In India, markets in agricultural products are regulated under the
- Essential Commodities Act, 1955
- Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act enacted by States
- Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937
- Food Products Order, 1956 and Meat and Food Products Order, 1973
Explanation
Option (b) is correct
- Agriculture falls under the State List of the Constitution. Agriculture marketing in most states is regulated by the Agricultural Produce Market Committees established by state governments under the respective Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act. The APMCs provide infrastructure for marketing of agricultural produce, regulate the sale of such produce and collect market fees from such sale, and regulate competition in agricultural marketing.
Option (a) is incorrect
- The Act empowers the central government to control the production, supply, distribution, storage, and trade of essential commodities.
Option (c) is incorrect
- The Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937 was the first legislation enacted by the Central Government to formulate standards and carry out grading and marking of agricultural and allied commodities.
Option (d) is incorrect
- Fruit Products Order -1955, promulgated under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act – 1955, aims at regulating sanitary and hygienic conditions in the manufacture of fruit and vegetable products.
- In 1973, the Government of India promulgated an Order (Meat Food Products Order, 1973) under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, to enforce strict quality control on the production and processing of meat. The acts were repealed after commencement of FSS Act, 2006.
