EC to derecognise 5 agencies certifying organic exports from India

EC to derecognise 5 agencies certifying organic exports from India

Subject – Agriculture

Context – As many as five certifying agencies are set to be blacklisted from certifying organic product exports from India by the European Commission.

Concept –

• As many as five certifying agencies are set to be blacklisted from certifying organic product exports from India by the European Commission as Indian shippers, cleared by them, failed to meet the norms for ethylene oxide presence in their consignments, particularly sesame (til/gingelly).
• The action, which withdraws recognition granted to them to certify organic products from India, comes after the European Union issued at least 90 notifications in the Organic Farming Information System (OFIC) over the past few months.
• The development is unlikely to affect exports of organic products from India since there are 28 other agencies, both local and foreign, which can certify organic product exports from the country.
• The EU considers ETO as carcinogenic for humans and has been strictly monitoring imports to ensure that the maximum permissible level of ETO residue is not exceeded.
  • In the case of Indian sesame shipments, the EC said they had far exceeded the maximum level permitted for the chemical.
• In particular, the draft said the certifying agencies should not appear in the list of control bodies recognised by India’s competent authority – the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act passed by the Parliament in December, 1985.
• The Authority replaced the Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC).
• It is an apex body that promotes export trade of agricultural products in India.
• Set-up by the ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

Functions of APEDA –

• APEDA is responsible for export promotion of Fresh Fruits & Vegetables, Processed Food products, Livestock products and Cereals.
• It provides the crucial interface between farmers, storehouses, packers, exporters, surface transport, ports, Railways, Airways, all others engaged in export trade and finally to the international market.
  • Directly or indirectly, it offers services that support farmers and exporters from different states in the country.
• It bridges the gap between agricultural and processed food producers to reach to the exporters in international markets.
• APEDA has been entrusted with the responsibility to monitor import of sugar.
• It looks after the development of industries relating to the scheduled products for export by way of providing financial assistance or otherwise for undertaking surveys and feasibility studies, participating through subsidy schemes.
• Registration of persons as exporters of the scheduled products and fixing of standards and specifications for the scheduled products for the purpose of exports.
• Carrying out inspection of meat and meat products in slaughterhouses, processing plants, storage premises and improving packaging of the scheduled products.

Administrative set up of APEDA –

• Chairman – Appointed by the Central Government
• Director – Appointed by APEDA
• Secretary – Appointed by the Central Government
• Other Officers and Staff – Appointed by the Authority.

European Commission

• The European Commission (EC) is the executive branch of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, enforcing EU laws and directing the union’s administrative operations.
• The Commission operates as a cabinet government, with 28 members of the Commission. There is one member per member state. These members are proposed by member countries and European Parliament gives final approval on them.

Ethylene Oxide

• Ethylene oxide is an organic compound with the formula C2H4O.
• At room temperature, ethylene oxide is a flammable colorless gas with a sweet odor.
• It is used primarily to produce other chemicals, including antifreeze.
• In smaller amounts, ethylene oxide is used as a pesticide and a sterilizing agent.
• The ability of ethylene oxide to damage DNA makes it an effective sterilizing agent but also accounts for its cancer-causing activity.

Export Of Organic Products from India

• In 2020-21, the total volume of organic products export was 8.88 lakh metric tonne and the export realization was around ₹7,078 crores or $1 billion.
• As per the available statistics, India’s rank 8th in terms of World’s Organic Agricultural land and 1st in terms of total number of producers as per 2020 data (Source: FIBL & IFOAM Year Book, 2020).
• Madhya Pradesh has covered largest area under organic certification followed by Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh.
  • During 2016, Sikkim has achieved a remarkable distinction of converting its entire cultivable land (more than 75000 ha) under organic certification.
• Organic products are exported to USA, European Union, Canada, Great Britain, Korea Republic, Israel, Switzerland, Ecuador, Vietnam, Australia etc.
• In terms of export value realization Processed foods including soya meal (57%) lead among the products followed by Oilseeds (9%), Cereals and millets (7%), Plantation crop products such as Tea and Coffee (6%), Spices and condiments (5%), Medicinal plants(5%), Dry fruits (3%), Sugar(3%), and others.
• Organic products are currently exported from India only if they are produced, processed, packed, and labelled as per the requirements of the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
  • The NPOP certification has been recognised by the European Union and Switzerland which enables India to export unprocessed plant products to these countries without the requirement of additional certification.

National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)

• The APEDA, Ministry of Commerce & Industries, Government of India is implementing the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
• The programme involves the accreditation of Certification Bodies, standards for organic production, promotion of organic farming and marketing etc.
• The NPOP standards for production and accreditation system have been recognized by European Commission and Switzerland for unprocessed plant products as equivalent to their country standards.
  • With these recognitions, Indian organic products duly certified by the accredited certification bodies of India are accepted by the importing countries.