1829/Health Certificate/FSSAI/Imports (2021), that specify the requirements for health certificates and their format for milk and milk products, pork and pork products, and fish and fish products.

FAS New Delhi (Post) lowers the market year (MY) 2022/2023 rice production forecast to 122 MMT on reduced plantings and yields in the major rice growing states in the Gangetic Plains as result of drought-like conditions.

India’s centrifugal sugar (sugar) production forecast in marketing year (MY) 2022/23 (October-September) is unchanged from the previous estimate of 35.8 million metric tons (MMT), equivalent to 33.4 MMT of crystal white sugar. Yields from favorable rainfall in Maharashtra and Karnataka are offset by slightly reduced production in Uttar Pradesh due to an erratic 2022 monsoon.

On September 14, 2022, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued directive F.No. STD/SP-18/T (Vegan Foods). The directive provides logo specifications for vegan foods.

U.S. exports of consumer-oriented food products to Saudi Arabia decreased four percent in 2021, compared to 2020, to approximately $535 million mainly due to shipping issues (e.g., fewer cargo ships, higher costs, etc.) throughout the year. In June 2022, the Saudi government lifted all COVID-19 restrictions allowing the food service sector to return to pre-pandemic operations while also fully reopening the country to foreign visitors.

FAS New Delhi (Post) forecasts marketing year (MY) 2022/23 (August-July) Indian almond imports (shelled-basis) at 148,000 metric tons (MT) a slight decrease from MY 2021/22, as food inflation volatility, rupee depreciation, and global shipping challenges are likely to persist in the near term, impacting price.

This GAIN-INDIA report corrects the India Cotton Production, Supply and Distribution (PSD) table in GAIN-INDIA | IN2022-0076 | Cotton and Products Update – First Update 2022/2023. While the text of the report correctly states the forecasts, the PSD table erroneously lists the years as 2019/2020, 2020/2021, and 2021/2022.

FAS Mumbai (Post) forecasts marketing year (MY) 2022/23 cotton production at 27.7 million 480 lb. bales on an area of 12.8 million hectares. The current sowing progress indicates that farmers are preferring to plant higher cotton area due to prevailing high market prices. Indian yields are expected to improve by three percent due to above normal rains in major cotton growing regions.

India’s national cattle herd inventory in marketing year (MY) 2023 (January-December) is forecast marginally higher at 307.4 million head. India’s MY 2023 production of carabeef (meat derived from the Asian domestic water buffalo) and beef is forecast at 4.42 million metric tons (MMT), an increase of two percent from the current year’s estimate on continued restrictive policies on slaughter of bovine animals.