Brazil and India Import and Export Guides for Food and Agriculture

This book outlines the import and export guidelines for food and agriculture in Brazil and India. Brazil's domestic market has proven to be less vulnerable to external crisis, despite a worsening of the global economic outlook. Stable economic growth, relatively low inflation rates and class mobility continue to benefit Brazilians. Massive investments have also driven income expansion, consequently pushing consumers to spend more. Oversight of imported food and beverage products is primarily the responsibility of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) and the Ministry of Health, through the National Agency of Sanitary Surveillance. These two government bodies ensure the safety of the Brazilian food supply and enforce regulations related to food and beverage products throughout the supply chain. Additionally, and with a growing population of over 1.2 billion, Indian food law is intently focused on strengthening food security, and increasingly on promoting nutrition and food safety. In December 2011, the Indian Cabinet submitted a National Food Security Bill to Parliament for approval. The proposed legislation, will create a legal entitlement to subsidised food grains for 63.5 percent of India's population, including 75 percent of rural and 50 percent of urban dwellers. This measure will also raise the food subsidy bill to over INR1 trillion (approximately USD 18 billion) a year.