Govt approves mandatory use of jute for packaging food grains
Updated: Nov 29, 2013 11:49:18am
New Delhi, Nov 29 (KNN) The government has given its approval to mandatory packaging of 90 per cent of food grains and 20 per cent of sugar in jute packaging material for the current financial year.
“In pursuance of the Jute Packaging Material Act, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved mandatory packaging of 90 per cent of the production of food grains and 20 per cent of the production of sugar in the jute packaging material for the jute year 2013-14 (1st July, 2013 to 30th June, 2014),” said an official notification.
The approval will provide relief to 3.7 lakh workers employed in jute mills and ancillary units as well as support the livelihood of around 40 lakh farm families. Besides, it will help protect the environment as jute is a natural, biodegradable and reusable fibre.
However, it has noted that there are certain exemptions to the rule. Sugar packed for export, but which could not be exported may be exempted from the operation of the Order on the basis of an assessment by and request of the Department of Food and Public Distribution. For such exemptions, separate guidelines will be prepared, it said.
Items that will be out of the purview of the reservation are - sugar fortified with vitamins; packaging for export of the commodities; small consumer packs of 25 kgs and below; and bulk packaging of more than 100 kgs.
Significantly, in case of any shortage or disruption in supply of jute packaging material or in other contingency/exigency, the Ministry of Textiles will, in consultation with user ministries concerned, relax these provisions further, up to a maximum of 30 per cent of the production of food grains over and above the provisions mentioned earlier.
Under the Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987 (JPM Act), the government is required to consider and provide for the compulsory use of jute packaging material in the supply and distribution of certain commodities in the interest of production of raw jute and jute packaging material and of persons engaged in the production. (KNN/ES)
“In pursuance of the Jute Packaging Material Act, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved mandatory packaging of 90 per cent of the production of food grains and 20 per cent of the production of sugar in the jute packaging material for the jute year 2013-14 (1st July, 2013 to 30th June, 2014),” said an official notification.
The approval will provide relief to 3.7 lakh workers employed in jute mills and ancillary units as well as support the livelihood of around 40 lakh farm families. Besides, it will help protect the environment as jute is a natural, biodegradable and reusable fibre.
However, it has noted that there are certain exemptions to the rule. Sugar packed for export, but which could not be exported may be exempted from the operation of the Order on the basis of an assessment by and request of the Department of Food and Public Distribution. For such exemptions, separate guidelines will be prepared, it said.
Items that will be out of the purview of the reservation are - sugar fortified with vitamins; packaging for export of the commodities; small consumer packs of 25 kgs and below; and bulk packaging of more than 100 kgs.
Significantly, in case of any shortage or disruption in supply of jute packaging material or in other contingency/exigency, the Ministry of Textiles will, in consultation with user ministries concerned, relax these provisions further, up to a maximum of 30 per cent of the production of food grains over and above the provisions mentioned earlier.
Under the Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987 (JPM Act), the government is required to consider and provide for the compulsory use of jute packaging material in the supply and distribution of certain commodities in the interest of production of raw jute and jute packaging material and of persons engaged in the production. (KNN/ES)
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