Lok Sabha Question No. 4606 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: National Programme for Organic Production
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Jayadev Galla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4606 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th MARCH, 2021

## NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION

## 4606.  SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािण�य एवं उ�ोग मं�ी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that National Programme for Organic Production has been undertaken by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

(a & b) Yes, Sir. In view of the good potential for export of organic agricultural products in the international  market,  Ministry  of  Commerce  &  Industry  initiated  development  of  the  National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). NPOP became operational on 1 st December 2001 after  being  notified  by  the  Directorate  General  of  Foreign  Trade  under  The  Foreign  Trade (Development & Regulations)  Act,1992.  NPOP has  since  been  revised  from  time  to time.  7 th edition of NPOP was notified by DGFT on 1 st June 2015.

The aims of the NPOP, inter alia, include the following:

- a) To provide the means of evaluation of certification programme for organic agriculture and products  (including  wild  harvest,  aquaculture,  livestock  products)  as  per  the  approved criteria.
- b) To accredit certification programmes of Certification Bodies seeking accreditation.
- c) To facilitate certification of organic products in conformity with the prescribed standards.
- d) To facilitate certification of organic products in conformity with the importing countries organic  standards  as  per  equivalence  agreement  between  the  two  countries  or  as  per importing country requirements.
- e) To encourage the development of organic farming and organic processing.

The National Steering Committee (NSC), is the apex body for implementation of the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). The National Accreditation Body (NAB), constituted by the NSC, is responsible for accreditation of certification bodies and on relevant issues pertaining to the accreditation policies and procedures. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has been designated as the secretariat to service NSC and NAB for implementation of NPOP.

In terms of NPOP, an accredited Certification Body has to certify a product as organic for it to be exported.  Such  Certification  Bodies  conduct  detailed  inspection  of  the  operators  (farmers, processors, traders, handlers or exporters) before certifying them as organic. After inspection and successful compliance to the requirement by the certified operators, certificate is issued, having a validity of one year.

Organic products are traded only through Transaction Certificates (TCs) issued by the accredited Certification Bodies, wherein the product identity and complete traceability is maintained through a web-based system (TRACENET).

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