China gorges on Indian buffalo via Vietnam

India’s buffalo meat (carabeef) exports to Southeast Asia are growing fast, thanks to rising demand in China, even though the world’s second-biggest economy has not officially opened its doors to India in this sector.

According to data from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, overall exports to Vietnam between last April and October rose by almost 200% in value terms and doubled in terms of quantity compared to 2012.

Up the Mekong

At the same time, carabeef exports rose overall by 46% in value terms to US$2,361m, and 23% in quantity. Overall exports are expected to cross US$4bn over the coming year, compared to US$3.19bn just a year ago.

Vietnam accounts for 40% of India’s carabeef exports, although this is not from direct demand¾China is the world’s biggest consumer of buffalo offal, leading traders in Vietnam to re-export their supplies of Indian carabeef to their neighbour.

China has given an in-principle approval to direct carabeef imports from India this year, but it is yet to formalise the decision. According to Arjun Chavan, a Mumbai-based halal meat and frozen foods exporter, this has not yet stopped traders from tapping this fast-growing opportunity.

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Action against FBOs failing to convert licences by Feb 4: Chandramouli

Thursday, January 23, 2014 08:00 IST 
Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi

Speaking on the sidelines of a conference held at the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, K Chandramouli, chairman, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), said the apex food regulator would take action against food business operators (FBO) failing to convert their licences, as prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, by February 4, 2014.

However, he said he was hopeful that the work pertaining to conversion would be completed by the prescribed date. “The deadline of February 4, 2014 is not for new licences. It is for conversions only. We expect that the conversions would be complete by the deadline. If not, we will take action. As far as new licences are concerned, it is a continual process,” he informed.

It must be mentioned here that the deadline for FBOs to obtain licences and get registered under the new set of rules is approaching, and reports suggest that the process has been sluggish in many parts of the country. While Maharashtra and Gujarat are leading, Delhi is at the bottom.

However, industry sources felt that it was highly unlikely that the conversion would be complete by the deadline. Most of them said they expected FSSAI to extend the date given the slow process of licensing and registration and the huge backlog which remained to be cleared.

When quizzed about the database for packaged drinking water, the FSSAI chairman stated that it was also a continuous process, and actually was an enforcement issue, which had to be checked constantly. Chandramouli said, “Wherever we find shortcomings, we will take action.”

When asked if there was a proposal from FSSAI regarding ban on junk food in schools, Chandramouli said that the matter had come up in the court. Only after the court’s direction would the apex regulator implement it.

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Happy New Year 2014

FOOD Konnect team wishes everybody a Very Happy & Successful Year 2014