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3.149. The Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme, introduced in 2019 for decontrolled phosphatic and potassic fertilizer, remains in place. Under this Scheme, India subsidizes the retail price of indigenous phosphatic and potassic fertilizers, to promote the balanced use of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) nutrients to protect soil health and enhance productivity. (...)

3.151. (...) An additional scheme, to provide clean fuel to households, the LPG Connection to Poor Households, was launched to motivate households below the poverty line to shift to cleaner fuel.

3.153. During the review period, India notified programmes established or maintained in the fisheries sector to the WTO Committee on Subsidies. India also notified programmes implemented to promote investment in the manufacturing sector and in specific industries/sectors, e.g. leather and textiles, hybrid and electric vehicles, shipbuilding, forestry, mining, and information technology and telecommunications. The purpose of these programmes is to increase employment, upgrade technology, protect the environment, and facilitate industrialization in remote areas. Most of the assistance is via grants or fiscal incentives. (...)

3.164. During 2015-20 (end-June), India notified 102 new technical regulations to the WTO, regarding consumer, health and environmental protection. (...)

3.166. Product certification is voluntary, for both domestic and imported products, except for products that must comply with Indian standards, even if these are not considered technical regulations, for public health and safety and for the protection of the environment. (...) There are two mandatory certification schemes: (...) • Scheme II (mandatory registration) includes 50 electronics and IT products, and solar photovoltaic products, which only require market surveillance.

3.168. Certified products may use the BIS Standard Mark (ISI symbol). (...) The BIS also manages the ECO Mark for environmentally friendly products; its use is voluntary.

3.171. (...) The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) is in the process of reviewing the labelling regulation. In addition to the labelling requirements stipulated in the Regulations, specific labelling requirements apply to alcoholic beverages, food additives, health supplements, and organic food.

3.173. (...) Over the review period, several regulations to implement the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, were adopted; these are related to, inter alia, food or health supplements, the food-recall procedure, imports (e.g. licensing of food importers, clearance, and sampling and analysis)172, organic food, and packaging.

3.174. The Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 (PQ Order 2003) (as amended) and the Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914, are the main pieces of legislation that regulate India's National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO). The main objective of this legislation is to prevent the introduction of exotic pests posing a threat to agriculture; thus, they are amended as required by the changing phytosanitary conditions. To prevent the introduction and/or spread of quarantine pests and ensure their control, imports of plants/plant products (for consumption and propagation); germplasm/genetically modified organisms (GMOs)/transgenic plant material for research purposes; deleterious weed species; and live insects/fungi and other microbial cultures/bio-control agents may be prohibited, restricted or regulated.

3.176. (...) Import (Pest) Risk Analysis (PRAs) involve: an evaluation of the risk of introducing a pest, its establishment, and spread potential; an assessment of the economic and environmental impact of its introduction; and the need to adopt risk-mitigating measures. It may also involve the visit of phytosanitary experts to the production site to carry out pre-shipment inspections and evaluate post–harvest treatment technologies and quarantine inspection, and certification facilities. The cost of such a visit is borne by the exporting country. In the event of interception of a quarantine pest in imported consignments, further imports are suspended until the earlier PRA is reviewed and the risk-mitigating measures are evaluated.