The Kargil issue failed to dampen trade relations between India and Pakistan and this is established by the fact that India has imported nearly 30,000 tonnes of sweet crude from Pakistan. According to official sources, an agreement to this effect was signed by the Indian Oil Corporation during February this year which was to be supplied during May. As per the deal, the loading was to be carried out in the last week of May and the shipment started for the Indian destination in the first week of June, the sources added.

The sources disclosed that the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) brought the crude from the Karachi port in Pakistan which was unloaded at the Cochin port in Kerala. The country had earlier imported a similar quantity of crude petroleum from Pakistan in the end of February this year for which the deal was struck in December 1998.

Food adulteration rules

The health ministry has invited comments from the public on the amendmentsproposed by it in the prevention of food adulteration (PFA) rules, 1955. In a gazette notification on June 11, the ministry has asked for suggestions and objections on the proposed amendments that include specifying the maximum level of metals like copper and zinc in food products including food and milk substitutes for infants, and permitting synthetic colours in flavours used in beverages.

Currently, synthetic colours are not allowed in flavoured beverages. Colour and flavour are therefore used separately in such beverages. At the same time, food product standards currently specify only safe tolerance levels of metals, an official release said. The proposed amendments also seek to extend the minimum five per cent level of sugar (sucrose), now permitted in natural or artificial flavours only in soft drinks, to tonic water, gingerale and unsweetened and artificially sweetened beverages.

Milk impurities test

Amid reports of large-scale production of synthetic milk, containing life-threateningingredients like urea, in some northern states, a scientist at the Haryana Agriculture University has developed a quick and easy test to detect the presence of such ingredients in milk. Assistant scientist, Gulshan Narang, department of veterinary public health and epidemiology, who developed the test, claimed that besides being reliable, the test saved a lot of time. ``Put a drop of test solution on a filter paper. Pour equal measure of the sample (milk) on it.

A yellow ring around the milk drop will appear in few seconds if the milk is synthetic,'' he explained. Urea is the basic ingredient of synthetic milk, which also contains detergents, caustic soda, vegetable oil, sodium sulphate and even formalin and white paint, said researchers BL Jalali and DN Garg, (veterinary and animal sciences) at the university.

Nymex light crude futures up

Nymex light crude futures were slightly higher on Wednesday morning in Asia, following mildly supportive American Petroleum Institute (API) data. July Nymex onACCESS was five cents per barrel up at $18.60 just after midday in Asia. The contract had closed 22 cents firmer at $18.55.

The API statistics released late on Tuesday in New York showed a fall of 2.3 million barrels in gasoline stocks, compared with earlier expectations of a 1.6 million-barrel draw. Despite a higher-than-expected build in crude stocks, traders said a recent spate of US refinery run cuts should continue to keep prices afloat. August Brent on Simex was last quoted at $16.83/$17.01, with no trades done. In London, IPE Brent rose 18 cents to close at $16.87.

Indian Diamond Institute fete

Indian Diamond Institute (IDI) celebrated its 22nd foundation day and awarded diplomas to nearly 65 students in a function held at Surat on Tuesday. In his welcome address, chairman of the institute Chandrakant Sanghvi said that IDI was the only institute in the country imparting training with latest technology on diamond, gemology and jewellery.

He said that earlier IDI was known as aninstitute for diamonds only but with the efforts by the IDI team and arrival of its latest equipment, the institute has come up to an international level in all the three fields of diamond, gemology and jewellery. He declared that the name of the institute would be changed very shortly to Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery.