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A Regional Review Meeting of the Northern States/UTs was held on 12th November 2024 in New Delhi under the chairmanship of  Smt. Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary,  Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The meeting brought together Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, Directors and scheme officers from the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Departments of the Northern States/UTs including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand to discuss the progress of various departmental programs and schemes.  Key officials of the department including Ms. Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary and Shri Jagat Hazarika, Adviser (Statistics) were also present for the meeting. Read More

India would fail to become the preferred investment destination of investors seeking to pursue a China+1 strategy if it joins the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said in a report. Read More

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) held its 45th Central Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting here today where States and Union Territories were urged to ramp up surveillance at popular tourist destinations to ensure heightened safety standards in preparation for the peak tourist season from November through March. Read More

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in Karnataka has observed that at least 10 types of snacks sourced from Kerala and sold in Karnataka are declared unsafe. In an inspection drive conducted by the team FSSAI in the state where tests on 140 samples of snacks which come into the border areas of Karnataka from Kerala have revealed that 31 of them were unsafe, with even cancer-causing agents detected in some snacks. The snacks included chakkali, nippattu, bread, jam, khara and chips. Read More

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved infusion of equity of Rs 10,700 crore for working capital in financial year 2024-25 in Food Corporation of India (FCI). The decision is aimed at bolstering the agricultural sector and ensuring the welfare of farmers nationwide. This strategic move shows Government’s steadfast commitment to supporting farmers and fortifying India’s agrarian economy. Read More

The FSSAI has introduced new, more stringent regulations to control the presence of antibiotic residues in food items, a move aimed at enhancing public health safety. These updated rules are part of FSSAI’s ongoing effort to ensure safer food quality by limiting antibiotic contamination in consumables such as dairy, meat, and poultry products. The revised guidelines outline lower permissible limits for antibiotic residues, with a focus on high-risk items prone to contamination. The move addresses concerns that antibiotic overuse in animal farming has led to increased antibiotic resistance, posing health risks to consumers. Under these regulations, food manufacturers and suppliers will be required to adhere to stricter testing protocols and maintain transparency in labelling. FSSAI has mandated regular inspections to monitor compliance, and companies found violating the new standards may face penalties or stricter action. This regulatory update aligns with global food safety standards and reflects FSSAI’s commitment to mitigating the risk of antibiotic resistance among the Indian population. By tightening restrictions on antibiotic levels, FSSAI aims to encourage responsible antibiotic use in the agricultural and food industries and strengthen the country’s public health infrastructure.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed new guidelines recommending that packaged food and beverages display clear nutritional information on the front of products to help consumers make healthier choices. This is part of an effort to combat the global obesity crisis, which affects over a billion people and contributes to approximately eight million premature deaths annually due to related conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets dairy products under the brand name Amul, has collaborated with Costco, the US-based retailer with one of the largest chains, to make Amul fresh milk available to the Indian diaspora and American consumers. Read More