Requirement For FPO or Agmark Application Proceedings

• Copy of test report(s), duly authenticated, from independent FPO recognized laboratory.
• Document authenticating establishment of the firm, such as Registration by Company Registrar Or State Authority or Memorandum of Article in case Applicant Firm is a Limited Company Or Partnership Deed in case the applicant firm is under Partnership.
• Name of the products /Item.
• Name of the applicant
• Name of the Firm/ Company
• Address of the Firm/ Company
• Sample of the product(in pouch of 500gm.1kg.
• Started Time period of product(specify exact Date/Month/year)
• Total gross product in K.g.(for last year)
• Turnover of last year

Agricultural Marketing System in Nepal

Agricultural Marketing System in Nepal

—K. B. Shreshtha*

Introduction

Marketing Information System (MIS) is a set of standard or process of collecting, storing, processing,

analyzing, retrieving and dissemination of information to

suit the needs of various planners, researchers, traders,

consumers and farmers for their decision making. The information aid farmers, traders, government officials andconsumers to perform their activities effectively and efficiently leading to proper allocation of resources throughincreased competition in the markets. MIS also covers information relating to all agricultural produce. Agriculturalmarketing information system (AMIS) is a sub-system within

marketing information system (MIS). As agriculture is the

major segment of marketing in Nepal and slso being our

main concern, in this paper we will be using MIS and AMIS

interchangeably. Marketing information include information

on prices, market arrival, market trend, commodity movement, supply and demand outlook, trade and so on. Byknowing such information, a trader may expand trade, a

farmer may decide how much to produce, when and where

to sell. Similarly, a consumer may find out alternative source

of supply. Also, correct information help minimizing risk

and uncertainties and assists in enhancing competitiveness

in the market.

Existing Domestic Market Information Services for

Farmers and Traders

2. In Nepal, Marketing information service in the public

sector was carried out by the Agricultural Economic Section of the then Department of Agriculture in a limited

scale from 1960 and later upgraded as the Economic Analysis and Planning Division of the Ministry of Agriculture.

This Section/Division was initially involved in collecting

retail price in important urban market outlets of the

Kathmandu Vallely and later expanded to commercially

important districts covering agricultural commodities. This

activity was expanded in terms of geographical coverage,

types of prices, commodity coverage with the establishment of the then Department of Food and Agricultural

Marketing Services (DFAMS) in 1972. The Department also

carried out the analysis of information. Although dissemination of information was greatly improved, one of the

major features of DFAMS was mainly to serve the policy

makers and planner. Wholesaler and producer price collection was limited. The information were not disseminated

through public media for wider use.

3. In the year 1992/93, DFAMS was merged and the

Marketing Development Division (MDD) evolved under

the Department of Agriculture and since then MDD is

carrying out all the activities that used to be done by

DFAMS. The objective of MDD has been to increase the

efficiency of marketing information system and to promote and improve price information to help farmers to

plan their production inline with market demand. Schedule  their harvests at the most profitable times, decide towhich markets they should send their produce and help

the farmers to negotiate with traders for better price.

MDD’s primary target groups are farmers and secondary

are consumers, traders, government officials, policy makers and researchers. The information system of MDD

included (i) Collection procedures; (ii) data processing

and analysis; (iii) information dissemination and publication; (iv) market flow and exchange network.

Information Collection System

4. Information are collected from 75 Agricultural

Development Offices (SDO), 12 export and import points

near border, one wholesale market (Kalimati Fruit and

Vegetables wholesale market), Ministry of Agriculture

(MOA), concerned agencies like Agriculture Input Pvt.

Ltd., Custom Office, Trade Promotion Centre, Nepal Food

Corporation (NFC). In these activities planning officers

and MDD staff are involved. In gathering information

already structured formats are used. The ADO offices

have  progr amme s   ( annua l )   to  s end  informa t ion  to

MDD.

5. MDD adopts the following method of information collection: (i) farmgate price; three llaka (area) are selected

from 9 llaka. From each selected llaka a ward or village is

selected. From each selected ward or village 3 sample farmers are selected and prices are collected on monthly basis

for two months after harvest for seven agricultural commodities; (ii) wholesale price: for each commodity 3 respondents are selected using the list and the average price

is calculated; (iii) retail price: prices are collected from

three different sellers and average price of these are calculated and reported; (iv) border price: prices are collected

from a sample of three wholesalers and three retailers in the

border towns. The processed information is disseminated

through annual bulletin published by MDD, and Kalimati

Wholesale Market prices for important vegetables are broadcasted daily in radio

Agricultural Marketing System in China

Agricultural Marketing System in China
—YAN  BO

In China the information working on grain and edible oil
started very late. The importance of information would not
be fully displayed until 1993 when the transformation of the
grain distribution from the planned economy to market one
took pl a c e .  Me anwhi l e  wi th  the   f a s t  deve lopment  of
marketability of grain distribution, there were more and more
organizations and information products for serving the grain
distribution.
2. As the special organization of the Chinese government
serving national grain & oil market, National Grain and Oil
I n f o r m a t i o n   C e n t e r   s e r v e s   t h e   S t a t e   M a c r o   C o n t r o l
Departments, farmers, traders and manufacturers as well, and
provides information on market price, analysis and policy
tendency. Price information, including the prices of rice,
wheat, corn and soyabean, consists of wholesale price,
retailing price, producer’s quotation, platform price and port
price. The Center publishes the information with e-mail,
publication and Internet, Grain & Oil Daily News, Grain
Market Weekly Report, Oil & Oil Seeds Market Weekly
Report,  Grain Market Monthly Report Oil & Oil Seeds Market
Monthly Report, Grain Weekly Prices Report and Oil Weekly
Prices Report are released by e-mail, Grain & Oil Seed
Information for China & Foreign Market and World Grain &
Oil Market Monthly Report by publication, and information
on the Chinese Grain Information Web.
3. The major functions of the Chinese Grain Information
Web (www.grain.gov.cn) are (i) To collect and publish the
grain information on policy, price, market tendency; (ii) To
analyze and forecast,  supervise the changes of the grain
and edible oil price and (iii) To make analysis on sorts of
subjects concerned with agriculture.  Its serving targets are
organs of state-owned grain department, grain enterprises,
state-owned grain depots and other trade agency. Its main
contents include the following :
(i) Grain and edible oil price both at home and abroad
consists of daily price report on grain and edible oil
retailing markets in some areas, weekly price report
on national grain and edible oil retailing markets,
current price on grain wholesale markets, price on
domestic major ports and stations, future price of
domestic grain, daily report of future price on
commodity exchanges in Chicago, Canada, Tokyo,
Kansan and the price informatrion of US soyabean,
wheat and feed corns;
(ii) Analysis of price changes and prediction of tendency
on grain edible oil and feed market at home and
abroad;
(iii) Policies and regulations, mainly including the
relative grain policies and regulations from the State
Council; the relevant procuring and selling policies
from the State Development Planning Commission
the State Administration of Grain and the Provincial
Grain Bureaus; relative policies from other Ministries
and Commission; State policies on grain export and
import;
(iv) Situation and trend of grain industry in every province in China;
(v) Information on agricultural production and weather;
(vi) Introduction of grain brand and refind grain products,  and publication of supply and demand
i n f o rma t i o n ,   c ommo d i t y   a d v e r t i s eme n t s   a n d
introduction of enterprises.
4.  The information on the web is mostly collected from the
first hand data of provincial information websites on a regular
period of time, and reflects the latest trend of domestic and
external grain and edible oil market timely and correctly. Thus,
the timeliness,  accuracy and authority of information on the
web are ensured.  In addition,  it plays the role of publishing
information and guiding market on grain and edible oil market
both  domestically and internationally.
5.  Apart from providing information to provinces in China,
the  web  exchange   ext ens ive ly  informa t ion wi th many  a
dome s t i c   and  int e rma t iona l   agenc i e s ,     such  a s   the  St a t e
Economy and Trade Commission,  the Ministry of  Agriculture,
the State Statistics Bureau,  the State Weather Bureau,  the
Custom Office,  China National Cereals,  Oil & Food-stuffs
Import & Export Corporation,  the Food and Agricultural
Organization of  UN, USDA and French Wheat Association.

Agricultural Marketing System in Bangladesh

Agricultural Marketing System in Bangladesh
—MUHAMMAD  FAZLUR  REHMAN*
Introduction
T
he nature of the Agriculture Marketing System in
Bangladesh is rather complex which stems from the
fact that there are innumerable small farmers spread all
over the country, where marketable surplus or marketed
quantity of the crops they grow is very small.  Collection
of these widely dispensed and small-marketed quantities is
bound to be costly and insufficient.  There are almost 13098
(DAM study 2000) small, medium amd big sized markets
in the country.  In Bangladesh except the activities performed
in connection with Public Food Distribution System (PFDS)
and agriculture price and marketing policy decision of the
Govt. the trade in all agricultural products is largely handed
by the private sector.  The general agricultural marketing
policy of the Government is to allow free play of the market
forces in determining the price and encourage larger
participation of the private sector.  One of the reasons for
the low price received by growers, particularly small farmers,
is lack of  market information, which also results inwide
inter-market price variation.  Improvement of agricultural
market information services is a necessary condition both
for domestic market efficiency and to integrate domestic
agricultural market with regional and international market
for sustainable development of agricultural sector as well as
to ensue country’s long run food security.
Agricultural Marketing Information System
2. The specific needs of the different market actors are :
Farmers—In short run: to reduce risk, negotiate with traders
and decide when or whether to harvest.  In the long run: to
plan production, diversify and assess storage viability.
Common sources of farmer market information are personal
visit to market, other farmers, traders, contractor, extension
workers, market information services and local offices of
Director General of Food.  Constraints of getting information
through personal visits include (i) time consuming and costly
unless going to market to sell produce; (ii) have a shortterm perspective; (iii) have information only about crops
they produce and markets they sell to and (iv) reluctance to
share information.  The traders do not see in their interest
to provide accurate information to farmers.  They only know
about the crops and markets with which they deal.  Extension
workers are rarely trained to assist farmers in marketing.
As such they are unable to help farmers with long-term
production planning and, anyway, receive no advice on this.
Need for bridging Information Gaps for Farmers
3. An information service, which collects and disseminates
regularly information on prices and supply conditions of
produce supply to a range of markets, analyses that
information to provide farmers with advice on seasonal
trends and identifies products that are in demand on domestic
and overseas markets is need of the time. Current service
capability of Market Information System is very poor due
to following limitations :
• Although much information is collected, little reaches
farmers;
• Information that does reach farmers is often out of
date and not something they are able to use in a
meaningful way;
• Even if reliable and up-to-date information provided
farmers have no way of knowing how to make use of it.
Possible Areas of Rapid Development
4. There is need for :
• Rapid review of existing marketing systems and of
t h e   n e e d s   o f   f a r m e r s   a n d   t r a d e r s   f o r   m a r k e t
information;
• Identification of pilot markets and other sites where
informa t ion  should be   col l e c t ed  for   immedi a t e
dissemination;
• Review of uses to which existing MIS data is put;
• Computer purchase;
• A market information service for Bangladesh, which
on a pilot scale accurately collects market prices and
speedily disseminate them to farmers and traders;
• Greater targeting of DAM’s analytical work to the
needs of farmers;
• Development of an export intelligence capacity in
DAM

Agricultural Marketing Information System in Myanmar

Agricultural Marketing Information System in Myanmar
—U KYAW MYINT*
Introduction
A
griculture sector is dominant sector in Myanmar
economy. the country’s population is estimated to be
51 million of which 75 percent of population live in rural
area and their livelihood mainly rely on the agriculture and
livestock farming.
2. Myanmar has unique diverse ecological conditions and
for the forest-clad mountain,  plateau, rivers, and vast plains.
Based on the agro-ecological zones, the country can be
divided into four major regions : delta region, central dry
zone region, coastal region and hilly region. Among the
regions, delta region and coastal region are located in the
Lower Myanmar and the remaining regions in Upper
Myanmar. There are three seasons: the hot and dry season
lasting from mid-February to mid-May, the rainy season
from mid-May to Mid-October and the cool season from
mid-October to mid-February.
3. During the rainy season, the southwest monsoon is the
major source of rainfall for the country. In addition to that,
it has not only many altitudes but also a wide range of
agro-ecological zones. thus, a large number of food and
cash crops are grown and the same crop can be produced
in different season. The best-known example is production
of green gram in central dry zone region in the rainy season
and in delta region in the cool season. The clearest example
is production of tomato, cabbage and cauliflower in the
monsoon season in highland area and in the cool season in
lowland area. Thus, major crops are available in the market
year-round.
4. Agricultural marketing remained regulated by the state
under the centrally planned economic system lasting about
a quarter to century. In 1988, the government adopted the
market oriented economic policy, gradually withdrawing
from direct involvement in agricultural marketing. Since
then,  private sector comes to a play a larger role compared
to previous era.
5. The government monopolized rice marketing during the
centrally planned economic system, which lasted from 1962-
63 to 1987-88. In 1988, the government has been steady in
its direct involvement in rice marketing. Presently, the
domestic marketing of rice is partially liberalized, while
rice export is still in the hands of government.
Major Agricultural Produce
6. In Myanmar, prominent agricultural produce in terms of
domestic marketing as well as export marketing are rice,
maize, wheat, pulses, culinary crops, oilseed crops,
vegetables and fruits which are summarized as follows :
7. Rice : Rice is the staple food for 51 million people of the
country. In addition to that, surplus of rice is exported to
obtain foreign exchange earnings to some extent. Thus, rice
is the most important crop to provide the growing demand
of domestic utilization. The surplus of rice is exported and
the export volume in 2001-2002 was 1 million metric ton.
8. People in Myanmar consume rice not only as staple food
for daily diet but also rice-based traditional snack such as
vermicelli, rice cake, rice noodle and sticky rice etc. The
rice consumption level in Myanmar is quite high, estimated
200 Kg. Per year. Generally speaking, rural people tend to
consume more rice compared to urban dweller. The annual
income threshold at which consumers start substituting
higher quality and more varied foods for rice is estimated
at round US$ 1500. This income threshold has not yet been
reached in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar,
the Philippines and Vietnam. Thus, rice is designated as
national crop in Myanmar to highlight its great  importance.
9. In domestic market, the demand of rice is regarded as
relatively price inelastic. That means demand does not
change very much in response to price change. According
to the market reconnaissance, even though the rice price
goes up, consumers do not make significant reduction in
quantities consumed. By contrast, if the rice price goes down,
consumers can shift from the low quality of rice to good
quality one depending on the individual income and
preference.
10. In the domestic market, if the rice price starts to increase,
there is a tendency that quality of rice demanded by
consumers is also on the increase in the short term. The
reason is that some consumers in urban areas expect further
increase of rice price and try to purchase more than normal
consumption volume to secure the family requirement.
11. For the country as whole rice is surplus. However, central
dry zone region, hilly region and Tanintharyi Division in
coastal region located sourthern part of the country are not
sufficient in rice. Thus, rice from surplus area is marketed
to deficit area.

