Last updated: December 17th, 2019 5:20 PM

GST Exemptions to Food and Agricultural Organisations (FAO)

As per the latest GST Council meeting held on 20th September 2019, the council announced exempted or reduced Goods and Services Tax in the interest of the public. Of which, the GST is exempted to Food and Agricultural Organisations (FAO) of the United Nations for the execution of certain projects from 1st October 2019. The exemption is valid only when an officer of the rank of Deputy Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare certifies the goods supplied. The certificate should carry the following details or information:

• the description and quantity of the goods; and
• that the said goods are intended for the purpose of use in the execution of said projects.

The details of the projects are:

• Strengthening Capacities for Nutrition-sensitive Agriculture and Food systems
• Green Ag: Transforming Indian Agriculture for Global Environment benefits and the conservation of Critical Biodiversity and Forest landscape

Both the projects are from the United Nations which focus on Indian agriculture and farmers. This is executed through the Ministry of Agriculture across all states of India. The entrepreneurs who supply to these projects are exempted from GST effective from 1st October 2019. Strengthening Capacities for Nutrition-sensitive Agriculture and Food systems: This project focus on the following:

• Food handling, storage and processing
• Food trade and marketing
• Consumer demand, food preparation and preferences
• Cross-cutting issues
  • Nutrition value chains
  • Empowerment of women and gender equality
  • Prevention, reduction and management of Food loss and waste
  • Food quality, safety and hygiene

Green Ag The "Green Ag" project is funded by the Global Environmental Fund program which focusses on the following:

• Climate Change
• Biodiversity
• Land Degradation

The "Green Ag" is coordinated and executed by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change The exact notification is provided below: