Question : Authenticity of Organic Foods

(a) whether not all organic food in the market is 100 per cent organic and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether groundwater pollution is one of the major causes of chemicals seeping into crops, raising a big question on how organic any food produced in India is and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether it is a fact that the prices of organic produce in the country are on the higher side in comparison to the nonorganic produce, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(d) whether the Government plans to support production and marketing of organic produce in the country to reduce their cost/price if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): Any organic food manufactured, packed, sold, offered for sale, marketed or otherwise distributed in the country is regulated as per the provisions of Food Safety and Standards (Organic Food) Regulations, 2017 which were notified on 29.12.2017 and enforced from 01.07.2018. These regulations require Organic Food to comply with the provisions of National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) or Participatory Guarantee System (PGS). However, to support small original organic producer or producer organisation, those with annual turnover not exceeding 12 lakhs per annum have been exempted from certification through NPOP or PGS. The Organic food covered through these regulations should bear FSSAI organic logo i.e. jaivik Bharat Logo.

(b): No such report has been brought to the notice of Government of India.

(c): There is difference in the prices of organic produce compared to that of non organic produce because of the farming being labour intensive, reduction in yield in initial years and also the procedural cost involved in organic certification.

(d): Dedicated schemes of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) have been initiated since 2015 for supporting the organic farming in the country. Under these schemes, support is provided for cluster/FPO/FPC formation, capacity building of farmers, input procurement for production, post harvest infrastructure development and marketing. Organic farming is also promoted under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
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