(a) whether the Government are aware that domestic food processing industries have been affected adversely due to large import of processed foods;
(b) if so, whether the Government have imposed or propose to impose anti-dumping duties on import of processed foods;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, the other measures being contemplated by the Government to restrict the import of processed foods and to save the domestic industries?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY(SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY)
(a) to (d) The Government has not received any requests indicating that domestic food processing industry has been adversely affected due to large import of processed foods except in the case of Butter Oil. On the basis of a petition filed by the Centre for International Trade in Agriculture & Agro Based Industries alleging dumping of Butter Oil from New Zealand, the DGAD has initiated investigation in the case vide Notification dated 26.11.2002. Furthermore, the Department of Commerce is periodically monitoring the import of sensitive items some of which are processed food items.