Development of Internet based Agricultural Marketing Information System in India

Development of Internet based Agricultural Marketing
Information System in India
—G.H. DHANKAR*
Introduction
Market information is an important facilitating function
in the agricultural marketing system. It facilitates
marketing decisions, regulates the competitive market process
and simplifies marketing mechanisms.  Regular, timely and
reliable market information is needed by farmers in planning
production and marketing, as well as by other market
participants in arriving at optimal trading decisions. In India,
where more than 75 per cent agricultural producers are small
and marginal farmers, marketing information service should
ideally be available to all. Removal of inter and intra-state
r e s t r i c t ions  on  s tor age   and movement  of   agr i cul tur a l
production in the country demand existence of complete and
accurate marketing information service to farmers to facilitate
better realization of prices for the produce marketed. Use of
computers can improve the availability and delivery of
information in a user friendly manner to farmers and other
market participants.
2. India has 28 States and 7 Union Territories. Almost all of
them have their own system of providing market information
to the farmers. However, these prevailing systems are mostly
based on conventional methods due to which communication
of information to target groups usually gets delayed losing
its relevance. The system is also limited to collecting data on
market arrivals and prices on transactions in the regulated
market yards and disseminating through various media like
radio, newspapers, blackboard display and public address
system at market places. In order to access larger markets,
farmers require also to know about the market requirement
in terms of quality, packing and safety standards and
conditions. In the absence of such awareness, their outreach
will continue to be restricted to local market places where
intermediaries take away a major share of the price.
3. Agricultural Marketing in the country is witnessing major
changes owing to liberalization and globalization of markets.
In this context, agriculture has to be market driven, more cost
effective, competitive, innovative and responsive to high tech
and IT applications. There is a need to build capacity of each
of the beneficiary group viz. the farmers, market functionaries
and others involved in the agricultural marketing activities.
Undertaking/utilizing marketing research to educate and train
farmers in 'Good Marketing Practices' and providing for
development of service appropriate to local requirements to
transform information emanating from various sources in a
simple and practically useful manner is considered need of
the hour.
4. FAO Agricultural Services bulletin 'Promoting Private
Sector Involvement in Agricultural Marketing in Africa
observes that although the private sector can, under some
circumstances, develop effective market intelligence systems,
there may be no incentives for large market traders to share
the information they collect as a by-product of their trading
activities with others. In fact, they may see it as giving away
market advantage. Lack of market knowledge may be seen
as a barrier to entry and government provision of a market
intelligence system could remove that barrier. Provision of
ma r k e t   i n f o rma t i o n  ma y   a l s o   r e d u c e   a n y   d i s t r u s t   o f
government by the private sector, by making markets more
transparent.
5. It is likely that the effects in terms of improved arbitrage
will be limited, however, as arbitrage is more often prevented
by lack of finance or cost of transport, rather than simple lack
of information. Nonetheless, there is evidence that the market
information system instituted recently in Tanzania may have
improved spatial arbitrage
1
. A survey showed that most traders
listened to the thrice-weekly broadcasts. A number expressed
annoyance that grain which they had transported to the capital
achieved lower prices than those broadcast, presumably
because the opportunity for profit had been recognized by a
number of traders, and resulting inflow of grain had reduced
prices.

Making Marketing Information Services Relevant to Farmers

Making Marketing Information Services Relevant to Farmers
—ANDREW W SHEPHERD*
Norma l ly,  when  I  make   a  pr e s ent a t ion on ma rke t
information I begin with a discussion of the benefits of
MIS. However, I think I can assume that we all know those
and will move on straight away to discussing how to make
information relevant to farmers.
2. Acccuracy, availability, applicability and analysis are the
four "As" of market information. If MIS are to have any
meaning for farmers the information they provide must be
accurate and farmers must understand to which product,
quality, etc. the prices refer. Further, even if prices are
completely accurate, they are of much use if they are only
available to farmers too late for them to use effectively. I will
spend most of this presentation looking at ways of quickly
disseminating information to farmers, both now and in the
future as the possibilities offered by new technology open
up. Thirdly, farmers need to be able to apply the accurate
informa t ion made   ava i l abl e   to  them.  Thi s   r equi r e s   a
knowledge of how to convert prices they receive from the
MIS into a realistic price at their local market or farm gate.
Finally, farmers need long-term data, which has been analyzed
in such a way that they can make decisions about when to
plant and harvest and what new crops to diversify into.
Accuracy
3. Providing accurate information requires attention to a lot
of different issues. FAO has a publication on how to set up an
MIS and this goes into considerable detail about how to ensure
prices are accurate. It is not presently available in book form
but can be downloaded from our website. MIS need to ensure
that there is agreement on the variety of each product. On
one of my visits to Yangon I attended the annual Mango
Festival. There were 63 varieties of Mango on display. Clearly
the MIS cannot cover 63 varieties of one product but it does
need to make sure that when it reports on mango prices farmers
know which varieties are being referred to. Then there is the
question of quality. Does the price of mangoes refer to
beautiful, clean unblemished mangoes; to dirty, bruised
mangoes, or to something in between the two extremes? MIS
in each country need to agree on quality definitions and
consistently apply them throughout the country. Otherwise
you could have the situation where farmers who have poor
quality mangoes to sell would hear that the price was high in
Yangon market, and would go to the market, only to find that
the price quoted by the MIS was for the top quality. FAO
recommends that the concept of "Fair Average Quality" should
be used as the basis for price reporting.
4. The type of transaction can be confusing for farmers and
often, probably, for the price collectors themselves. In one
market there may be several types of transaction: farmer
selling to retailer; farmer selling to wholesaler; wholesaler
selling to retailer; trader selling to wholesaler; trader selling
to retailer; retailer selling to consumer, not to mention the
role of commission agents in some countries. Which price
does the MIS report on? There are two main criteria to be
adopted: which price is most useful to the farmer and,
balancing that, which price is easiest to collect. Whatever
transaction price is used, it must be used consistently. And
farmers must understand that that is the transaction type
referred to. It is not always easy to get the actual transaction
price and I must admit that collection of prices in markets is
a hard job. You cannot just go and ask the trader, because
often the price paid is subject to negotiation and the price the
trader quotes may not be the final price.  And if prices vary,
how does the collector arrive at a suitable "average" to
broadcast on the radio. These are important issues, too
complex to go into here, but market information services do
need to develop clear guidelines to give to their collectors.
Availability
5. For information to be available and timely it should
preferably reach farmers on the same day on which it is
collected, or early on the following morning. The means
efficient MIS operation is essential and the local media must
be willing to cooperate. Efficient MIS dissemination usually
involves price collection early in the day, rapid completion
of price-collection forms and speedy distribution to the
relevant media. For crops that change price rapidly, such as
vegetables, prices should ideally be collected and disseminated
on a daily basis. Indonesia is one good example of this, but I
am sure there are others. Where faxes exist phones should
not be used as there is a risk of prices   being misheard. Where
e-mail exists this should normally be used in preference to
faxes, to avoid the need for data to be entered on computer
twice, once in the provinces and once in HQ. In some
circumstances, however, it may be quicker for a data collector
to write prices on a price collection form and then fax this to
the local radio station and HQ, rather than going to the trouble
of first entering the information on a computer.

