k e r a l a m o n i t o r February 11, 2003.

India Canada to facilitate Visa Mechanism

Bottled Drinking Water: : PFA Amendment Sought

Sharad Yadav, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has sought the help of Health Ministry for amending the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules (PFA Rules) for the speedy implementation of the amended standards for packaged drinking water and natural mineral water. In a letter addressed to the Minister of Health and Family Welfare Yadav requested that necessary amendments in PFA Rules may be made on a priority basis in order to enable the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to implement the new norms for packaged drinking water and natural mineral water.

The technical committee of BIS reviewed the existing Indian standards for packaged drinking water (IS 14543:1998 ) and Natural Mineral Water (IS 13428:1998) at its meeting on the 7th and 8th February 2003 and had issued amendments in order to align the Indian standards with EU norms. The committee has listed 13 items of pesticides for testing and the analysis for the same should be conducted by an accredited laboratory using internationally established test methods meeting the prescribed levels of residue limit. The manufacturers are to produce to BIS a " No Objection Certificate" from the central government/state government ground water authority for obtaining BIS certification.

India Canada to facilitate Visa Mechanism

India and Canada have decided to facilitate the issuing of visa in a constructive mechanism. This was indicated at a meeting between Arun Jaitley, Minister of Commerce & Industry and Law & Justice and the visiting Canadian Deputy Minister of International Trade, Mr. Len Edwards here yesterday. Jaitley emphasised the need to develop a mechanism of granting of Visa to genuine businessmen either on the recommendations of the Ministry or Apex Business Chamber, which would be duly considered by the Canadian High Commission. "We should do everything possible to facilitate this issue", the Canadian Minister said. Jaitley also expressed concern over low realisation rate of FDI from Canada. The actual inflow during 1991- November 2002 is US$ 65.32 million as compared to the total FDI approved during the same period has been of the order of US $ 822.4 million. He informed that India offers unlimited opportunities in the infrastructure sector and asked Canadian Minister to take advantage of it.

During the meeting Jaitley raised the issue of safeguard enquiry into import of certain steel goods by Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) and said that India should be excluded from any safeguard action as a developing country as per the provisions of the WTO Agreement under Section 201. Both the Ministers also discussed various issues of WTO. Jaitley underlined the importance of Public Health as a major concern for developing countries. Mr. Edwards said that Canada shared these concerns totally.

The importance of increasing the volume of bilateral trade was emphasised at the meeting. Indian exports to Canada have registered a growth of about 14.58 % during April-November 2002-03 at US $ 572.58 million as compared to US $ 499.72 million the previous year. The balance of trade has always been in favour of India during last five years.

R.N. DAS APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF ENFORCEMENT

R.N. Das, a Gujarat Cadre, IAS officer of 1971 batch is to take over as Director of Enforcement. The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet has approved this. His appointment will come into effect from the day he takes charge of the post.