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FAS New Delhi projects India’s organic agriculture sector to be valued at $2.5 billion for the 2023/24 Marketing Year (MY). According to various sources, the domestic consumption of organic foods is trending upwards as the Indian consumer focus on health and wellness continues.

On December 7, 2023, India's Ministry of Finance issued Custom Notification No. 64/2023, exempting imports of yellow peas (harmonized tariff system [HS] code 0713.1010) from customs duties and the Agriculture Infrastructure and Development CESS (AIDC) effective December 8, 2023, through March 31, 2024.

The Indian market remains a bright spot, as its economic growth continues in 2023. India is one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world despite the volatile geopolitical and economic conditions, India is on an upward trajectory.

In a first of its kind, FAS New Delhi (Post) coordinated an Indian Buyers Mission to this year’s biennial ANUGA Food Fair 2023 (ANUGA) trade show (October 7-11, 2023, Cologne, Germany).

On November 28, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published Order F. No: TIC-B02/3/2023-IMPORTS-FSSAI. This FSSAI order allows for the rectification of all non-compliant labels on imported food consignments at the port-of-entry.

Planting of India’s rabi season (i.e., winter sown, spring harvested) crops is progressing somewhat slower than anticipated due to relatively dry soil moisture conditions.

India remains undecided on genetically engineered (GE) crops and products derived from biotechnology (biotech) for food and feed use.

FAS New Delhi’s forecast for India’s soybean oilseed production for marketing year (MY) 2023/24 is revised to 12 million metric tons (MMT), slightly lower than the MY 2022/23 at 12.4 MMT which accounts for the impact of the El Nino weather pattern.

The weak southwest monsoon in first half of June 2022 slowed ongoing plantings of the kharif (fall harvested) season crops. Plantings will recover under adequate soil moisture conditions with the revival of monsoon starting the third week of June, along with expected normal precipitation in July. On July 6, India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry notified authorizing the export of wheat flour and other products (Harmonized Tariff System - HS code 1101) only on the recommendation of Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Export of Wheat.

India’s food retail sector has rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to expand massively in the next decade thanks to rising incomes, urbanization, and a shift in consumption habits, fueling demand for healthy, premium food products. While traditional retailers continue to dominate the market, the country’s rapidly expanding e-commerce sector is distinguishing itself by offering high value imported food products and innovative services/convenience.

On June 24, 2022, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued Notification F. No. Std/SP-05/T (Nutraceutical-2022), the draft amendment regulation that the FSSAI is proposing for the Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, and Prebiotic and Probiotic Food) Regulations (2016).

On May 25, 2022, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued Notification F. No. STD/FA/38/FSSAI, draft amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) (2011) regulation. FSSAI published the draft amendment in the Gazette of India (official gazette) on May 26, 2022, uploading the same to its website on May 31, 2022.