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Since January 2021, the Indian government has agreed, in principle, to install or upgrade nearly 200 grain-based ethanol production facilities. Cumulatively, these projects would potentially contribute an additional 8.59 billion liters in ethanol capacity per year, supporting India’s blending mandates while simultaneously diversifying its biofuel feedstocks.

FAS Mumbai (Post) forecasts marketing year (MY) 2021/2022 cotton production at 27.4 million 480 lb. bales on an area of 12.1 million hectares. Farmers continue to limit market arrivals due to rising seed cotton prices, increasing input costs for textile value chains.

Post forecasts a slight increase in rice production and prices continue to rise, but the government continues to import rice to make it affordable. Wheat a flour prices are also trending upward.

On December 19, 2021, the Bangladesh Ministry of Commerce increased the maximum wastage rate for producing ready-made garment items from raw materials (yarn, fabric, finished products). The Ministry of Commerce set the new maximum wastage rate at 27 percent for basic knitwear, 30 percent for special items, and 4 percent for sweaters and socks.

The southwest monsoon concluded on October 25, 2021, while the northeast monsoon set in on the same date. Rainfall during the northeast monsoon, also referred to as the post-monsoon season (October-December), was 44 percent higher (178 mm) than the normal fifty-year average.

On January 11, 2022, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that India and the United States agreed to a framework that will implement market access for agricultural products from both countries. Among the successes, India agreed to finalize the mutually agreed export certificate to allow the importation of U.S. pork and pork products.

On January 11, 2021, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that India and the United States agreed to a framework that will implement market access for agricultural products from both countries.

On December 31, 2021, the Ministry of Trade and Integration announced the first stage of 2022 meat and poultry quotas by HS code for historic suppliers (i.e., importers). The first stage approved the distribution of 2,835 tons of beef and 31,500 tons of poultry.

On January 11, 2021, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that India and the United States agreed to a framework that will implement market access for a number agricultural products from both countries.

On November 24, 2021, the Indian government approved the extension of the additional free food grains scheme through March 31, 2022. With this extension, an additional 16 million metric tons (MMT) of grains will be released from government stocks.

On December 27, 2021, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued Notification No. F. No. Std/SP-08/A-1.2020/N-03 (see, Appendix I). The notification, was published in the Gazette of India (official gazette) on December 27, 2021, notifying draft amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations (2018).

In calendar year (2021), important food safety related notifications published by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), included: (i) Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations (2021); (ii) Food Safety and Standards (Ayurveda Aahar) Regulations (2021); (iii) Food Safety and Standards (Genetically Modified or Engineered Foods) Regulations (2021); (iv) Implementation date extension for Food Safety and Standards (Labeling and Display) Regulations; and (v) Finalization of Amendments in the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations (2017), relating to registration and inspection of foreign food manufacturing facilities.