5% dilution recommended for packaging foodgrain in jute bags

The 25th Standing Advisory Committee (SAC) recommended five per cent dilution in compulsory packaging of food grains in jute bags for the 2017-18 procurement season, an official said on Friday.

The official, however, said the committee maintained the jute packaging reservation to 20 per cent for sugar for 2017-18.

"In the recent SAC meeting, which was convened under the provisions of the Jute Packaging Materials Act, 1987, recommended five per cent dilution of packaging of food grains in jute bags from existing 90 per cent for 2017-18 procurement seasons. Like last year, it kept jute packaging reservation to 20 per cent for sugar," the official said.

 

In the meeting, the Department of Food and Public Distribution of the central government, however, sought reduction in compulsory packaging of food grains in jute bags from existing 90 per cent to 75 per cent in general and full exemption from existing 20 per cent in case of sugar in the meet, the official said.

According to the official, the department of Chemical and Petro-chemicals demanded that there should not be any reservation for food grains and sugar.

The department was in favour of a level playing field for jute and synthetic sacking.

Usually, the government adopts recommendations of SAC.

Many of participants also alleged jute industry could not be able to supply required quantity of jute bags in the last two years and therefore, the government had to grant relaxation to the indenting agencies for use synthetic bags, the official said.

--IANS

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