Regd. No.

: S-54781/2006 (REGISTERED UNDER THE SOCIETIES REGISTRATION ACT XXI OF 1860)

Press Release
Subject: Appeal to permit duty-free import of 50,000 metric tons of Non-GM Food Specialty
Soybeans (HSN Code: 12019000) under TRQ scheme due to the reason that food specialty soybeans
are not grown in India

Soy Food Promotion and Welfare Association (SFPWA) represents the soy food processing industries in
India. Soy Food processing is one of the preferred business categories operating in the food processing
sector with the strength of over 2,000 small, medium and large-scale units positioned all across the
country. In addition to providing low cost nutrition to the local area of its operation and complying with
the “Nutrition Mission” of India, this industry has generated an extensive employment opportunity in the
region.

Soy is not a staple food in India, hence the requirement to process and serve the best optimal quality to
customer is paramount. With specialized modern food processing techniques and scientific interventions,
soy food companies have improved quality, but due to a lack of affordable, high quality raw
ingredients, we feel challenged for new growth opportunities.

Inconsistent and inferior raw soybean quality is the leading cause of dissatisfied consumers wanting better
taste, texture and flavor profiles. Indian soybeans are oil and meal centric, suitable for animal
utilization. There are no food specialty soybeans grown in the country, thus the supply of the same
does not exist. While all Indian beans are non-GM, they are also treated as commodity beans regardless
of the end use, be it in the food or feed industry. When soybeans are needed for food applications, Indian
producer’s grade and select the best beans from the general lots and sell them at a premium price.
Unfortunately, this does not qualify to satisfy the specialty food characteristics and do not match up with
the quality standards and expectations for producing retail end products the consumer’s desire. As a result,
many Indian soy food processors are now forced to shut down.

Soy is the safest, most affordable, and highest quality source of protein in India, but with the lack of
suitable food grade specialty soybeans, the soy food processors are significantly constrained. This is
limiting the business opportunities, job creation, and revenue generation, as well as depriving the
general masses in India from an excellent, affordable, nutritional protein source that consumers
need and manufacturers are ready and able to supply.

According to Protein Paradox, https://righttoprotein.com/initiative/protein-paradox.html a paper recently

disseminated, India accounts for 32% (46.6 million) of the world’s stunted children. Moreover, 84% of
Indian vegetarian population is protein deficient, leading to myriad of health consequences, like a
resistance in immunity to COVID-19. Moreover, nearly 66% of the 1.04 million deaths in children under
the age of five, in India, are attributable to malnutrition.

Fortunately, there are Non-GM specialty food grade soybeans grown in the United States with specific
varieties and traits for various soy food applications. These are Identity preserved (IP) and have been
regularly preferred and supplied directly to soy food manufactures in SE Asia, China, Japan and other
countries. IP is a practice of segregating crops throughout the process of production, processing,
and distribution in order to deliver a specific trait or the quality to the end market. These specialty
beans have been created and customized with lower oil content, higher inherent sucrose, low
oligosaccharide (raffinose and stachyose) and stable protein structures making them highly suitable for
Mailing Address : Plot No.30/25, Knowledge Park-III, Greater Noida-201306, Uttar Pradesh (NCR Delhi)
Tel:+91-120-2428800 * Email: info@soyaindia.org * Website: www.soyaindia.org
 Regd. No. : S-54781/2006 (REGISTERED UNDER THE SOCIETIES REGISTRATION ACT XXI OF 1860)

soy food manufacturing. These exclusive technical features attribute to produce high quality product with
no off smell and greater acceptability.

In consideration of our consumers and soy food businesses, we have respectfully requested to our
honorable Prime Minister to allow the soy food processing industry to import 50,000 metric tons of
the food specialty soybeans from U.S.A. on a “Zero” duty under tariff rate quota (TRQ). This will
help consumers enjoy a delicious, healthy, protein rich food source in addition to assisting soy food
companies to not only sustain, but grow their businesses, all good for the Indian economy and the people.

K. Sarat Chandra Kumar (President)

Soy Food Promotion and Welfare Association
Plot # 30/25, Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida 201306
Uttar Pradesh (NCR Delhi)
Mob: 9841027370; 0120-2428800 W;
Email: info@soyaindia.org; Website: www.soyaindia.org

Mailing Address : Plot No.30/25, Knowledge Park-III, Greater Noida-201306, Uttar Pradesh (NCR Delhi)
Tel:+91-120-2428800 * Email: info@soyaindia.org * Website: www.soyaindia.org