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India may curb honey adulterant imports from China: Report

The Indian government is planning to curb, or possibly ban, import of high fructose syrup, which is used as an adulterant in some honey brands. Union MSME minister Nitin Gadkari raised the issue in a letter to Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal, The Times of India reported. "Large quantity of high fructose syrup is imported from China and is widely being sold in the market, used for adulteration with honey, as it is difficult to detect even with sophisticated testing," Gadkari said, as quoted by the paper. He added that this was a serious threat to the honey industry and impacted livelihood. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story. Earlier in December, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said many major Indian honey brands, such a Dabur and Patanjali, are adulterated with sugar syrup. An investigation by CSE found that only three out of 13 brands cleared the purity test - Marico's Saffola, Markfed Sohna and Nature's Nectar. The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), a part of the MSME ministry, has separately approached Goyal. The agency said the high fructose syrup was largely unchecked with huge consignments also routed via Hong Kong, The Times of India reported. According to the report, KVIC chairman VK Saxena has told the Centre that 70 percent out of the 11,000 tonnes of the imported syrup comes from China.

मिलावटी शहद पर सरकार सख्त, चाइनीज शुगर सिरप के आयात पर रोक की तैयारी

पिछले दिनों मिलावटी शहद का मामला सामने आया था जिसके लपेटे में कई ब्रैंड आए थे। यह मामला उजागर होने के बाद CSE ने क्वॉलिटी टेस्ट किया था। इस टेस्ट में 13 में केवल 3 ब्रैंड- सफोला, मार्कफेडसोहना और नेचर नेक्टर एनएमआर टेस्ट में पास हुए थे। अब सरकार चीन से चाइनीज सिरप के आयात पर रोक लगाने पर विचार कर रही है। इस विवाद को लेकर MSME और ट्रांसपोर्ट मिनिस्टर नितिन गडकरी ने कहा कि मिलावटी शहद को ध्यान में रखते हुए चाइनीज शुगर के आयात पर रोक का फैसला लिया जा सकता है। इसके अलावा आयात पर शुल्क बढ़ाने पर भी विचार किया जा रहा है। गडकरी ने कहा कि बाजार में खुलेआम मिलावटी शहद बिक रहा है। ज्यादातर Fructose Syrup का आयात चीन से होता है। कई तरह की टेस्टिंग के बावजूद मिलावटी होने का पता चलना कठिन है। ऐसे में चीन से आयात रोकने के उपायों पर विचार किया जा रहा है। देश में सभी प्रमुख ब्रांड के शहद में जबरदस्त मिलावट, पूरी रिपोर्ट Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) की महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण ने यह खुलासा करते हुए बताया था कि भारतीय बाजारों में बिक रहे शहद के लगभग सभी ब्रांडों में जबरदस्त तरीके से शुगर सिरप (Sugar syrup) की मिलावट हो रही है। इसी संगठन ने वर्ष 2003 और 2006 के दौरान सॉफ्ट ड्रिंक में कीटनाशक की उपस्थिति का खुलासा किया था।मिलावटी शहद का मामला उजागर होने के बाद Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)ने क्वॉलिटी टेस्ट किया था। इस टेस्ट में 13 में केवल 3 ब्रैंड- सफोला, मार्कफेडसोहना और नेचर नेक्टर एनएमआर टेस्ट में पास हुए।

With 504 Km on a Single Charge, Bengaluru Startup’s Sedan May Replace All Our Cars

Powered by a 96 kWh lithium ion battery pack, the Extinction MKI generates an output of 200 brake horsepower (bhp) with a top speed of 196 kmph. Earlier this month, Benagluru-based electric mobility start-up, Pravaig Dynamics, unveiled its Extinction MKI luxury electric coupe with some eyepopping specifications. The start-up claims that this two-door and four-seater electric car can run 504 km on a single charge (battery range). Powered by a 96 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the Extinction MKI generates an output of 200 brake horsepower (bhp) with a top speed of 196 kmph. It can also accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in just 5.4 seconds. But the standout specification is the battery range of 504 km. To put this figure into context, the Tesla Model Y Long Range has a battery range of a little over 508 km, while the Hyundai Kona claims 452 km per full charge. In India, the MG ZS EV (of MG Motor) claims 340 km, while the recently launched Mercedes-Benz EQC stands at 350 km. “Our battery pack is more than double the MG ZS EV (powered by a 44.5 kWh battery pack). During testing, we have seen this figure go above 600 km. We are certain of the 504 km range. Developing a battery management system for these specifications is a massive challenge, keeping consumer safety in mind. We have spent a lot of blood, sweat and tears to make it safe, long-lasting and at the lowest cost possible. The battery pack consists of 5,000 cells located on the floor of the car. Our batteries with an energy density of 155Wh/kg and backed by world-leading safety standards allows us to maintain a significant range,” says Siddhartha Bagri, co-founder of Pravaig Dynamics, speaking to The Better India. Manufacturers can actually make existing electric vehicles (EVs) travel longer distances on a single charge, but the problem is their batteries get overworked. What these batteries need are better cooling systems. The trick lies in the design and execution of the cooling system, notes Prajnay Rajulu Boddepalli, who oversees prototyping and development at Pravaig. “Technically, you can install a battery pack that allows you to reach these specifications, but what happens is you overwork the battery pack, which gets heated, and the subsequent fuse that cuts off energy supply. You need an efficient cooling system in design and execution to ensure your EV can hit those specifications. For now, we use an ‘active’ cooling system that enables heat exchange all along the length of the battery pack. We’re working on a couple of alternatives to this as well. But I am not at liberty to reveal more” says Prajnay. The Bengaluru startup claims the range of 504 km on a single charge is achievable in ideal conditions. “Moreover, we can charge the battery pack from 0 to 80% in just 30 minutes. The lifecycle of the battery is about 10 lakh km,” adds Siddhartha. Siddhartha claims that nearly 90% of the vehicle (by mass) is made in India. “Of course, there are certain smaller highvalue components we source from the best suppliers in the world, including those from Japan (not China). Having said that, Indian vendors need to catch up. There are two billion fossil fuel-driven cars that need to be replaced with EVs in the next 10-15 years. This offers massive head room for our vendors to enter the global supply chain in a major way and capture the market, with large swathes of the world transitioning to EVs. Unfortunately, there are certain components that we have to rely on foreign vendors. We need more ambitious vendors in India. We are currently educating vendors in the country and getting up to leading global metrics,” Siddhartha notes. Another unique facet of Pravaig’s work on the Extinction EV is the adoption of 3D Printing. “It’s a very expensive process on an industrial scale, but it saves up a lot of time in the innovation process. Usually, major global corporations adopt this expensive process on a commercial scale. It’s commendable that in the name of innovation, Pravaig has adopted 3D Printing. For any subsystem, companies often take four to five iterations before it is robust and sound enough for commercial use. 3D Printing saves that time because you don’t have to wait for your supplier to make those necessary adjustments,” says Prajnay. Having said that, 3D printing is increasingly being explored across different areas of automotive production. Besides its standard use for rapid prototyping, this technology is also being utilised to produce tooling and, in certain cases, end parts as well. But it’s the business model Pravaig Dynamics is proposing for the EV which could very well position the start-up for the future. According to this Evo India report, Pravaig will not sell the car to private individuals. “Instead the company will lease the cars — along with a driver — to fleet operators. The thinking behind it is that to recover the initial purchase price of EVs the cars need to be run continuously and thus take advantage of low running costs. The 500km range is intended to see the car tackle multiple runs to the airport, in a city like Bengaluru for instance, and only needing to be charged overnight. Pravaig will also be installing chargers at the offices of the companies who have leased the car and their leasing costs will cover the cost of electricity consumed by the car,” the report states. Containing all the important technical specifications of the MKI, the MKII will see a series of significant upgrades for the end commuter experience, claims Pravaig. So, why isn’t the Extinction MKII for sale to individual consumers? Today, our cities are rife with traffic congestion and intense vehicular pollution, a future that isn’t sustainable in the slightest. Making matters worse, according to a recent study by the Delhi-based environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), “a car runs only for 400 hours on an average in a year, and is parked the rest of the time (8,360 hours or 95%).”

