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The Government of India is planning to come up with barcoding and labelling norms for all major exports soon.
Speaking to newspersons after the inauguration of a national conference on global trends in packaging of food, pharmaceutical and bulk drugs organised by the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) here on Friday, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry D. Purandeswari said it would improve the quality and prevent spurious goods.
As of now, barcoding and labelling is mandatory for pharma and grape exports. She, however, did not give any timeframe for the expansion of barcoding norms for other sectors.
Earlier, while addressing the participants, the Minister said there is greater employment potential for women in packaging units. “Rural women (like Self Help Groups) should be extended modern package facilities to make their products more appealing,’’ she added.
Though there were 22,000 package units in the country, 80 per cent of them are very small units. There is a need for increasing research and development focus in packaging, Purandeswari said.
The Government would be considering a proposal to extend the deemed university status to IIP, she added.
N.C. Saha, Director of IIP, said that the packaging industry would add value to the entire manufacturing sector. Currently, the industry is valued at $18.8 billion with an annual growth rate of 15 per cent, he added.
The two-say conference is being attended by over 150 delegates.
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