'Demand driven policy, GST needed for food processing industry'

Demand-driven policy coupled with big reforms such as GST are the need of the hour for Indian food processing industry, union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said on Thursday.

"Demand driven policy on food and the role of big reforms such as GST is required," said Badal inaugurating the ninth edition of FICCI Food World India.

She stressed the need for changing the consumer's mindset about the health and nutritional aspect of packaged foods for the industry to prosper.

A FICCI statement said that the Indian processed food industry is at a critical junction and "global food investors too are tracking the developments on this front, considering the potential that Indian food industry has to offer".

FICCI and knowledge partner PriceWaterHouseCoopers (PwC) released a paper titled "Winning consumer trust" which highlighted that though consumers are becoming more conscious about food quality and safety, they lack awareness on food safety and quality parametres.