LIST OF COMMODITIES FOR WHICH GRADE STANDARDS HAVE BEEN PRESCRIBED UNDER THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE (GRADING AND MARKING) ACT, 1937 (AS ON 31-07-2011)

LIST OF COMMODITIES FOR WHICH GRADE STANDARDS HAVE BEEN
PRESCRIBED UNDER THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE (GRADING AND
MARKING) ACT, 1937 (AS ON 31-07-2011)


I. FOOD GRAINS AND ALLIED PRODUCTS
1.  Paddy                         12.  Black Gram
2.  Wheat                         13.  Bengal Gram
3.  Jowar                         14.  Lentil
4.  Maize                         15.  Moth
5.  Barley                        16.  Peas
6.  Bajra                         17.  Wheat Atta
7.  Ragi                          18.  Suji
8.  Rice                          19.  Maida
9.  Basmati Rice (export)         20.  Bread Wheat Flour
10. Red Gram                      21.  Besan (Gram Flour)
11. Green Gram                    22.  Wheat Porridge (Dalia)
23.  Roasted Bengal Gram
24.  Vermicelli
25. Macaroni
26. Spaghetti
27. Rajma
28. Lobia
29. Kabuli chana
30. Sattu II. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
 1.  Apples                           20. Litchi
 2.  Banana                          21. Pomegranate  
 3.  Grapes                           22. Ribbed Celery                
 4.  Mango                            23. Headed Cabbages      
 5.  Pine apple                       24. Brussels sprouts
 6.  Plums                            25. Tomatoes
 7.  William Pears                    26. Papayas
 8.  Oranges                          27. Shelling Peas
                                 
 9.  Lemons                           28. Sugar Snap Peas
                                 
10.  Sweet Limes                    29. Spinach
11.  Sour Limes    30. Strawberries
12.  Grape fruits    31. Cherries
13.  Ware Potato    32. Melons
14.  Seed Potato    33. Watermelon
15.  Onions     34. Beans
16.  Dried edible mushrooms   35. Cauliflowers
17.  Canned/Bottled fruits and fruit products 36. Pears
18.  Mandarins     37. Okra
19. Guavas     38. Chilies
            39. Capsicum
      40. Sapota
41. Custard apple
42. Gherkins
43. Carrots
44. Amla III SPICES AND CONDIMENTS
1. Chillies                       13. Fennel
2. Turmeric                       14. Fenugreek
3. Cardamom                       15. Curry powder
4. Pepper                         16. Compounded asafetida
5. Celery seed                    17. Seedless Tamarind
6. Cumin                          18. Sundried raw mango slices
7. Poppy Seed                     19. Sundried raw mango powder
8. Ajowain                        20. Nutmeg
9. Saffron                        21. Tejpat
10. Garlic                        22. Clove
11. Ginger                        23. Mace
12. Coriander                     24. Large Cardamom
                                   25. Mixed Masala
                                   26. Caraway and Black Caraway
IV . EDIBLE NUTS
1. Arecanuts                      5. HPS Ground nuts
2. Walnuts                        6. Water chestnuts
3. Cashew Kernels                 7. Coconuts
4. Raw Cashew nuts                8. Ball Copra and Cup Copra
V. OILSEEDS
1. Groundnuts                     8. Safflower Seed
2. Rapeseeds                      9. Sunflower Seed
3. Mustard Seeds                  10. Cotton Seed
4. Taramira Seeds                 11. Mahua Seed 5. Sesamum Seeds                 12. Salseed
6. Niger Seed                     13. Ambadi seed
7. Linseed                        14. Castor seed
                                   15. Soyabeans
               
VI VEGETABLE OILS AND FATS
1. Groundnut Oil                  10. Rice bran oil
2. Mustard Oil                    11. Castor oil
3. Sesame Oil                    12. Vanaspati
4. Coconut Oil                    13. Blended Edible Vegetable oil
5. Niger Seed Oil                 14. Sun Flower Seed Oil
6. Sal Seed Oil (Fat)             15. Maize Corn Oil
7. Linseed Oil                    16. Mahua oil (Mowrah oil)
8. Safflower seed oil             17. Soyabean Oil
9. Cotton Seed Oil                18. Fat Spread.
                                                           19. Palm Oil and Palmolein
VII OIL CAKES
1. Groundnut oil cake             5. Sesamum oil cake
2. Cotton seed oil cake           6. Coconut oil cake
3. Linseed oil cake               7. Safflower oil cake
4. Mustard seed oil cake         8. Niger seed oil cake
VIII ESSENTIAL OILS
1. Sandalwood oil                 5. Oil of Vetiver (Khus)
2. Lemon grass oil                6. Oil of vetiver roots (cultivated)
 
