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India’s fiber market is dominated by cotton, however, increased international demand for sustainable fibers is driving apparel and textile manufacturers to utilize hemp.

On March 25, 2025, India’s Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, notified that a Sanitary Import Permit (SIP) is not required for the import of raw fishery products.

The Government of India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published a measure that aims to enhance food safety standards by allowing the use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for food packaging, storage and distribution.

Post New Delhi forecasts total oilseed production to reach 43 million metric tons (MMT) for the marketing year (MY) 2025/26, marking a slight increase. For the first time, rapeseed production is expected to surpass soybean production, driven by improved price realization.

India is on course to hit its third record wheat crop in MY 2025/2026 forecast on higher planting and optimal growing conditions.

India’s food processing sector holds significant growth potential in tier II and III cities and rural areas.

This GAIN-INDIA report updates the FAS New Delhi (Post) GAIN-INDIA | IN2022-0086 | India’s FSSAI Requires Mandatory Registration of Foreign Food Manufacturing Facilities for the Import of Certain Categories of Foods report (October 24, 2022).

India’s oilseeds production in marketing year (MY) 2023/2024 (October-September) is forecast to remain flat at 41.5 million metric tons (MMT), mostly unchanged from MY 2022/2023. Unseasonably heavy spring precipitation and a predicted El Niño weather pattern in the wake of severe April-June heatwaves will expose summer oilseed crops to greater incidences of plant stresses and thus impact yields.

On March 31, 2023, India’s Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying/Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), published its integrated veterinary health certificate (VHC) for the import of milk and milk products into India.

On February 28, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Second Amendment Regulations (2023) in the Gazette of India (Notification No. STD/FA/A-1.30/No.1/2020-FSSAI).

The potential to introduce U.S. origin food processing ingredients into the Indian market remains strong, due to rising demand for snacking and consumer-oriented food products.

FAS Mumbai estimates marketing year (MY) 2023/24 India cotton production at 25.5 million 480 lb. bales on 12.4 million hectares area planted, a decrease from the previous year due to the expectation that farmers will shift cotton acreage to higher return crops such as oilseeds and pulses.