India: Feature: ORGANIC CERTIFICATION

Source: fnbnews.com
By Prabodh Halde & Chetana Bhandari

OrganicPortal NewsRoom

Background

Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm. Organic farming uses fertilisers and pesticides but excludes or strictly limits the use of manufactured (synthetic) fertilisers, pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides), plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics, food additives, and genetically modified organisms.

Organic agriculture is the oldest form of agriculture on earth. Technological progress during World War II resulted in post-war innovation in all aspects of agriculture, leading to advances like large-scale irrigation, fertilisation, and the use of pesticides. But these inorganic methods have had serious side-effects over time such as pollution of water bodies from washed away fertilisers, decreased nutrient availability and low organic matter content of soil, health problems to animals and humans etc. thus it is required to adopt an appropriate approach suitable to our requirements which is not at the expense of ecology, environment and well being of people. Hence, the need for organic agriculture. It is also one of the approaches to meet the objective of sustainable agriculture which is the need of the hour.

Organic agricultural methods are internationally regulated and legally enforced by many nations, based in large part on the standards set by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), an international umbrella organisation for organic farming organisations established in 1972.

IFOAM defines the overarching goal of organic farming as

“Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved.."

Since 1990, the market for organic products has grown from nothing, reaching $55 billion in 2009 according to Organic Monitor (www.organicmonitor.com). This demand has driven a similar increase in organically managed farmland. Approximately 37,000,000 hectares (91,000,000 acres) worldwide are now farmed organically, representing approximately 0.9 per cent of total world farmland (2009) (see Willer/Kilcher 2011).

Indian Scenario: Agmark certification

Internationally and nationally, standards regulate production methods and in some cases final output for organic agriculture. Standards may be voluntary or legislated. But certification of products/process may be described as what confidence in organic agriculture rests on. An organised system of inspection and certification supported by regulations enables to build a confident consumer community. Thus, Government of India has implemented the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). The NPOP proposes to provide an institutional mechanism for the implementation of National Standards for Organic Production, through a National Accreditation Policy and Programme. The NPOP includes the policies for development and certification of organic products and provides national standards for organic products and processes. The standard for NPOP provides information on standards for organic production, systems criteria & procedures for accreditation of certifying bodies, the national organic logo and the regulations governing its use.

India has been exporting certified organic foods for some years now and the demand is gradually on the rise with respect to domestic markets too. Keeping in view the growing demand and to check fraudulence in organic production, the Ministry of Agriculture, GoI, launched the notification “Organic Agricultural Produce Grading and Marking Rules, 2009” in 2009. Thus organic agricultural produce may now be graded and certified under Agmark. Agmark is the accreditation body and the Agricultural Marketing Adviser issues the certificate of authorisation to certification agencies authorising them to certify organic farms, products and process, to grade and mark organic agricultural produce. Any accredited inspection and certification agency under the NPOP is eligible for the grant of certificate of authorisation under these rules by applying with complete documentation as prescribed in the guidelines. These authorised inspection and certification agencies in turn certify the agricultural produce of operators/grower groups as organic.

Requirements

The quality of the produce must be as provided in the NPOP. It must also comply with residue levels of contaminants as provided in the FSSAR rules. The requirements for method of packing and labelling of agricultural produce has been prescribed. Some of the packing requirements include use of food grade packing material, employing approved additives for manufacturing packaging films etc. the label of the produce must be provided with the person/company legally responsible for the production with the grade designation mark securely affixed to each package as approved. The ink used for marking must not contaminate the produce.

Grade designation

The grade designation for such certified agricultural produce will be “Agmark India Organic.” The grade designation mark consists of Agmark India Organic Insignia which is a design incorporating the name of the commodity, certificate of authorisation number and the grade designation. The mark may be affixed to products or used on packaging or promotional material or in context of advertising activities.

Name of the Commodity…………

Grade: Agmark India Organic

This decision of ministry of agriculture enables farmers, farmer groups and processing units use Agmark Organic Certification for their products. This ensures organic produce that are sold in the domestic market to comply with India's organic agriculture regulation - NPOP as well as grading and marking rules under Grading and Marking Act 1937.

Certification procedure & fee

The procedure of certification is generally provided by the authorised inspection and certification agency. Typically, the process of certification involves review of operator’s application by agency, pre-inspection procedures, farm inspection by agency, sampling procedures & lab analysis, post-inspection and evaluation. Post this, the decision of certification is taken and communicated to the operator.

The fee structure for the certification process will be devised from the components namely the application fee, travel and inspection cost, assessment and report preparation (man-day cost) and issue of certificates.

The charges are fixed in the following categories annually, namely:-

i) Grower groups (small and marginal farmers);

ii) Co-operatives and cottage industries;

iii) Large farmers, estates and exporters;

iv) Medium- and large-sized processors.

Documentation

The guidelines issued by Agmark for the organic certification enlists in detail the documents required to be submitted by operators/grower groups to the AICA as listed below:

1. Duly filled in Form-3 and Form-5.

2. Self-attested copies of the proprietorship declaration/partnership deed/memorandum and articles of association/bye-laws of society, etc.

3. Blue print or neatly drawn sketch of the premises (where the commodity shall be graded and packed) showing all dimensions duly signed by the authorised person of the firm.

4. Following declarations on non-judicial stamp paper of minimum Rs 5 in the prescribed proforma – III.

a. Ownership of premises.

b. Ownership of proposed Trade Brand Label (TBL).

c. Use of proposed TBL only on the packages graded under Agmark.

d. Use of ecofriendly packaging material of food grade quality as permitted in Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955, and use of only approved additives (given in Appendix 6 of the National Programme for Organic Production) in manufacturing of packaging films.

5. Copy of the consent letter from the legal owner of the premises, in case, the premises is not owned by the applicant and taken on rent/lease.

6. Specimen copy of the proposed Trade Brand Label of each commodity.

7. Medical fitness certificates issued by the Registered Medical Practitioner certifying that the workers engaged in the handling of the product in the various operation, are free from communicable and contagious diseases.

8. Consent letter from the permitted printing press to print Agmark India Organic Insignia.

Market potential – (India)

With the change in dietary need and enhanced income coupled with awareness for health there is a growing appreciation for organic products. Many of the hotels consume green food grown under the contracts. Organically labelled fruits and vegetables are also appearing on some of markets. Since India has much larger area, which have used minimal pesticides and chemical where potential for conversion exist, organic movement has taken a root in many of the states and there is growing demand especially in cities and market is expected to grow more than 20 per cent annually. It is envisaged that 20 per cent of production shall be organic in 5 years.

Organic farming provides long-term benefits to people and the environment. Awareness and education in Western countries has brought about an unprecedented demand for organic foods. There is a need in India for public information and education to encourage more appreciation for organic foods and certification will support and enhance the consumer confidence.

The Food Safety and Standard Authority India (FSSAI) has introduced the new category of food as ‘Organic Food’ as per Section 22 and thus in coming days the organic food will have huge potential.

Tip: OrganicPortal India - Organic Agriculture

OrganicPortal NewsRoom

06.02.2012

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