Boycott Patanjali, Baba Ramdev trend as Tweeple share hilarious memes Netizens started to trend

#BoycottPatanjali after the news of honey sold by 13 major brands in India including Dabur and Patanjali failing NMR test went viral. After a report stating that honey sold by 13 major brands in India including Dabur and Patanjali has failed the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) test, it tickled Twitterati’s funny bone and #BoycottPatanjali started trending on the micro-blogging website. Users started bashing Baba Ramdev with memes and jokes which led to a funny banter on Twitter. The NMR test is used to check how much the honey is adulterated. Last week, the environment watchdog Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) claimed that honey sold by 13 major brands in India including Dabur and Patanjali has failed the test. The study also stated that 77 per cent brands in Indian markets are selling honey adulterated with sugar. Almost all the top brands (except Apis Himalaya) passed the tests of purity, while a few smaller brands failed the tests to detect C4 sugar - call it basic adulteration using cane sugar. Out of the 13 brands tested, only three passed the NMR test, which was conducted by a specialised laboratory in Germany.

Yuck! UP Factory Busted For Making Fake Spices Using Acid, Donkey Dung & ‘Bhusa’; Cops Seize 300 kg of Spices

At the factory, many spices like red chilli powder, garam masala, coriander powder were found, however, all of these spices were being made with fake ingredients like donkey dung, artificial colours that are inedible. Needless to say, food adulteration is a major problem in India, something which endangers public health seriously. In one such major adulteration bust, police in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras have unearthed a a spice manufacturing unit which used to make spurious and counterfeit spices of local brands using donkey dung, hay and acid. Also Read - Fake Call Centre Duping US Nationals Busted in Gurugram, 2 Arrested The case came to light on Monday when Hathras police raided a factory after receiving a tip-off and found more than 300 kg of counterfeit spices. The factory owner named Anoop Varshney has been arrested and the factory itself has now been sealed, Times of India reported. At the factory, many spices like red chilli powder, garam masala, coriander powder, turmeric were found, however, all of these spices were being made with fake ingredients like donkey dung, artificial colours that are inedible and even dangerous to health. As many as 27 samples from the factory have sent to the laboratories for testing and a case will be filed against the owner under the Food Safety and Standards Act if test results are confirmed. Joint magistrate Prem Prakash Meena said, “We have seized over 300 kg of fake spices being packed in names of some local brands.” Meena also said that Varshney was unable to provide a license for operating the spice factory at the location where it was being run. He also could not produce the license of the brands, which were being packed. Varshney has now been remanded to judicial custody under section 151 of the CrPC (arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offences). According to food department officials, the adulterants in the spices prove to be a health hazard if consumed over a long period of time. Recently, an investigation conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found rampant adulteration in honey sold by major Indian brands including Dabur, Patanjali, and Emami. The CSE investigation also said many of these companies in the honey business were importing synthetic sugar syrups from China to adulterate honey.

Pollution: Why every one per cent counts, writes Sunita Narain

Now that the stubble-burning period is over, but air is still polluted and toxic over vast parts of the country, we need to talk about what needs to be done. Three kinds of actions are essential — steps against episodic pollution events like stubble-burning; steps against local sources of pollution, which aggravate the problem; and more transformational action that will bring long-term benefits. All three levels of pollution management are critical. And all sources of pollution need to be addressed. I say this because all contributors to pollution say that they are only one per cent of the problem. So if steps are taken to control diesel from vehicles, car owners will say they are one per cent; when power plants are asked to clean up or shut down, they say they are one per cent. Or when industry is told that the coal that they burn is contributing to the toxic air in the region, they will cry foul and say, what about action against garbage-burning? So, the net result is to point fingers at some other source, away from the action that needs to be taken. This is also the favourite ploy of governments — Centre to state, agency to agency. Pass the buck and make the problem go away. But it won’t. Every winter, we will continue to choke and hurt. Every winter, when the weather turns adverse and pollutants settle close to the ground, even the steps taken in the past few years to reduce pollution will get negated. This is because the sources of pollution will continue to grow — the vehicles on the road will increase; they will get older with each passing year and so more polluting; the numbers of industries will increase. Let us deal with each source. The first is episodic stubble-burning, which starts around October 15, when winter is settling in and the wind turns to bring pollutants from fires to cities of the region, including Delhi. Steps are needed from now till next October to ensure that machines for stubble management are available in every village; that small and marginal farmers get free access to these and that farmers have evidence of the benefits to turn the crop residue back into the land and not to burn it. In addition, there are exciting efforts underway to use the stubble to make compressed natural gas or for power generation. These need to be tracked, prodded, pushed and implemented. What is needed is deliberate steps and careful monitoring — month after month. What is also clear is that post this stubble fire period, the quality of air in Delhi and the surrounding region remains foul. It ranges between very poor and severe, depending on what meteorologists call the ventilation index — which determines dispersion of pollutants — and wind speed. According to the National air quality index (AQI), exposure to “poor” levels of air is unhealthy and gets more severe as exposure is prolonged and air quality deteriorates into very unhealthy and hazardous. To fix this, in the short-term, each pollution hotspot needs to be managed. Currently, there are some 13 hotspots in the region — identified as those with the highest air pollution levels. The sources of pollution here include construction and road dust, garbage burning in vacant areas, and industries that spew pollutants from their stacks or congestion points for traffic. The source of pollution here is local. Action has to be taken through local agencies. And it has to be systemic. The reason is that garbage removed one day; or a road paved one day, is then filled again with waste or dug up again. This is where we need maximum governance for maximum gain. But all this will not be enough — it will be like putting out small fires in a blazing forest. We need action at speed and scale. The key is to tackle the problem of coalburning in the region — in power plants and in literally thousands of industrial units scattered across the legal and illegal parts of Delhi and the region. Delhi’s ban on the use of coal is good. But industries have then moved either to illegal and unauthorised areas in the city or to surrounding states. Here they continue to use coal, for it is the cheapest fuel, as against natural gas, which is doubly and triply taxed so it is unaffordable. We need a second gas revolution in the region — compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles brought us the firstgeneration change. We now need a fuelswitch in all sources for clean air. This includes using clean electricity for powering industry and vehicles. But remember, if the power plant is dirty, then electric vehicles will only mean that we shift the problem from us to them. The airshed is one, so the pollutants will come back to our lungs. This is why air pollution is a great equaliser, and we are all in it together. Every one per cent counts. Sunita Narain is director-general, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi The views expressed are personal

