Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 11/19/2003

**GAIN Report Number:** IN3114

IN3114

**India**

**FAIRS Product Specific**

**Proposed Amendment to the PFA Rule relating to Dry Fruits & Nuts**

**2003**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Chad Russell

U.S. Embassy, FASNEWDELHI

**Prepared by:**

A. Govindan

**Report Highlights:**

On June 16, 2003, the Department of Health, Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare, Government of India (GOI) issued a draft Gazette
notification under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA),
proposing stringent standards for raisins, pistachios, and dry fruits
and nuts (including almonds), among other products. According to Indian
almond industry sources, these amendments, if implemented, may have a
negative impact on US exports of almonds to India.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

New Delhi \[IN1\]

\[IN\]

**Introduction:** This report summarizes a proposed draft amendment to
the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules framed under the Prevention of
Food Adulteration Act (PFA), 1954, which sets stringent standards for
raisins, pistachio nuts, and dry fruits and nuts (including almonds),
among other products.

**Disclaimer:** This summary is based on a cursory review of the subject
announcement and therefore should not under any circumstances, be viewed
as a definitive reading of the regulation in question, or of its
implications for U.S. agricultural export trade interests.

**FAS/New Delhi Note:** Based on our interpretation of the draft rules,
the standards contained therein are not yet in effect. This is also the
view of some traders whom we have contacted. However, the sixty-day
comment period has expired. To date, we are not aware of any negative
impact on India's imports of products covered by the draft rule,
including almonds. These draft rules cover a very broad range of
products, of which almonds are of particular interest due to the volume
of U.S. exports of these nuts to India.

**Type of Regulation:** Draft

**Important Dates:**

-   Publication Date: June 16, 2003

-   Time period for receiving Comments/Suggestions: 60 days from the
    date of publication (August 15, 2003).

**Comments/suggestions should be addressed to:**

Secretary

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Government of India

Nirman Bhawan

New Delhi -- 110 011

Phone: 91-11-23018863

E-mail: <secyhlth@nb.nic.in>

**Products Affected:** Almonds, pistachios, raisins, and other dry
fruits and nuts, among other products.

**Agency in Charge:** Department of Health, Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare, GOI

**Proposed Major Changes:** Raisins, pistachios, and dry fruits and nuts
(including almonds) should conform to the following requirements:

> **Raisins:**

i.  Moisture (m/m) Not more than 15.0 percent

ii. Damaged raisins (m/m) Not more than 2.0 percent

iii. Sugared raisins (m/m) Not more than 15.0 percent

> Note:
>
> m/m = mass/mass
>
> Damaged raisins: raisins affected by sunburn, scars, mechanical injury
> which seriously affects the appearance, edibility and keeping quality.
>
> Sugared raisins: raisins with external or internal sugar crystals
> which are readily apparent and seriously affect the appearance of the
> raisins.
>
> **Pistachio Nuts:**

i.  Moisture (m/m) Not more than 7.0 percent

ii. Unopened shells (m/m) Not more than 2.0 percent

iii. Empty shells (m/m) Not more than 1.0 percent

> Note:
>
> Unopened shells: shells which are not split open but contain fully
> developed kernel.

Empty shells: shells in which kernel is not developed

Mouldy shells: nuts affected by mould

> **Dry Fruits and Nuts (including almonds):**

i.  Extraneous vegetable matter (m/m) Not more than 1.0 percent

ii. Damaged/discolored units (m/m) Not more than 2.0 percent

iii. Acidity of extracted fat

> expressed as Oleic Acid Not more than 1.25 percent

Note:

Extraneous vegetable matter: stalks, pieces of shells, pits, fiber,
peel, etc.

> Damaged/discolored: units affected by sunburn, scars, mechanical
> injury, discoloration, and insects

The Draft Notification is available at: <http://mohfw.nic.in/pfa.htm>,
by clicking on draft notifications and selecting GSR No. 489(E) dated
14/05/2003.

**For More Information:** Contact the Department of Prevention of Food
Adulteration web site: <http://mohfw.nic.in/pfa.htm>

This website is mentioned for readers' convenience; USDA does NOT in any
way endorse, guarantee the accuracy of, or necessarily concur with the
information contained in the above site.