Category: Food Sector

Guidance on Auditing Climate Change issues in ISO 9001

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Guidance on Auditing Climate Change issues in ISO 9001

Climate change issues are one of many issues that organizations are to consider when analysing their internal and external context and determining requirements from customers and other relevant interested parties.

As part of ISO’s commitment to action on climate change, amendments to over 30 of ISO’s Management System Standards, including ISO 9001, have now been issued to include climate change considerations and the same is published on 23 February 2024.

Key points are given below:

The amendments include the determination of whether climate change is a relevant issue for the organization and the consideration of interested parties’ requirements related to climate change.

Emphasizes the need for auditors to maintain objectivity and neutrality when auditing climate change issues, focusing on assessing how organizations address climate change within their quality management systems

Provides guidance for auditing climate change issues impacting the quality management system and its intended results, outlining specific considerations and examples for auditors to evaluate

Furthermore, the document highlights the importance of addressing issues determined as relevant by the organization within the quality management system.

Presents non-exhaustive examples of questions and related aspects for auditors to assess how organizations are addressing climate change issues, including determining the scope of the quality management system, actions to address risks and opportunities, changes, resources, operations, and performance evaluation and improvement.

Underscores the need for auditors to evaluate if organisations have identified contractually agreed customer requirements or statutory and regulatory requqirements with climate change relevance and whether these are being acted upon.

Click here to read the document

Source: https://committee.iso.org/home/tc176/iso-9001-auditing-practices-group.html

One Day National Conference on Standards, Certifications & Regulations

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One Day National Conference on Standards, Certifications & Regulations – Andhra Chamber of Commerce

Andhra Chamber of Commerce, a 95 year old Chamber of commerce with headquarters in Chennai, is organising a One day National Conference on Standards , Certifications and Regulations covering following sectors :

– Agri and Food Products
– Gems and Jewellery
– Leather and Footwear

Program covers sessions on Global Market Opportunities for Businesses and various applicable Domestic and International Standards, Certifications and Regulations the businesses have to comply with, while exporting products.

Program Details are given below :

Date : February 23, 2024 – Friday
Time : 10 am to 5 30 pm
Location : Hotel Ramada Plaza, Guindy, Chennai

Who Should Attend ?

Food & Agri Product Companies, Producer Groups : This is an opportunity for Farmers, FPOs, Producer groups, such as cooperatives, consortiums, and producer organizations, Manufacturers, Exports, Traders, Distributors, Retailers, Resellers, Startups, Innovators, Ecommerce companies, Testing labs, other key stakeholders etc from Food and Agri Products space to understand more about Export Opportunities and related Regulations, Standards , Certifications, Product Testing norms that businesses have to meet to Go Global.

Registration :

There is NO FEE. Program is open for industry members, other stakeholders from respective sectors, but prior registration is a must.

𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤 :
https://bit.ly/3T7QdcQ

Do visit Chamber Page for more info, updates
http://www.andhrachamber.com/

It’s an initiative from Chamber to sensitise industry on an ongoing basis about International Trade Opportunities and market access norms that businesses have to comply with

For more details, please contact :

Mr Barnabas Immanuel
Program Co-ordinator
Phone : 24315277/78
Mob:7305063885
Email : andhrachamber1@gmail.com
acc@andhrachamber.com

Click here for Program Brochure
Click here to register

Carbon Credit Trading Scheme 2023

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Carbon Credit Trading Scheme 2023: Summary and December 2023 Amendments

Original Scheme (June 2023):

Objective: Establish a domestic carbon market to incentivize greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction and removal in India.

Compliance Mechanism: Entities exceeding designated emission intensity benchmarks must surrender carbon credits or pay penalties.

Credit Issuance: Entities undertaking projects that reduce or remove GHGs (e.g., renewable energy, afforestation) could get certified carbon credits.

Trading Mechanism: Initially limited to compliance market, allowing entities to buy and sell credits for compliance purposes.

Implementation: Phased approach, starting with specific sectors and expanding gradually.

Key Amendments (December 2023):

Introduction of “Offset Mechanism”: Allows non-obligated entities to register projects for generating carbon credits through voluntary emission reduction or removal activities.