The Coal Truth

Coal will continue to be the mainstay of India’s power generation in this decade, but the country must ensure it uses coal more efficiently to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: CSE CSE suggests measures that can help reduce CO2 emissions from the coal-based power sector by 22 per cent Renewable capacity addition alone not enough; ambitious plans to reduce GHG emissions in coal sector needed to meaningfully tackle climate change, says CSE’s new analysis

Kolkata: ‘Worst two-year pollution peak in first two weeks of December’

Kolkata: Even though the fog has dissipated, the pollutants are still hanging low in the ambient air of the city for a longer duration. For the last few days, the city’ air has been very poor. So far, December 2020 proved to be the worst in the last two years, despite no major change in atmospheric temperature, said a study. According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), in the first two weeks of December, the city saw its worst peak of PM2.5 level, compared to December 2019. It hovered around 130 µg/m3 on an average. Last year, the PM2.5 level hovered around 70-80 µg/m3. “In Kolkata, the cyclical ups and downs of pollution this winter is more volatile, showing quicker rise and fall than in previous winters. This could also be a reflection of changes in local pollution patterns and overall lower pollution load in the air-shed while aided by meteorology,” said air quality expert Anumita Roychowdhury, who led the analysis of the city pollution level since lockdown Ultrafine PM2.5 is considered much more lethal compared to the relatively coarser PM10. Vehicular population has witnessed a record rise in the city and suburbs. Apart from the noxious fume of the vehicles, factories, open burning and thermal power station continued belching smoke in the air. “The mitigating measures adopted by the state pollution control board, Kolkata Police and civic body last year are missing this year,” said environment crusader Subhas Datta. Kolkata, CSE said, needs a deep cut in the average PM2.5 levels. “Enforce power plant standards in the larger region, provide clean fuels to the industry, scale up public transport and vehicle restraint measures and manage waste to have a zero waste and zero landfill strategy. But the peak winter pollution also shows that the city needs a graded response action plan (GRAP) to slow down the peaking winter pollution,” said Roy Chowdhury.

#BoycottPatanjali trends amid ongoing farmer protests, Here’s why

New Delhi: Boycotting anything is not a strange concept for the netizens and this time it’s Patanjali’s turn to face this wrath. Netizens are once again calling for a boycott of Patanjali products, this time in conjunction with the ongoing farmer protests. Meanwhile, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) know as the watchdog of the environment, last week, claimed that honey sold by 13 major brands in India including Dabur and Patanjali have deliberately failed Nuclear Magnetic Resonance test. In the morning, people started to trend #BoycottPatanjali and bashed Ramdev Baba with hilarious memes that can crack up anyone.

