Textiles Ministry has extended until December 31 the requirement to use jute bags for packaging

The Ministry of Textiles has extended the mandate for foodgrains and sugar producers to use jute packaging.
The mandatory use of 100% jute packaging for foodgrains and 20% of the total sugar production has been extended by the Ministry of Textiles until December 31, 2024.
The ministry further clarified that procurement of jute bags for packaging of initially 10 per cent of the foodgrains through reverse auction on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) platform will continue.
In a notice dated December 26, 2023, the ministry stipulated that until June 30, 2024, foodgrains must be packaged entirely in jute, and 20% of all sugar output must be packaged in this manner.
Additionally, it introduced the reverse auction system for purchasing jute bags through the GeM.