Expanded Scope: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to recommend sectors and methodologies for credit generation under the offset mechanism.

Project Validation: Emphasized importance of robust validation process for projects registered under the offset mechanism.

Steering Committee: Membership expanded to include diverse stakeholders.

Impacts of Amendments:

a.Increased opportunities for entities to generate and trade carbon credits beyond mere compliance.

b.Potential to attract more investments in green projects and accelerate India’s climate goals.

c.Enhanced transparency and credibility of the scheme through strengthened project validation.

d.Broader stakeholder involvement in scheme governance.

Additional Notes:

The scheme is still under development with specific details like credit pricing and trading platform yet to be finalized.

The success of the scheme will depend on effective implementation, robust monitoring, and ensuring environmental integrity of credits.

This summary provides a general overview. For deeper understanding, refer to official documents and news articles

Click her to read the Original Notification

Source:https://beeindia.gov.in/sites/default/files/CCTS.pdf

Click here to read the amendment to original notification

Source:https://beeindia.gov.in/sites/default/files/CCTS%20Notification.pdf

Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024

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Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024

Tamil Nadu, with its robust educational system and a strong focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), is rapidly emerging as a leader in the Global Capability Centres (GCC) landscape. The state’s journey from skill arbitrage to leadership arbitrage in this domain is a testament to its growing prowess and the trust it has garnered globally.

GCCs, which have been a part of India’s business ecosystem for decades, are witnessing a significant surge in Tamil Nadu. Renowned companies like Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTS), Genpact, and Flipkart are notable examples of businesses that have thrived in this space. Moreover, the state is becoming a hub for startups in the GCC sector, further diversifying and strengthening its position.

As of 2015, India was expected to host over 2025 GCCs, highlighting the sector’s rapid growth. Tamil Nadu, in particular, has been pivotal in this expansion, offering a market potential that ranges from $35 billion to $60 billion. The state’s ability to create a large number of GCC leaders, estimated between 5,000 to 25,000, is also noteworthy. This growth is attributed to the shifting of markets from the West to India, leveraging the country’s strong STEM education.

One of the key strengths of Tamil Nadu in the GCC arena is the close gap between engineering and end-users. Product managers in the state work closely with customers, unlike in the past, where GCCs focused only on building certain parts. This proximity enables the development of trusted relationships and a deeper understanding of end-user needs.

Talent acquisition and retention are other areas where Tamil Nadu excels. The state’s educational institutions, startups, and industries collaborate closely, creating a robust ecosystem that supports the growth and development of GCCs. This synergy is critical in understanding and adapting to consumption patterns in the fast-growing digital economy.

Despite these strengths, GCCs in Tamil Nadu have faced challenges. Initially, driving business transformation and achieving cost efficiencies were significant hurdles. However, these have been largely overcome, and today the focus is on co-innovation, joint IPs, and skill development in collaboration with the government and academia. Cultural gaps and trust-building, once significant challenges, are now areas where best practices have been established.

Opportunities abound in Tamil Nadu, especially in engineering R&D. Cities like Chennai and Coimbatore are recognized for their skilled talent, particularly in Tier 2 cities like Coimbatore. The state offers a comprehensive product portfolio, facilitated by the proximity of engineers, product managers, architects, and customers.

Tamil Nadu is also home to various GCCs from major players in diverse sectors, each contributing uniquely to the ecosystem. For example, Optimum Health focuses on simplifying and scaling healthcare innovation, while Reynold Nissan GCC leverages core automotive technology for local and global markets. Standard Chartered Bank and UPS have also established significant GCC presences in Chennai, tapping into the diverse talent pool and collaborative ecosystem.

In summary, Tamil Nadu’s strengths in education, innovation, and a collaborative ecosystem make it an ideal location for GCCs. The state’s ability to adapt to changing global needs, coupled with its focus on co-innovation and talent development, positions it as a leader in the GCC landscape. With continued investment and growth, Tamil Nadu is set to play an increasingly vital role in the global GCC sector.

