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Core Purpose

Directs mandatory packaging of foodgrains and sugar in jute material with specific percentages and duration under the Jute Packaging Materials Act, 1987.

Detailed Summary

The Central Government, exercising powers under section 3(1) read with section 16(1) of the Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987, and in supersession of Order S.O. 5459(E) dated 26th December, 2023 (with saving of prior actions), hereby directs that the commodities specified in the Table shall be packed in jute packaging material for supply or distribution in India. Effective from the date of publication in the Official Gazette until 30th June, 2025, Foodgrains (rice, paddy, wheat) must be packed 100% and Sugar 20% of their total production in jute packaging material manufactured in India from raw jute produced in India. Certain exclusions from reservation apply, including vitamin fortified sugar, packaging for export, small consumer packs (<=10kg foodgrains, <=25kg sugar), and bulk packs (>100kg), with specific conditions. Mechanisms are outlined for procurement, including initial use of GeM reverse auction for 10% of foodgrain indents, procurement of used bags in case of new bag shortage, month-wise demand projections by DFPD for the Jute Year 2024-25, and potential relaxation of percentages up to 30% by the Ministry of Textiles in consultation with a joint committee and user ministries in cases of shortage or exigency. Mills benefitting must comply with labour laws, including prompt payment of statutory dues to jute workers under the Code on Wages, 2019, and certify prompt payment to jute farmers and balers upon procurement of raw jute.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-23042025-262629 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (ii) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 1797] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2025/VAISAKHA 2, 1947 2691 GI/2025 MINISTRY OF TEXTILES ORDER New Delhi, the 22nd April, 2025 S.O. 1830(E).—Whereas, the Central Government is empowered under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987 (10 of 1987) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act) to specify, by order, the commodities or class of commodities or such percentage thereof to be packed for the purpose of its supply or distribution in such jute packaging material, after considering the recommendations of the Standing Advisory Committee; And whereas, the Central Government has, in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) of section 4 of the said Act, constituted the Standing Advisory Committee vide number S.O.295 (E), dated the 19th January, 2022, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part- II, Section-3, Sub-section (ii), dated the 24th January, 2022 to recommend the determination for packaging in jute material; And whereas, the Central Government, after considering the recommendations made to it by the Standing Advisory Committee, is satisfied that it is necessary in the interest of production of raw jute and jute packaging material, and of persons engaged in the production thereof, to specify the commodity or class of commodities and percentage thereof to be packed in jute packaging material; Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 read with sub-section (1) of section 16 of the said Act and in supersession of Order number S.O. 5459(E), dated the 26th December, 2023, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Central Government hereby directs that the commodities specified in column (2) of the Table below, shall be packed in jute packaging material for supply or distribution, in such minimum percentage as specified in corresponding entries in column (3) of the said Table, with effect from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette, upto the 30th June, 2025, namely:- TABLE +-------+---------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Serial| Commodities | Minimum percentage of total production of commodity or class of | | Number| | commodities required to be packed in jute packaging material | | | | manufactured in India from raw jute produced in India | +-------+---------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | (1) | (2) | (3) | +=======+===============+=======================================================================================================+ | (1) | Foodgrains* | One hundred per cent. (100%) of the production | +-------+---------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | (2) | Sugar** | Twenty per cent. (20%) of the production | +-------+---------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ *Note 1:-Initially ten per cent. of the indents for foodgrains are to be placed through reverse auction on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal. **Note2:-In diversified jute bags under direct purchase by the procuring agencies from the mills or open market. The foodgrains to be considered for reservation norms under the said Act would comprise of rice, paddy and wheat. The use of jute bags shall be in line of inter se priority with respect to rice, wheat and finally sugar, without affecting the monthly supply plan by ensuring full utilisation of all the yearly production of jute bags so as to safeguard the jute industry and the persons engaged in production thereof as per the mandate of the said Act. 2. To ensure availability of used jute bags for packing of foodgrains, in case of inadequate supply of new jute bags by the mills, the Department of Food and Public Distribution may work out a suitable mechanism in advance to first procure such used bags made from raw jute produced in India and bags made in India through competitive bidding on GeM portal only which shall not form the part of relaxation granted by the Ministry of Textiles against packaging norms under the said Act. 3. The Department of Food and Public Distribution shall communicate in advance the month-wise projection of required quantity of jute bags for packing of foodgrains for the Jute Year 2024-25 and in case of any shortage or disruption in supply of new jute packaging material or in other contingency or exigency, the Ministry of Textiles may, in consultation with the user Ministries concerned and the Committee comprising officers from the Department of Food and Public Distribution and the Ministry of Textiles, which has been constituted to consider and recommend the dilution quantity on monthly basis, or as and when required, relax these provisions up to a maximum of thirty per cent. of the percentage specified in column (3) of the said Table. 4. With a view to ensure the maximum usage of jute bags, the Department of Food and Public Distribution in consultation and coordination with the State Procurement Agencies (including Food Corporation of India) shall place realistic indents on time as per pre-agreed schedule of supply of jute bags and if the Procurement Agencies do not place indents for jute bags to pack foodgrains as per supply plan prepared by the Department of Food and Public Distribution and bunching of demand (indents) takes place then the jute mills shall get reasonable additional time for the supply of jute bags: Provided that if the mills fail to supply the bags in the extended period, the conditions relating to dilution will be applicable. 5. The jute mills benefitting from the above arrangements are required to implement the relevant provisions of labour laws and regulations on the subject to the satisfaction of the State Governments concerned and shall certify prompt payment to jute farmers and balers on production of raw jute. 6. The following may be kept out of the purview of reservation under the said Act, namely:- (a) sugar fortified with vitamins; (b) packaging for export of commodities; (c) small consumer packs of ten kilograms and below for foodgrains and twenty-five kilograms and below for sugar; (d) bulk packaging of more than one hundred kilograms; and (e) sugar packed for export but which could not be exported on the basis of an assessment and recommendation by the Department of Food and Public Distribution. 7. To ensure that persons engaged in production of raw jute and jute packaging material are benefitted from the mandatory packaging, a suitable mechanism shall be devised for enabling payment of statutory dues to jute workers and prompt payment to jute farmers and balers on procurement of raw jute as per the labour laws in force including the Code on Wages, 2019 (29 of 2019). [F. No. J-7/1/2024-Jute Section] PADMINI SINGLA, Jt. Secy.

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