International Sugar Organization

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Context: India set to chair the 64th International Sugar Council (ISO) event, scheduled to take place from 25th June to 27th June, 2024

Details

• India is hosting a global event in sugar sector ‘ISO Council Meeting’ in New Delhi from 25th till 27th June, 2024.
• Delegates from more than 30 countries and representatives of many international organisations are joining to deliberate on critical issues of sugar and biofuel sector.
• A workshop titled ‘Sugar and Biofuels – Emerging Vistas’ is being organised at Bharat Mandapam.

About ISO

Inception of ISO

• The International Sugar Organization is an intergovernmental organization, based in London which was established under international sugar agreement of 1968.

Elevation of role

• The ISO is the only worldwide forum for the exchange of views by major producing, consuming and trading countries at an intergovernmental level.
• Council sessions starting in 1991, held twice a year in May and November under the leadership of a rotating chairmanship wherein Mid-Year Meeting takes place in the country chairing the ISO and November meeting takes place in London every year providing the opportunity for policy issues to be debated at a multi-lateral level.
• It does not have the power to regulate the international sugar trade by price-setting or export quotas but seeks to promote the trade in and consumption of sugar by gathering and publishing information on the sugar market, research into new uses for sugar and related products and as a forum for intergovernmental discussions on sugar.

International Sugar Agreement (ISA), 1992

The ISO administers the International Sugar Agreement (ISA), 1992 aiming to:

• Foster international cooperation in sugar-related matters
• Facilitate intergovernmental discussions to improve the global sugar economy
• Collect and disseminate market information

Encourage expanded sugar use, especially in non-traditional applications.

Member countries and HQ

International Sugar Organization (ISO) is a UN affiliated body having HQ at London, the 87 member states of the ISO represent.

Share

• 87% of world sugar production
• 64% of world sugar consumption
• 34% of world imports
• 92% of world exports

Indian sugar scenario

• Sugar industry is an important agro-based industry that impacts the rural livelihood of about 50 million sugarcane farmers and around 5 lakh workers directly employed in sugar mills.
• Recently, India has emerged as the world’s largest producer and consumer of sugar and the world’s 2nd largest exporter, due to the record production of more than 5000 Lakh Metric Tons (LMT) of sugarcane. With about 15% share in global sugar consumption and about 20% production of sugar, Indian sugar trends affects the global markets profusely.
• The Government has encouraged sugar mills to divert sugar to ethanol and also export surplus sugar so that mills may have better financial conditions to continue their operations.
• The National Policy on Biofuels 2018, provides an indicative target of 20% ethanol blending under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme by 2025.

Sources:

PIB