Click the link below to watch the TNGIM2024 Day 1 & Day 2 sessions: https://www.tngim2024.com/live-event-listing

Source: https://tngim2024.com/

National Single Window System

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National Single Window System

National Single Window System (NSWS) is a one-stop-shop portal, and a medium of convenient and efficient online Government-to-Business (G2B) services to the business community, which reduces the complexity in obtaining information and services related to starting businesses in India and deals with various approvals, registrations and permits.

NSWS is a portal wherein investors/ entrepreneurs can identify, apply and obtain regulatory approvals and compliances as under applicable laws in India, for setting up and starting a business unit anywhere in India. However, the final authority of giving approvals lies with the Ministry/ Department/ State authorities and the internal process followed by the respective Ministries/ Departments/ States remains the same.

The Know Your Approvals (KYA) module supports information across 32 Central Departments and 17 States. However, there may be other approvals required that the investors may like to check at their own discretion. Currently, the portal hosts applications for approvals from 21 Central Departments and 14 State Governments

Objectives of NSW:

  1. To establish a single-window mechanism by integrating the services provided by various Central Ministries, Departments, and State Governments
  2. To provide a one-stop-shop for procuring pre-establishment and pre-operation approvals and permits required to establish a business in India
  3. To provide efficient, convenient, transparent, and integrated electronic service to investors, industries, and businesses
  4. To provide a uniform and seamless experience to the business user

Benefits of NSW Portal:

  • All approvals in one place
  • Transparency
  • Cost saving
  • Secure Document repository
  • Fast query management
  • Real time status tracking
  • Easy renewal
  • Integration with Other systems

NSW contribute to economic growth by reducing trade barriers and improving the overall efficiency of trade processes

Services that can be availed through the NSWS : 

  1. Identification of requisite pre-establishment and pre-operation approval for setting up of a business unit in India 
  2. Application of suggested approvals
  3. Digital repository for storing documents related to approvals
  4. Payment of processing fees to issue any approvals
  5. Post application, tracking and status update on applications submitted
  6. Easy Renewal
  7. Information about approvals such as timelines, fees, documents required etc.

Who can use this Portal?

The users of a National Single Window (NSW) portal typically include a wide range of stakeholders involved in international trade and logistics. The National Single Window System is designed and built for both foreign and domestic investors/ entrepreneurs of any sector, scale and size.

  1. Traders – Importers, exporters, and other businesses engaged in international trade
  2. Government Agencies
  3. Customs Brokers and Agents
  4. Transport and Logistics Providers
  5. Financial Institutions
  6. Certifying Bodies
  7. Trade Associations and Chambers of Commerce
  8. Information providers

How to use the NSWS portal?

An investor/ Business user is required to register on the National Single Window System (NSWS) by clicking on “Sign Up Now” before applying for any service from the portal.  The user requires an email ID and mobile number to register. Once they complete the registration process, they can apply for pre-establishment and pre-operation approvals given by the Ministries/ Departments/ States that are part of the NSWS.

The NSWS does not charge any fee for user registration. However, any fee/ charges required by the Ministry/ Department/ State to process the applications for approvals can be paid through the NSWS portal

For detailed guide on user registration and application submission, please visit https://www.nsws.gov.in/portal/user-guide

On the whole, The National Single Window portal benefits a broad spectrum of stakeholders by promoting efficiency, transparency, compliance, and collaboration in trade processes.

By addressing the diverse needs and interests of traders, government agencies, service providers, consumers, and society at large, an effective NSW system contributes to fostering a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable trade ecosystem.

Source:https://www.nsws.gov.in/

https://www.investindia.gov.in/

Announcement from NABH

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NABH FEE REMITTANCE - Announcement from NABH

NABH has released an important notice on January 4,2024 on Fee Remittance by all applicant / Accredited / Certified Health Care Organisations under all programs of NABH

Many Healthcare Organisations associated with NABH are still making direct payment to accounts of Quality Council of India – NABH. Due to this, NABH is facing difficulty in reconciling the amounts received directly as the details of payment are also not updated by the respective HCOs in their online portal.

