Several violations found in organic produce certification process by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

February 9, 2022

Why in news?

A ruling by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) suspending the accreditation and penalising a firm certifying organic produce for violation of national regulations in the certification process has brought to light several violations in the system.
APEDA, while suspending the accreditation of Hyderabad-based certifying firm, has pointed to some serious lacuna in the organic certification process.
Violations include farmers being certified without being informed, use of urea, along with complaints from importing nations.

About 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.
Following functions have been assigned to the Authority.
Development of industries relating to the scheduled products for export by way of providing financial assistance or otherwise for undertaking surveys and feasibility studies, participation in enquiry capital through joint ventures and other reliefs and subsidy schemes;
Registration of persons as exporters of the scheduled products on payment of such fees as may be prescribed;
Fixing of standards and specifications for the scheduled products for the purpose of exports;
Carrying out inspection of meat and meat products in slaughter houses, processing plants, storage premises, conveyances or other places where such products are kept or handled for the purpose of ensuring the quality of such products;
Improving of packaging of the Scheduled products;
Improving of marketing of the Scheduled products outside India etc.
APEDA is mandated with the responsibility of export promotion and development of the following scheduled products:
Fruits, Vegetables and their Products, Meat and Meat Products, Poultry and Poultry Products, Dairy Products, Confectionery, Biscuits and Bakery Products, Honey, Jaggery and Sugar Products, Cocoa and its products, chocolates of all kinds, Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Cereal and Cereal Products etc.