The Government of India is moving towards putting in place an integrated food law to meet the requirements of global trade and make the domestic industry more competitive internationally, Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Kamal Nath, said at the 15th awards function of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), reports Sify.com quoting a Businessline report.

Nath said the legislation would aim at ensuring a proper management of the food safety system, besides setting up a single line of command, away from the present system of multi-level and multi-departmental controls.

APEDA Chairman K.S. Money said that his organisation had introduced Residue Monitoring Plans for pesticide residues and veterinary drugs in various food products. It was also bringing out pre- and post-harvest manuals, strengthening quality control laboratories and accreditating certification agencies for quality assurance systems.

Money said that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had recognised India 's accreditation system and procedures, including the certification bodies under its National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). He said that as a result of this move, the US will now allow India 's certified organic products to enter its food market.

He said that efforts were being made to open up the Saudi, Russian and Thai markets for meat and to revive the Egyptian market. He added that efforts were also being made to open up China and Mexico for Indian basmati rice.