Question : Rubber (Promotion and Development) Bill 2022

(a) whether the Government has sought public opinion regarding repeal of Rubber Act, 1947 and the introduction of the new Rubber (Promotion and Development) Bill 2022 and if so, the details thereof including the number of suggestions received in this regard;
(b) whether the Government has received requests/ representations not to withdraw the Rubber Act, 1947 and if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government in this regard;
(c) whether the Government has any plans to withdraw the move to repeal the Rubber Act, 1947 and if so, the details thereof and the reasons thereto;
(d) whether the Government of Kerala has suggested modifications to the draft Rubber (Promotion and Development) Bill 2022 and draft Spices (Promotion and Development) Bills 2022 and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government is likely to consider the modifications suggested by the State before finalizing these bills and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 216 FOR ANSWER ON 16th MARCH, 2022 REGARDING “ RUBBER (PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT) BILL 2022”.

(a) to (c): There has been widespread changes in the overall market scenario with reference to the development of Rubber and allied sectors in the country. Therefore, to remove certain archaic provisions, create a conducive environment for ease of doing business and making a world class Rubber industry, the Government is considering modifying the existing Rubber Act 1947. In this regard, a draft Bill ‘ Rubber (Promotion and Development) Bill 2022’ has been put up on the official website of this Department and Rubber Board for wider consultation and for seeking comments/ suggestions from public/ stakeholders till 9.4.2022. As on 10.03.2022, 477 stakeholders and public have submitted their suggestions on draft Bill including some suggestions to not introduce new Rubber (Promotion and Development) Bill, 2022.

(d) & (e) Government of Kerala has suggested modifications in some provisions of the draft Rubber (Promotion and Development) Bill, 2022 and the draft Spices (Promotion and Development) Bill 2022. The suggestions on the draft Rubber (Promotion and Development) Bill, 2022 inter-alia include replacing ‘scrap rubber’ with ‘field coagulam’ in definition of Section 2(u) and other modifications in definitions under Section 2, modifications in Sections 4, 7, 13, 20, 29 of the draft Bill, removal of Section 30 related to fixing of minimum and maximum prices, inclusion of a clause for regulating the price of imported natural rubber, etc.

In the draft Spices (Promotion and Development) Bill, 2022, suggestions include limiting production schemes only to cardamom as per the provisions of the Spices Board Act 1986, close synergy between Spices Board and State Institutions to promote Spice Production, especially Organic Spices, apprehensions on the validity of the Registration of owners of Cardamom Estates being done by the State Government, provision for Central Government to consult Spices Board with regard to import and export of spices, addition of a section to prohibit/control import of spices, to revoke the Cardamom (Licensing & Marketing) Rules, 1987 and certain alterations/additions in Sections 2, 3, 6, 8, 9,14 & 21 of the draft Bill.

All suggestions received from stakeholders, including the Government of Kerala, and the public will be taken into account before finalizing the Bills.

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