To avoid unnecessary wastage of time and manpower in tracking the payments, NABH advises its stakeholders to make payments only through the online portal using the Payment Gateway so that the payments are appropriately tracked for convenience of all the parties

To facilitate the Healthcare Organisations to reconcile the fee payment status, NABH has requested all the
HCOs to follow the below steps with immediate effect:

  1. The HCOs are advised to login into their HCO account on the NABH portal for making payments through payment gateway via credit card/debit card/net banking.
  2. In no case HCOs shall deposit cash/cheque/DD directly into any of the accounts of Quality Council of
    India.
  3. In case the HCO has no other option but Bank Transfer (NEFT/RTGS), the payment shall be made
    after seeking approval from NABH secretariat. It shall be the responsibility of HCO to update the
    transaction details like Unique Transaction Reference (UTR) Number, Date of Transaction, Transaction
    Amount, etc on the NABH Portal under the Make Payment category and inform NABH that the Payment
    was done and get the receipts generated for the payments made.
  4. The HCOs are also requested to ensure that the payment details with respect to fee payments of
    current and previous accreditation cycles have been updated on the NABH portal account of the HCO,
    if not done earlier.
  5. Non updation of fee payment details on the portal may result into non-credit of the amounts and
    the HCO may be liable for adverse decision and repayment as per rules.
  6. All HCOs are to ensure that no direct offline payments are made to any account of Quality Council
    of India (QCI)

Notice issued by NABH is given below for reference:

Source:https://nabh.co/

Holistic AI E-book

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The State of Global AI Regulations in 2024

The year 2022 was pivotal for artificial intelligence (AI), culminating in the emergence of ChatGPT and Microsoft’s subsequent discussions to invest $10 billion in OpenAI. With the AI market projected to grow to $500 billion in 2024, regulatory efforts have intensified in tandem with AI’s rapid adoption.

“The State of Global AI Regulations in 2024,”, a comprehensive guide released by Holistic AI ,sheds light on the following:
a. current state of the global AI landscape,
b. Key developments and anticipating trends in businesses
c. AI governance and its implications

Click here to read the AI Ebook

Source:https://www.holisticai.com/papers/the-state-of-ai-regulations-in-2024

Sustainability – Mega opportunity

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In sustainability, a mega opportunity for Indian banks

As India passes the reins of the G20, it has signalled an unwavering dedication to combating global environmental and sustainability challenges. The G20 sustainability working group meetings have spotlighted key pillars: harnessing climate finance, embracing the sustainability development goals (SDGs), and nurturing the financial ecosystem’s capacity.

In parallel, India’s nationally determined contribution commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the ambitious 2070 net zero emissions target unveil a grand vision of fortifying climate resilience and nurturing sustainable growth.

The big gap: funding the shift to a greener future

Nevertheless, there is a considerable gap between the financial requisites for these ambitions and the current landscape–making for a significant opportunity for India’s banking sector to tap into.

The G20 Leaders declaration underscores the importance of sustainable finance, highlighting needs like for developing countries, blended finance instruments, and reforming multilateral institutions.

Worldwide, banks are increasingly integrating sustainability into their operations. Many have committed substantial funds for sustainability and are transitioning away from fossil fuel financing. They’re also innovating with sustainable finance products like green bonds and leveraging technology for broader customer outreach and lower carbon footprints

While India’s banking sector has begun its ESG journey, it’s still navigating the challenges of balancing sustainability with developmental needs. Drawing from global trends and G20 insights, Indian banks can harness ESG for value creation. By integrating sustainability considerations and technology-driven decision-making, they can champion environmental and social transformation in India’s financial realm.

Indian banks have a pivotal role in driving social change, achieving national objectives, and expanding their lending portfolios.

Their success hinges on accessing global capital, innovating for new segments, and prioritizing digitalization and ESG integration in decision-making.

Achieving these objectives not only promises financial success but also positions Indian banks as leaders in the sustainability transition.

Click here to read the article

source: https://www.livemint.com/

Centre notifies Green Credit Rules, 2023…

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Green Credit Rules, 2023

The green credit programme shall incentivise environmental positive actions through market-based mechanism and generate green credit, which shall be tradable and made available for trading on a domestic market platform.

The green credit will arise from taking measures by a person of any environment activities referred to in sub-rule (2) of rule 4.

