1 - Food ministry to step up procurement for proposed Food Law

The food ministry plans to augment wheat and rice procurement by 10 million tonnes to meet the expected demand for 70 million tonnes of foodgrain under the proposed National Food Security Act . "We have to increase the foodgrain procurement to 70 million tonnes in order to meet the requirement under the proposed bill," according to a senior official. The government buys around 60 million tonnes of wheat and rice, about 30 per cent of the country's total output of these two crops, the official said.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/food-ministry-tostep-up-procurement-for-proposed-food-law/articleshow/8822990.cms 2 - Harmonise standards, improve market access for agriculture exports: ASSOCHAM

ASSOCHAM today called for integrating various government schemes for exports of food and agricultural products besides improving market intelligence systems so that collaborative efforts can be synergised to develop greater national and international linkages. There are many overlaps in schemes offered by various ministries and departments, and they lack supply chain approach, said The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). Incentives offered by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), the Coffee Board, the Tea Board, the Spices Board, the Cashew Export Promotion Council, the Export Inspection Council and others need to be aligned to ensure that all issues hindering exports are tackled comprehensively.

http://www.indlawnews.com/newsdisplay.aspx?87048db7-0fb1-4568-a191c69b72a2f61a 3 - Food safety cmte bans vegetables'' import from Germany, Spain
Mohammad Ghazai Al-Otaibi, head of the food safety committee at the Kuwait Municipality, said Sunday that the committee recommended banning import of fresh and frozen vegetables with from Germany and Spain due to being polluted with E.coli. He also said these vegetables, which are prohibited to be imported from Germany and Spain, include spinach, cucumber, carrot, tomatoes, and eggplant. Further, Al-Otaibi stressed, in a statement to KUNA, following a meeting held the by committee today, the necessity that all imported shipments of other vegetables be associated with health certificates stating that they are devoid of the same strain of bacteria.

http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx? id=2173379&Language=en

4 - 45 Dutch cos visit India; discuss trade in food processing, related sectors

With more than four centuries of bilateral trade relations and a strong position in the global economic matrix, India and the Netherlands are ready to strengthen their partnership in the years to come. To further strengthen the ties in areas such as agro-industry, automotive, food processing, water management, life sciences and health, a delegation comprising representatives of the ministry of economic affairs, agriculture and innovation, the Netherlands, and leading food sector companies from that country, has been on a mission to India from June 6-10 2011. As part of this mission, the delegation was in Mumbai on Thursday.

http://www.fnbnews.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=29998&sectionid=1 5 - DEPB scheme to end on June 30: Revenue Secretary

The Finance Ministry Thursday said that the popular DEPB tax rebate scheme will come to an end from June 30, saving revenue for the government. "All exports will be zero-rated after Duty Entitlement Pass Book (DEPB) scheme ends. Two similar kind of schemes cannot go on. It will save some revenue for the government," Revenue Secretary Sunil Mitra told reporters in New Delhi.

http://smetimes.tradeindia.com/smetimes/news/top-stories/2011/May/20/depbscheme-to-end-on-june-30-revenue-secretary1332444.html 6 - AIFPA to hold two events on technology for food processing in December
The All India Food Processors' Association (AIFPA) in collaboration with PrintPackaging.com will hold a mega event on Food Technology from December 7 10, 2011, in New Delhi. At the event, global technology suppliers to the food processing supply chain will exhibit advanced solutions covering wide spectrum of cutting-edge food processing technologies, from the most reputed R&D institutions and process plant equipment manufacturers in the world.

http://www.fnbnews.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=30003&sectionid=2 7 - Russia promises to lift ban on EU vegetables

Russia promised Friday to lift its blanket ban on European vegetables once the European Union provides documented proof of their safety, and voiced hope that it could join the World Trade Organization this year after nearly 20 years of talks. Russia has banned all fresh vegetable imports from the EU due to the E. coli outbreak that has killed 30 people and sickened 2,900 others. The EU has called the Russian ban disproportionate, and the controversy has clouded Russia's WTO accession talks.

http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=81765

8 - Philippines: Local onion farmers seek ban on issuance of import permits

The government should continue prohibiting the issuance of onion import permit (IP) as onion inventory is at a nine month high, and importation will be detrimental to farmers livelihood. The Department of Agricultures (DA) non-issuance last year of IP has auspiciously prodded farmers to plant onion which is why cold storage facilities are still inundated with onions while price is at a modest P50 to P60 per kilo.

http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=81715 9 - India: Theni mango growers expect bumper yield

Theni (Southern Tamil Nadu) mango growers are in a jubilant mood as they are expecting a bumper yield and a reasonable price for their produce this season, thanks to sufficient rainfall at the right time and conducive weather through out this summer.Southern part of Tamil Nadu Mangoes of different varieties are being cultivated across over 6,000 hectares in the district. Periakulam and nearby areas are the major mango producing centres. Mangoes are also being cultivated in some pockets of Bodinayakkanur, Thevaram and Cumbum, Cumbum Anumanthampatti in Cumbum valley.

http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=81536 10 - USA - Increase in white meat sales

In a recent consumer poll conducted by Technomic, consumers said they eat chicken more frequently than any other type of meat. But they added opportunities still exist for new poultry applications particularly at breakfast. Twenty-five percent of chicken consumers said they would very likely order chicken breakfast sandwiches at restaurants if available. Twenty-nine percent of turkey-eating consumers said they would likely order breakfast sandwiches or burritos featuring turkey sausage or bacon. http://meattradenewsdaily.co.uk/news/130611/usa___increase_in_white_meat_sales.aspx