Here’s Why People Are Trending Boycott Patanjali And Making Memes On Baba Ramdev

Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali products are now in trouble as people have lost trust in the brand's tall claims. Environment watchdog Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), last week, claimed that honey sold by 13 major brands in India including Dabur and Patanjali have failed NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) test. Amit Khurana, programme director of CSE's Food Safety and Toxins team, said, “What we found was shocking. It shows how the business of adulteration has evolved so that it can pass the stipulated tests in India. Our concern is not just that the honey we eat is adulterated, but that this adulteration is difficult to catch. In fact, we have found that sugar syrups are designed so that they can go undetected.”

Pardee Center Hosts Webinar on Future of Sustainable Development

On December 9, 2020, the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, an affiliated center of the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, hosted a panel event titled “The Future of Sustainable Development in “The World After Coronavirus.” The webinar served as the Plenary Dialogue of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute’s (SDPI) 23rd Sustainable Development Conference. The panel built on one of the major themes from the Pardee Center’s “The World After Coronavirus” (#WorldAfterCorona) video series and explored the future of sustainable development in a COVID-19 world. Adil Najam, Dean of the Pardee School, was joined by featured guests from the series including Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, Professor of International Affairs at The New School and Former Director, UNDP Human Development Report Office; Yolanda Kakabadse, Former President, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) International & International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Former Minister of Environment for Ecuador; Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India; Editor, Down to Earth magazine; and Alice Ruhweza, Regional Director for Africa, WWF International.

Coal here to stay, but measures can cut down emissions by 22%: CSE

Coal will continue to be the mainstay of India's power generation till at least 2030, but efforts must made to ensure it is used efficiently to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Improving fleet technology and efficiency, propagating biomass co-firing and investing in carbon capture and storage are among the few feasible measures put forth by experts during a webinar by think-tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The measures, among others, could help cut GHG emissions by 22 per cent, according to CSE.

Construction and demolition waste vehicles to fit cameras, GPS

Documents accessed by HT showed that the policy was approved by chief secretary Vijay Dev on Thursday and an order making the rules public is likely to be issued this week by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). In a first for the state, the Delhi government is planning to mandate that vehicles carrying construction and demolition (C&D) waste be fitted with GPS devices and cameras, senior government officials said on Saturday. The rule, aimed at curbing unlawful C&D waste disposal, will also make it compulsory for such vehicles, which will be tracked in realtime, to get a separate registration certificate from the civic bodies for operations. Documents accessed by HT showed that the policy was approved by chief secretary Vijay Dev on Thursday and an order making the rules public is likely to be issued this week by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). The move comes at a time when the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Thursday issued notices to several central and state government agencies in the Capital for not adhering to rules related to construction, demolition and disposal of debris or “malba”. ‘Sanitation crisis ahead if AAP dues remain unpaid’: Delhi’s mayors A senior official in the DPCC who requested anonymity said the policy is a targeted step towards reducing pollution. “As on date, Delhi has no mechanism to take action against the owner/person responsible for dumping debris at unauthorised places. Also, there is no monitoring system in place to track the vehicles being used to collect and dump C&D waste. Most of these polluting vehicles are diesel trucks,” the official said. The directions, once issued, will also allow only CNG fuel-based goods vehicles to be registered for this purpose. Even the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has been asked to “immediately’ discontinue the use of tractor based septage waste collection trucks as it was found to be in contravention of the Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules, the documents read. Six AAP MLAs detained ahead of protest outside Amit Shah, L-G’s residences “Any motor vehicle proposed to be used for the purpose of collection and disposal of C&D waste in Delhi will require registration from the civic agencies in the area under whose jurisdiction it is proposed to be operated. Any goods vehicle proposed to be used for carrying C&D waste will have to be fitted with a GPS monitoring system from an authorised vendor of the transport department. The feed of GPS will be received at the joint control room of the MCDs for proper monitoring. There shall be live tracking of all vehicles used for this purpose,” it stated. The rules have been drafted by a “working group” constituted by the chief secretary on September 30 this year. The committee is headed by secretary-cumcommissioner (transport) Manisha Saxena and comprises officials from the Public Works Department, East Delhi Municipal Corporation, DJB and state transport and urban development departments as members. “The committee observed that often these vehicles dump the waste along roadsides during the wee hours of the night. The MCDs are likely to charge a nominal fee to issue the registration certificates to these vehicles that will be approved only after a GPS device is fitted and a camera installed at the back,” an EDMC official said. The officers of junior engineers ranks and above in MCDs and PWD, and the officers of the rank of assistant sub-inspector of the transport department have been authorised to impose fines on defaulting vehicle owners under these directions. The penalty for any violation will be Rs 20,000 in the first instance, extending up to ₹1 lakh under the Environment Protection Act. Vehicle permits will be liable to be suspended or cancelled after three successive violations, the draft order read. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) called the upcoming rules “an important step towards eliminating illegal dumping of C&D waste that causes pollution as well as environmental damage.” “Electronic monitoring of trucks carrying C&D, proper registration of trucks, centralised monitoring, geo-fencing of operations, and high penalties are important to control illegal littering and promote an efficient collection of waste for recycling and material recovery,” she said. She, however, pointed out that this should be supported by an adequately dense network of collection points to reduce distances from construction sites. Delhi has over 168 designated sites for the dumping of C&D waste.