The green credit programme shall encourage industries, companies and other entities to meet their existing obligations or other obligations under any law for the time being in force, and encourage other persons and entities, to undertake voluntary environmental measures referred to in rule 4 by generating or buying green credit: Provided that the green credit generated or procured to fulfil any obligation in compliance of any law for the time being in force shall not be tradable

The measures that can be taken for the purposes of protection, preservation, or conservation of the environment includes :
a. tree plantation
b. water management
c. sustainable agriculture
d. waste managemen
e. air pollution reduction
f. mangrove conservation and restoration
g. ecomark label development
h. sustainable building and infrastructure

Methodology of generating green credit

The calculation of green credit in respect of any activity undertaken shall be based on equivalence of resource requirement, parity of scale, scope, size and other relevant parameters required to achieve the desired environmental outcome

Procedure for generation of green credit

The Administrator shall develop the website for registration of activities, evaluation and verification of activities undertaken and award of green credit in respect of such verified activities, electronically.

The responsibilities of the Administrator shall include the following, namely:—

(a) develop guidelines, processes and procedures for the implementation of the green credit programme under these rules;
(b) develop methodologies, registration process, guidelines and associated measurement, reporting and verification mechanism;
(c) establish methodologies and processes for issuance of green credit (including issuance of digital green credit), and equivalence of green credit generated from each identified activity;
(d) develop guidelines for the establishment and operation of the Green Credit Registry and trading platform; for self-certification or third-party certification for the registration of an activity for issuance of green credits and its inspection and verification by designated agency, for empanelment of auditors and audit by such auditors;
(e) establish or designate the Green Credit Registry, and trading platform service provider in accordance with the approved guidelines;
(f) develop guidelines for the green credit programme portal, the knowledge and data platform, and for the fees from the registered entities;
(g) develop guidelines for filing of annual returns and progress reports by designated agency, Registry, trading platform and knowledge and data platform

The Central Government shall constitute a Steering Committee & Technical Committee to monitor the implementation of the Green Credit programme under these rules.

The Administrator or designated agency shall establish and maintain a Green Credit Registry for the registration and issuance of each Green Credit.

The Administrator shall establish and maintain a trading platform , which shall perform functions regarding the trading of green credit, in accordance with the guidelines made by the Administrator with the approval of the Central Government.

The Administrator shall develop and maintain a knowledge and data platform, with approval of the Central Government, which may collate key data points generated from the Registry and other information, such as sectoral achievements, best practices, information on capacity building, etc

The Administrator shall appoint a designated agency in accordance with the guidelines approved by the Central Government, who shall conduct verification and submit reports to the Administrator in accordance
with the guidelines

The participation to the Green Credit programme under these rules shall be based on voluntary participation

The activities of the Administrator, designated agency, Registry, trading platform and knowledge and data platform shall be audited within a period of one year at the end of every third financial year by independent auditors to be appointed by the Central Government on the recommendation of the Steering Committee.

Click here to read the Notification

Source:https://moef.gov.in/moef/index.html

Announcement – e-commerce exports handbook

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Release of e-commerce exports handbook for MSMEs

The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal released a comprehensive “E-Commerce Exports Handbook for MSMEs” prepared by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in New Delhi on Thursday.

The handbook, a significant initiative supporting the objectives of Foreign Trade Policy 2023, will serve as a definitive guide for MSMEs seeking to harness e-commerce platforms for expanding their exports.

It provides detailed insights into strategies for promoting exports via e-commerce,  facilitating MSMEs to venture into global markets effectively. This is part of the DGFT’s collaboration with different e-Commerce platforms/ enablers to hold training sessions in districts across the country with focus on promoting e-Commerce exports. The e-Commerce exports handbook for MSME will be a key resource for creating awareness e-Commerce exports through these outreach events in the districts.

The handbook, initially released in four languages namely English, Hindi, Gujarati and Kannada, will be translated into all official languages across India, ensuring accessibility and benefitting consumers, entrepreneurs, farmers, and women entrepreneurs looking to contribute significantly to trade and commerce

Click here to read the Handbook

Source:https://www.dgft.gov.in/

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