Will try to keep perishable agri-products outside GST: Badal

Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Badal has assured the industry that her ministry will try to keep perishable agri products outside the purview of the GST.
Badal who today met the industry delegation led by PHD Chamber President Alok B Shriram further said the GST is likely to have minimal impact on the food processing sector.
"The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has assured that the sector would have the minimum imposition of Goods and Service Tax as and when it is rolled out and it would be its attempt to keep perishable agri products outside the purview of the GST," according to a PHD Chamber statement.

A single rate GST will replace central excise, state VAT, entertainment tax, octroi, entry tax, luxury tax and purchase tax on goods and services to ensure seamless transfer of goods.
The government had introduced the GST bill on December 19 in the Lok Sabha.
In the meeting, the minister also indicated that the government is likely to extend preferred policy options for the food and food processing sector including agri business, the statement added.
Meanwhile, the delegation also pressed for its execution as promised by the government by April 2016 and also requested that fair and effective food standards be evolved to ensure its quality and exports.