3. Palmarosa oil                  7. Eucalyptus oil
4. Gingergrass oil                8. Himalayan cedarwood oil IX FIBRE CROPS
1. Cotton                         4. Palmyra fibre
2. Jute (raw)                     5. Aloe fibre
3. Sannhemp
X LIVESTOCK DAIRY AND POULTRY PRODUCTS
1. Wool                           6. Animal casings
2. Bristles                       7. Raw Meat (Chilled/Frozen)
3. Goat Hair                     8. Table eggs
4. Hides                          9. Creamery butter
5. Skins                         10. Ghee
XI OTHER PRODUCTS
1. Honey                          
2. Bura                            
3. Sugar Cane gur (jaggery)     16. Lac
4. Agar-Agar                    
5. Kangra Tea                     17. Tobacco
6. Isubgol husk                   18. Dried Tamarind
7. Papain                         19. Tamarind Seed and powder
8. Catechu                        20. Tapioca sago (sabudana)
9. Senna leaves                   21. Tapioca products (Animal feed)
10. Senna pods                    22. Desicated Coconut
11. Guar gum                      23. Cocoa Powder
12. Gum Karaya                    24. Cocoa Beans
13. Myrobalan                                    25. Makhana
14. Tendu Leaves
15. Sheekakai Powder            
                                                           26.  Sheekakai pods
                                                           27. Mahua Flower
                                                           28. Amla dried and Powder
                                                           29. Puwad Seeds
                                                           30. Karanj Seeds
                                                           31. Jatropha Seeds
                                                           32. Guar Seeds GROUPWISE LIST OF THE COMMODITIES FOR WHICH AGMARK GRADE
STANDARDS HAVE BEEN FORMULATED UNDER THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE
(GRADING AND MARKING) ACT, 1937 (as on 31-07-2011)
Name of the Group:                  No. of commodities notified
1. Food grain and allied products            30
2.  Fruits and Vegetables                      44
3.  Spices and condiments                      26
4.  Edible Nuts                                  8
5.  Oil Seeds                                  15
6.  Vegetable Oils and Fats                    19
7.  Oil cakes                                    8
8.  Essential oils                               8
9.  Fibre crops                                  5
10.  Live stock, Dairy and                       10
     poultry products
11.  Other products                              32
                                               
           TOTAL                                  205

GENERAL GRADING AND MARKING RULES, 1988 (as amended up to 2009).

1.  Short title and application :-  (1) These rules may be called the General Grading and Marking
Rules, 1988.
 
(2)  They shall apply to all articles of agricultural and other produce included in the Schedule to the
Act.
(3) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the official gazette.
2. Definitions: - In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires:-
 
(a) "Act" means the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937 (1 of 1937);
           
(b) "Agmark grading" means grading of an article in accordance with the grade standards prescribed
under the  provisions of the Act;                              
(c) "Agmark label" means the label specifying name of commodity, grade designation and bearing
prescribed   insignia;
                               
(d) "Agmark replica" means a grade designation mark in lieu of Agmark label consisting of prescribed
design with  the word "AGMARK" and the Certificate of Authorisation number;
                                                                                                                                                                             
(e) "Agricultural Marketing Adviser" means the Agricultural Marketing Adviser to the Government of
India;
             
(f) "Authorised packer" means a person or a body of persons who has been granted Certificate of
Authorisation to grade and mark an article under provisions of the Act;                          
(g) "Authorised premises" means the premises specified in the Certificate of Authorisation where
alone the grade designation marks may be applied;
(h) "Approved Chemist" means Chemist approved by the competent authority to undertake Agmark
grading;
(i) "Approved laboratory" means laboratory approved  by the competent authority for testing of an
article for Agmark grading;
(ia) “best before” means the period within which the product should be consumed;
(j) "Central Agmark Laboratory" means the apex  laboratory of the Directorate of Marketing and
Inspection;
(k) "Certificate of Authorisation" means a certificate in prescribed proforma issued under these rules
authorising a person or body of persons to grade and mark an article with grade designation
mark;
(l) "Certificate of Agmark Grading" means a certificate in specified  proforma issued by an
authorised Officer of the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection or a person designated by the
approved laboratory to issue the same in respect of agmark graded consignment meant for
export;
(m) "Consumer" means a person or a body of persons who has purchased the article for personal,
domestic or household use or consumption;
(n) "Directorate" means Directorate of Marketing and Inspection of the Government of India; 2
(o) "Marking" includes stamping grade designation mark on an article or affixation of Agmark labels
or printing/stenciling of Agmark replica on the covering or container;
(p) "Prescribed" means prescribed under Rules of instructions issued under the provisions of the Act;
(q) "Regional Agmark Laboratory" means a laboratory set up by the Directorate of Marketing and
Inspection for testing scheduled articles;
(r) "Trade Brand Label" includes private marks, brand, label, pictorial representation, used or
proposed to be used by an authorised packer; and
 
3.  Grant of Certificate of Authorisation :- (1) Any person or body of persons desirous of being authorised
to grade and mark an article under the provisions of the Act shall apply to the Agricultural Marketing
Adviser or any other officer of the Central or State Government authorised by the Agricultural
Marketing Adviser.
(2)  An application for authorisation shall be accompanied by:-
 
(a) Proprietorship declaration or partnership deed  or Memorandum and Articles of Association or
Bye-laws of the Society, as the case may be;
(b) Blue print of the premises proposed to be used to grade and mark the commodity;
(c) Ownership declaration on non-judicial stamp paper about the premises or the consent of the
owner of the premises;
(d) Consent of approved laboratory, grinding mill etc., wherever applicable;
(e) Specimen copies of trade brand label, if any, alongwith declaration about ownership of the trade
brand label and an undertaking to use the same, on permission, for Agmark graded product only;
(f) Prescribed fee, if any, for grant of Certificate of Authorisation; and
(g) Any other particulars as may be specified from time to time.
 
(3)  An application for authorisation shall be signed by the proprietor, partner or the Managing Director of
the firm or by any other person authorised to sign any declaration on behalf of the firm. The name and
designation of the person signing the application shall be clearly recorded in the application.
 
(4)  The application for authorisation shall be submitted through-
(a) the concerned State authority and/or office of the Directorate in respect of grading for domestic
market ; and
(b) the nearest office of the Directorate in respect of grading for export.
 
(5)  On receipt of the application for authorisation, the concerned authority shall make necessary
arrangements for verification of the bonafides of the applicant and inspection of the premises,
laboratory, processing units etc., and on being satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to
receive the Certificate of Authorisation, shall forward the application with recommendation for issue of
Certificate of Authorisation to the competent Authority.
 
(6)  A Certificate of Authorisation shall be issued to the applicant by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or
any officer of the Central or State Government authorised by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser.
 