Will the honey purity scandal throw suspicion on other packaged foods?

Honey is facing a bitter reckoning in India. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based public interest research and advocacy organisation, said on December 2 that major honey brands like Dabur, Patanjali and Emami (Zandu Pure Honey) had failed a key purity test conducted by a German laboratory. Of samples of 13 honey brands that the CSE had sent for testing, Saffola Honey was the only big brand among the three which cleared the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) test. It is administered across the world to test the purity of honey. While the test is not a norm in India, it is mandatory for honey meant for export. Shortly after the news broke, we saw an ad for milk delivery app Country Delight, featuring actress Sonali Bendre, which attempted to convince users that the milk it sources is pure and unadulterated.

Why the traceability of honey is essential

he ongoing Covid pandemic experience has taught us much about building immunity. Hence, consuming natural foods for good health. Hence, honey. But a shocker came with ‘honeygate’ when some of the leading brands in the Indian market were found selling honey adulterated with sugar syrup. We must now develop systems where a product can be labelled as “pure honey” only if full traceability to a registered beekeeper is ensured. Customers are ready to pay more for quality. Honey without a known source must not be treated as honey. Natural and raw honey is naturally prone to crystallisation. Due to low awareness, consumers tend to assume that crystallised honey has gone bad. This is one of the reasons that honey is mixed with sugar syrup. The other reason is pure economics. A beekeeper or a collector of natural honey must sell it at Rs 110 per kg, which is the approximate cost to keep the business profitable. Processed honey (without the addition of any sugar syrup) must provide for wastage, which will further increase the cost to Rs 180 a kg. With the margins that must be provided to all those in the supply chain, the price of natural and processed honey may go up to Rs 360 per kg. At this price, the purchase of honey becomes unviable for most buyers. Adulteration with sugar syrup keeps prices down, and also makes honey more affordable for the common man. Going by the standards specified by the Food and Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), some mixture of sugar syrup is permissible. The syrup may be derived from sugarcane, corn, cane, rice, or beetroot. Such an admixture is approved for consumer sale by FSSAI. Higher use of sugar syrup may be regarded as adulteration. The study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on the quality of honey indicated that the presence of fructose in honey was higher than the permissible limit. Hence it was classified as adulteration. In 2018, the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister set up a Beekeeping Development Committee under the Chairmanship of Professor Bibek Debroy. The Beekeeping Development Committee released its report in June 2019, in which it specified that honey (and bee products) sold in India or exported should be traceable to a registered beekeeper or a registered collector (in the case of rock bee honey). The committee further recommended that honey without a known source must not be treated as honey. While FSSAI permits some amount of sugar mixing, traceability is the only answer for consumers who insist on procuring real and natural honey. The honey supply chain must be completely transparent. This can easily be achieved now with the support of technology and digitisation. As per the Food and Agricultural Organization database, in 2017-18, India ranked eighth in the world in terms of honey production (64.9 thousand tonnes), while China stood first with a production level of 551 thousand tonnes. Beekeeping Development Committee recommended that beekeeping must not be restricted to honey and wax only. Products such as pollen, propolis, royal jelly and bee venom are highly marketable and can help Indian farmers in boosting their income. If India formalises apiculture and recognises its potential as an industry, the honey supply chain shall be fully known. The traceability of honey shall be a natural consequence of making the honey supply chain transparent.