Question : Organic Food Products

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that a large number of companies are selling normal food in the name of ‘organic’ ones and looting the consumers by charging exorbitantly across the country;

(b) if so, whether the apex food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has any mechanism in place to regulate organic food products which adds to adulteration in food
items and causing serious threat on health standards; and

(c) if so, the details in this regard and the steps Government proposes to take to ensure that ordinary food products are not sold in the name of ‘organic’ and also to ensure that food products available in the markets across the country are free from adulteration?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

(a) to (c): Currently, there is no mechanism with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to regulate organic foods. The Ministry of the Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare has, however, formulated the Organic Agricultural Produce Grading and Marking Rules, 2009 under the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937. The standards prescribed under these Rules are voluntary in nature. Under the Participatory Guarantee System of the Ministry of the Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, the farmers can get their organic produce certified. Further, the Agricultural Produce Export Development Authority, under the Department of Commerce is also implementing a National Programme for Organic Production, under which agricultural commodities including food can be certified as “organic”. 28 accredited certification bodies attend to the certification of organic produce and their products.