(7)  Each Certificate of Authorisation shall state-
(a) the name, style and address of the authorised packer;
(b) the article to which alone the grade designation marks may, under the Certificate, be applied;
(c) the premises at which alone the grade designation marks may be applied;
(d) the period for which the Certificate is valid; and
(e) the name of approved laboratory, processing unit, trade brand label, etc., wherever applicable. 3
(8)  It shall be the condition of every certificate of authorisation-
 
(a) that grade designation marks shall be applied only to the article (s) mentioned in the Certificate of
Authorisation, during the validity period and at the premises therein mentioned;
         
(b) that during the operation of the certificate, the authorised packer shall, at all reasonable times,
give access to the premises named therein to any person duly authorised by the Agricultural
Marketing Adviser and shall provide him facilities for ascertaining the marking is correctly
performed;
(c) that the authorised packer shall keep a record of the number of packages marked with each
grade designation mark and will permit any person duly authorised by the Agricultural Marketing
Adviser to examine the record;
(d) that the authorised packer shall permit any person duly authorised by the Agricultural marketing
Adviser to open and inspect any package bearing a grade designation mark or to take samples of
any graded produce, provided that all samples shall be paid for;
(e) that any person duly authorised by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser may cancel or remove a
grade designation mark from any produce, should such produce be found to be not conforming to
the definition of quality prescribed for the grade designation assigned;
(f) that all the rules made under the Act and all instructions relating to grading and marking of an
article under provisions of the Act which may be issued by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or
the officer authorised by him / her from time to time shall be observed;
(g) that the authorised packer shall be responsible to prohibit the sale and arrange for withdrawing
from market, after the best before, wherever prescribed all the packages graded and marked by
him;
(h) that the authorised packer shall be responsible if any person representing the firm indulges in any
malpractices or obstructs the authorised officer in discharge of his official duties; and
(i) that the authorised packer shall hand over the Certificate of Authorisation to Agricultural
Marketing Adviser or any officer authorised by him / her on demand in writing at any time and
obtain a proper receipt therefore.
 
4.  Renewal of Certificate of Authorisation : - (1) The Certificate of Authorisation shall be valid  for a
period of five years from the date of issue and thereafter, will be renewed  on the basis of grading
performance and on application by the packer, for subsequent financial years.
(2)  The application for renewal of the certificate shall be submitted in the prescribed form alongwith
the certificate of authorisation and fee for renewal, as may be prescribed not later than 30 days
before expiry of the validity  and no application for renewal of Certificate of Authorisation shall be
entertained beyond 30 days of expiry of validity period.
(3)  On receipt of the application for renewal and after verifying the grading performance and payment
of Government dues, the competent authority, namely, Agricultural Marketing Adviser or any
officer of the Directorate or State Government authorised by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser in
this behalf, will renew the Certificate of Authorisation for a period of five years at a time and return
the same to the packer.
 
(4)  The authorised packer, having submitted the application for renewal within the prescribed period,
and unless specifically informed otherwise, may continue the grading beyond validity period of the
certificate in anticipation of its renewal.
  4
(5)  If the authorised packer is not desirous of continuing grading work, the Certificate of Authorisation
shall be returned within one month after expiry  of validity period to the issuing authority for
cancellation.
 
5.  Changes in the Certificate of Authorisation :- (1) Any change in the name , style or address of the
authorised packer shall be communicated, alongwith the Certificate of Authorisation, to the
certificate issuing authority, within a period of 30 days, for incorporating the same in the
certificate.
 
(2)  If the authorised packer desires any change in the premises, an application alongwith the
requisite documents shall be submitted to the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or any other officer
of the Central or State Government authorised  in this behalf by the Agricultural Marketing
Adviser, who after ascertaining suitability of proposed premises shall record the same in the
certificate.
 
6.  Issue of duplicate Certificate of  Authorisation :-  If the Certificate of Authorisation is damaged,
mutilated or lost, the authorised packer shall apply, in the prescribed form, to the Certificate
issuing authority for issue of duplicate certificate alongwith the damaged / mutilated certificate or
an affidavit in prescribed form and copy of the F.I.R. for lost certificate and prescribed fee, if any.
A duplicate certificate shall accordingly be issued to the authorised packer.
 
7.  Suspension or Cancellation of Certificate of Authorisation :- (1) Any Certificate of Authorisation
may be suspended or cancelled by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or any other officer of the
Directorate or State Government authorised by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser in this behalf, if
he is satisfied,-
(a)  that the authorised packer has not applied the grade designation marks correctly; or
      (b)  that the authorised packer has contravened any of the provisions of the Act ;or
(c) that the authorised packer has violated any rule or  has failed to comply with any of the
instructions issued under the provisions of the Act.
(2)  No Certificate of Authorisation shall be suspended or cancelled, unless;
(a) a notice in writing has been given to the authorised packer, at the address stated in the Certificate
of Authorisation, conveying the intention to do so stating the grounds for the proposed action; and
(b) giving him an opportunity to furnish the explanation, if any, within a period of 14 days from the
date of receipt of the notice.
 
(3)  If after careful consideration of the explanation furnished, if any, by the authorised packer, the
competent authority decides to suspend or cancel the Certificate, the concerned packer shall be
so intimated with instructions to discontinue forthwith grading and marking of the commodity and
to surrender Certificate of Authorisation, grading and marking equipments, Agmark labels and
containers bearing Agmark replica etc. to the Directorate.
 
8.  Approval of laboratory :- (1) In respect of commodity which requires laboratory testing for quality
assessment, the applicant/ authorised packer shall , with the approval of Agricultural Marketing
Adviser or any other officer of the Directorate or State Government authorised by the Agricultural
Marketing adviser in this behalf, either-
 
(a) set up his own laboratory as per prescribed norms, or
(b) have access to an approved State Grading Laboratory or Cooperative/Association
Laboratory or a Private Commercial Laboratory.
 
(2)  Private commercial laboratory shall be accorded approval for grading and marking of an article
under provisions of the Act;
Provided further that the owner of the private commercial laboratory executes a surety bond or
gives security deposit for an amount as may be prescribed by the Central Government. 5
 
(3)  Approval of a laboratory,  whether packer’s own laboratory,  or State grading laboratory , or
Cooperative/Association laboratory, or private commercial laboratory, may be withdrawn by the
competent authority if there are sufficient reasons to believe that the grading and marking is not
correctly done and or that the rules and instructions issued thereof are not followed provided that
a 14 days' notice, in writing, shall be given to  the owner of the laboratory, and an opportunity
given for showing cause why the approval should not be withdrawn.
 
9.  Training and approval of chemist :- (1)  A chemist may be approved by approved by the
Agricultural Marketing Adviser or any other officer of the Directorate or the State Government
authorised by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser for grading and marking of an article under
provisions of the Act provided-
(a) he/she possesses the minimum prescribed qualification; and
(b) he/she successfully completes the prescribed training in the analysis and procedure for
grading and marking of the commodity.
(2)  It shall be a condition of approval of Chemist:-
 
(a) that the approved Chemist shall strictly follow  the instructions issued for inspection, sampling,
analysis, packing, marking and sealing of the article;
(b) that the approved Chemist shall maintain grading record in the prescribed manner and ensure
timely submission of the periodical returns as may be specified from time to time; and
(c) that the approved Chemist shall be responsible for safe custody and proper accounting of
Agmark labels, Agmark replica bearing containers, sealing pliers, etc., and for realization and
timely remittance of Government dues.
 
