APEDA to extend NPOP certification services to Ayush products to boost exports from India
13-Nov-19 17:54:29

The Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), a statutory body under the Union ministry of commerce, will be extending the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)’s certification services programme to Cosmetics and Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush) products to boost organic products exports from India.

“NPOP launched in the year 2001 is the world’s largest organic certification programme. As a step further NPOP now proposes to enter into organic Ayush products and cosmetics. Since 2006, NPOP enjoys equivalence with European Union and Switzerland and has recognition agreement with USA. As a result of these agreements Indian organic products are being exported to these countries without the need for recertification,” said Paban K Borthakur, chairman, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority while inaugurating the Biofach India 2019 India’s largest international trade fair of organic products in Greater Noida..

“NPOP has laid the foundation of organic movement in the country and played a key role over the years to establish the credibility of India organic sector in the national and international trade. It now spans over the entire organic agriculture production scenario and is offering certification services for practically all possible activity starting from crops, livestock, aquaculture, processing and niche segments like mushrooms and sea weeds,” added Borthakur.

APEDA in its effort to further boost export of organic products from the country is going in for widening the equivalence with reciprocity with more countries including Canada, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. 

Equivalency recognition means the official recognition of the foreign country, organic regulation and standards as equivalent to NPOP of India based on the principle of reciprocity subject to verification of the relevant programme. 

Biofach India is being organized jointly by the NurnbergMesse India and Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, a statutory body under Union ministry of commerce.

More than 6,000 delegates comprising exporters, processors, retail chain industry, certification bodies and producers from India and abroad are participating in the Biofach 2019. The trade Fair-cum-Exhibition is a platform to discuss and have first hand feel of the Indian organic products including tea, spices, honey, basmati rice, coffee, cereals, dry fruits, vegetables, processed foods and medicinal plant.

The demand for organic agri products is on constant rise world wide as organic products are grown under a system of agriculture without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. As on March 31, 2019, total area under organic certification process (registered under NPOP) was 3.56 million hectare. This includes 1.94 million hectare cultivable area and another 1.49 million hectare for wild harvest collection. Among all the states, Madhya Pradesh has covered largest area under organic certification followed by Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. During 2016, Sikkim had achieved a remarkable distinction of converting its entire cultivable land (more than 76,000 hectare) under organic certification.

“Among different states Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. In terms of commodities oil seeds are the single largest category followed by sugar crops, cereals and millets, fiber crops, pulses, medicinal, herbal and aromatic plants and spices and condiments. The total volume of export during 2018-19 was 6.14 lakh metric tonnes. The organic food export realization was around Rs.5,151 crore (757.49 million USD). Organic products are exported to USA, European Union, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, Israel, South Korea, Vietnam, New Zealand and Japan,” Borthakur said.

“As per the industry estimates, India organic agricultural products market is about 8,500 crores. Exports account for nearly 60% at Rs.5,150 crore while domestic market is estimated at Rs.2,500 crore. Compared to international trade of about US$ 97 billion, Indian market seems to be very small but it is growing very fast,” he added

Those present on the occasion included Dr Tarun Bajaj, General Manager, APEDA and Sonia Prashar, Chairperson of the Board and Managing Director, Nuernberg Messe India, Rakesh Kumar, Chairman, India Exposition Mart, Micheal Keasler, Agricultural counsellor, German Embassy in India and Louise Luftknost and Jennifer Chang from International Organic Federation.