Question : EXPORT OF ORGANIC PRODUCTS

(a) whether all the organic products exported from India mandatorily require to carry `Indian organic mark` by any of the authorized certifying agencies working under the Ministry and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether there is no such enforcement mechanism for the domestic market;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the steps taken to make organic mark mandatory for organic products in the domestic market also;

(d) the details of various State Government agencies and different private companies which have secured accreditation from Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, State-wise; and

(e) the number of organic certificate applications received and approved by these public/ private agencies during each of the last three years and the current year?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (DR. D. PURANDESWARI)

(a) Yes, Madam. All accredited Certification Bodies under National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) are authorized to use ‘India Organic’ logo only on certified Organic products.

(b) There is a mechanism for voluntary certification of organic agricultural commodities only for domestic market.

(c) Organic Agricultural Produce Grading and Marking Rules, 2009 have been notified under the provisions of Agricultural Produce (Grading & Marking) Act, 1937. They apply to all kinds of agricultural produce included in the Schedule of the Act. The provisions of the Rules are voluntary. The grading and marking of organic agricultural produce has not picked up. It has not been made mandatory for domestic market as it involves documentation and costs which small farmers of the country may not be able to afford.

(d) There are seven State Government Bodies accredited under NPOP, the list of the same is as given below:

1.	Uttarakhand State Organic Certification Agency
2.	Rajasthan Organic Certification Agency (ROCA)
3.	MP State organic Certification Agency
4.	Odisha State Organic Certification Agency (OSOCA) Bhubaneshwar
5.	Export Inspection Agency (EIA) – New Delhi
6.	Chhattisgarh Certification Society, India (CGCERT)
7	Tamil Nadu Organic Certification Department (TNOCD)