 (3)  Resignation tendered by an approved Chemist may be accepted only after written intimation to
the concerned Regional Officer of the Directorate and after getting a clearance from that officer in
respect of surrendering Agmark labels and sealing pliers, etc., by the Chemist alongwith uptodate
grading returns to the Directorate.
 
(4)  The approval accorded to the Chemist may be withdrawn by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or
any other officer duly authorised in this behalf if there are reasons to believe that the Chemist has
failed to comply with the prescribed instructions or procedures for grading and marking or violated
any of the conditions of approval:
Provided that an opportunity shall be given to the approved Chemist for showing cause as to why
the approval should not be withdrawn.
 
10.  Grade designation marks :- (1) Grade designation marks shall consist of Agmark labels of
different types, namely, tie-on-labels, paste-on-labels, benderol labels, etc. Each Agmark label
shall carry letters indicating series and serial number.
 
(2)  The State authorities and the approved laboratories shall obtain their requirements of Agmark
labels from Directorate.
(3)  Use of "Agmark Replica" in lieu of Agmark labels shall be allowed only by such authorized
packers to whom specific permission to this effect has been granted by the Agricultural Marketing
Adviser or an officer authorized by him in this behalf, but such authorized packers, who have
been holder of certificate of authorization  for at least two preceding years and during which their
grading performance has been satisfactory and have used not less than fifty thousand agmark
labels per annum shall not be required to take such specific permission; provided that, depending
on the merit of individual case or in a situation where the required kind of agmark labels are not
available in the Directorate for issue at any given point of time, these conditions may be relaxed
by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser. 6
(4)  The "Agmark replica" bearing containers shall be printed and/or manufactured only by such
printing press or manufacturing unit which has been permitted for the purpose by the Agricultural
Marketing Adviser or an officer authorised by him in this behalf.
 
(5)  It shall be the condition for use of Agmark Replica that the detailed instructions issued for the
purpose shall be strictly adhered to and any violation thereof shall lead to withdrawal of
permission so granted without any notice.
 
11.  Packing and marking :-  (1) An article graded in accordance with the provisions of the Act, shall
be packed in the manner and using the type of packaging material and the pack sizes, by weight
or number as prescribed for the said article:
Provided that relaxation / modification in the mode of packing of a graded article may be allowed ,
on receipt of written request from the authorised packer, by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or
any other officer authorised by him in this behalf, to meet the specific requirement of the buyer.
 
(2)  Every package containing Agmark graded article will, in addition to the grade designation mark,
carry such details like Certificate of Authorisation, number, lot / batch number, date of packing,
place of packing, net weight etc. as prescribed for the said article.
 
(3)  Private marks, if any, applied on the packages of Agmark graded article shall not represent
quality or grade different from that indicated by the grade designation mark affixed thereon.
 
(4)  In respect of such articles where expiry  period has been prescribed, the ‘best before’ shall be
prominently marked on the packages.
12.  Suspension of Grading under Agmark :- With-holding issue of grade designation marks- The
issue or use of grade designation marks i.e. Agmark labels or Agmark replica bearing containers,
may be with-held or withdrawn by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or a person authorised by
him in this behalf without any notice, for such a period as he may consider expedient in the
interest of better marketing if he is satisfied or has reasons to believe that the authorised packer
is not applying or is not likely to apply, grade designation marks correctly.
 
13.  Payment of Charges / fees :- The authorised packer shall pay such charges as may be
prescribed by the Central Government from time to time towards the expenses incurred in
connection with the-
 
(a) grant and periodical renewal of Certificate of Authorisation ;
(b) issue of duplicate Certificate of Authorisation;
(c) training of Chemists employed by the authorised packer; and
(d) measures for enforcing the quality control  of scheduled articles marked with grade
designation mark including testing of samples and inspection of such articles; or
(e) with any publicity work carried out to promote the sale of any class of articles.
 
14.  Power to obtain information :- Every authorised packer shall furnish, on demand, to the
Agricultural Marketing Adviser or any other duly authorised officer such information, return or
report in respect of any of the scheduled articles which the authority may consider necessary for
carrying out the provisions of the Act.
 
15.  Certificate of Agmark grading: - (1) Every consignment of a scheduled article graded and marked,
under the provisions of the Act, for export shall be covered by a certificate of Agmark grading
which shall be issued in prescribed form on request, to the authorized packer by an officer of the
Directorate of Marketing and Inspection or a designated person of a laboratory, authorized in this
behalf  by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser.
(2)  In the event of sale of Agmark graded consignment to an exporter who is not an authorised
packer, the Certificate of Agmark Grading may, on written request of the authorised packer, be
endorsed in favour of the exporter provided-
 
(a) that the authorised packer furnish an undertaking about the responsibility of the graded packages
even after sale; and 7
(b) that the exporter furnishes a declaration that the graded consignment has been examined and
found to be conforming to the quality requirements of the importer as specified in the contract.
 
16.  Redressal of Consumers' grievances and complaints:- (1) Complaints and grievances of the
consumers in respect of Agmark graded products shall be made to the Agricultural Marketing
Adviser giving full particulars regarding Agmark label number, place of packing, trade brand etc.,
of the concerned product and the name and address of the seller.
 
(2)  Wherever the complaint is found to be genuine, the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or an officer
duly authorised in this behalf shall, without prejudice to other action as may be taken for misgrading etc., direct the concerned authorised packer and or the seller of graded product, as may
be decided for free-of-cost replacement of the product to the complainant within 30 days of the
issue of such direction.
 
(3)  The complainant, if so desires, may also get the sample analysed from any other laboratory
recognised by the Directorate.
(4) In case he is not satisfied with the result of the investigation of the Directorate, the complainant
may ask for analysis of the sample by the Central Agmark Laboratory, whose decision shall be
final.
 
17.  Norms for compensation :- (1) Wherever an Agmark graded produce is found to be not
conforming to the definition of the quality prescribed for the grade designation marks on the
produce and the grade designation marks are cancelled or removed from such produce belonging
to the distributors and not to authorised packers, the latter shall, when so directed by the
Agricultural Marketing Adviser, make good to the  former any loss sustained as a result of the
removal of grade designation mark, the loss being estimated on the basis of the additional value
that the properly graded produce would have obtained in the market over and above the current
market value of the corresponding quantity of the ungraded produce.
 
(2)  In respect of complaint of an individual consumer where free of cost replacement may not be
possible for any reason whatsoever, the authorised packer and/or the seller of graded product, as
may be decided, shall, when so directed by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser, reimburse to the
complainant the actual price paid as per cash memo or on the basis of current market price of
comparable quality and corresponding quantity of the produce.
 
18.  Powers of entry, inspection and search :- Any officer duly authorised by the Agricultural Marketing
Adviser may, in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 3 (A) of the Act, enter any
premises at any reasonable time, and inspect in storage, processing, packaging and transit and
search for the Agricultural produce against any contravention of the provisions of this Act or the
rules made thereunder.
 
19.  Seizure, detention and disposal :- (1) An officer duly authorised by the Agricultural Marketing
Adviser may, in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 3 (B) of the Act, seize any article
in relation to which the Officer has reason to believe that any provision of the Act or rules made
thereunder has been or is being or appears to have been contravened.
 
(2)  The provisions of Section 102 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, relating to seizure, shall
apply to every seizure made under sub-rule (1).
(3)  If the authorised officer finds it not practicable to seize any such article, the said officer may serve
on the owner or authorised representative of the owner of the concerned premises or
establishment, a written order that he/she shall not remove or part with or otherwise deal with the
article except with the previous permission of the said officer.
(4)  If the authorised officer is of the opinion that the article so seized or detained is subject to speedy
or natural decay or it is otherwise expedient in the public interest to do so, he may dispose of
such article in the manner as prescribed, namely:-
  8
(a) The authorised officer shall prepare a detailed report in respect of the consignment/packages
article seized or detained indicating the date, place, name and address of person from whom the
material is seized/or detained, name of the commodity, number of packages, size of packing,
mode of packing, particulars of trade brand label/private trade marks on the containers,
particulars of the grade designation marks affixed on the packages, etc., and obtain signature of
the person concerned and two witnesses on the report;
(b) Out of the total packages so seized/detained, the officer may select, at random, three packages
and get the same suitably sealed, individual and separately, bearing signatures of the officer, the
owner of authorized representative of the owner of premises/establishments and two witnesses.
One sealed package shall be handed over to the owner or his authrorised representative under
proper acknowledgement and the remaining two sealed packages shall be retained by the said
officer for proceeding under the Act;
(c) Where the article is seized for suspected counterfeiting of grade designation marks, attracting
action under section 5 of the Act or suspected unauthorised marking with grade designation
mark, attracting action under section 4 of the Act, the said officer may, after completing action as
per (a) and (b) above, allow the remaining containers/packages to be opened in such a manner
that the grade designation marks affixed on the containers/packages remain intact and the
contents thereof may be returned to the concerned person from whom the consignment is seized.
The empty containers bearing the grade designation mark shall be taken in custody by the said
officer for proceeding under the Act;
(d) Where the consignment seized or detained has been declared or suspected to be "misgraded",
attracting action under Section 5(A) of the Act, the officer may, after completing action as
prescribed under (a) and (b) above, get the grade designation marks and seals removed from the
remaining packages, and return the packages or contents thereof to the person from whom
seized. The grade designation marks and seals  or the empty containers with the grade
designation marks and seals or the empty containers with the grade designation marks,   printed
thereon shall be retained by the officer for proceeding under the Act;
(e) Where the Agmark graded packages are seized from the market for being sold after the lapse of
the best before indicated thereon, the authorised officer may serve a written order on the
concerned person not to sell the said packages and issue a registered notice to the concerned
authorised packer to withdraw the said packages from the market immediately or if the concerned
person from whom the packages are seized, so desires, the officer may remove the grade
designation marks from all the packages so seized/detained and thereafter return such packages
to the concerned person from whom they were seized.
 
20.  Appeal :- (1) An appeal may be preferred to the  Agricultural Marketing Adviser within 15 days
from the date of decision of the concerned competent authority by the person aggrieved by the
said decision.
(2)  The Agricultural Marketing Adviser may call for such documents from the concerned authority and
may after such enquiry as considered necessary pass suitable orders which shall be final and
binding on all parties concerned:
 
Provided in the cases where Agricultural Marketing Adviser is the competent authority, the
appellate authority will be the Central Government.

FAQ for organic agricultural produce

Frequently Asked Questions regarding certification of organic 
agricultural produce under Agmark 

Q. 1. What are the salient features of the Agricultural Produce (Grading & Marking)
Act, 1937?
Ans :
i. It is an Act to provide for the grading  and marking of the agricultural and other
produce.  
ii. Agricultural produce has been defined as to include all produce  of agriculture or
horticulture and all articles of food or drink wholly or partly manufactured from any
such produce, and fleeces and the skins of animals.
iii. The Act has provision for making Rules to carry out the provisions of the Act.
General Grading and Marking Rules, 1988  and 112 Specific Commodity Grading
and Marking Rules are notified.
The Act can be accessed at the website: http://agmarknet.nic.in  by clicking on the icon
“Grades and Standards”.

Q. 2. What are General Grading and Marking Rules, 1988?
Ans. General Grading and Marking Rules, 1988  give detailed procedure of grant of
Certificate of Authorization,  setting up of laboratories, action on irregularities, consumer
protection measures, etc. These Rules are applicable to all the agricultural commodities
certified under Agmark.  
The Rules can be accessed at the website: http://agmarknet.nic.in  by clicking on the icon
“Grades and Standards”.
Q. 3. What are Specific Commodity Grading and Marking Rules?
Ans. The Specific Commodity Grading and Marking Rules provide commodity specific
grade standards, packaging requirements, labeling requirements, etc.  Till date, 112
Specific Commodity Grading and Marking Rules covering 203 agricultural commodities
have been notified.  
The Specific Commodity Grading and Marking  Rules can be accessed at the website:
http://agmarknet.nic.in  by clicking on the icon “Grades and Standards”.

  Q.4. What is the Group wise break up of commodities for which Grade standards
are notified under Agmark?
Ans. The group wise break up of commodities is as under:
Name of the Group:                  No. of commodities notified
1. Food grain and allied products            30
2.  Fruits and Vegetables                      44
3.  Spices and condiments                      26
4.  Edible Nuts                                  08
5.  Oil Seeds                                  15
6.  Vegetable Oils and Fats                    19
7.  Oil cakes                                    08
8.  Essential oils                               08
9.  Fibre crops                                  05
10.  Live stock, Dairy and                       10
     poultry products
11.  Other products                              30
                                           
           TOTAL                                  203
Q.5.  From where we can get the names of these 203 commodities?
Ans.  The names of 203 commodities can  be obtained from the agmarknet website by
clicking on the icon “Grade and Standards” under the head “List of commodities for which
Agmark Grade Standards have been formulated  and notified under  the Agricultural
Produce (G&M) Act, 1937”.
Q. 6. Who is implementing the provisions of the Act and the Rules?
Ans. Directorate of Marketing and Inspection,  an attached office of the Department of
Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India is implementing
the provisions of the Rules.  
Q. 7. What is the legal back up for notifying Organic Agricultural Produce Grading
and Marking Rules, 2009.
Ans. Organic Agricultural Produce Grading and Marking Rules, 2009 have been notified
as per the provision in Section 3 of the Agricultural Produce (Grading & Marking) Act,
1937.   These Rules provide for organic certification of agricultural commodities included
in the Schedule appended to the Act.  The Rules can be accessed at the website
http://agmarknet.nic.in by clicking on the window “Organic Certification”.  Q.8. Which commodities are covered for organic certification under Agmark?
Ans. All commodities included in the schedule  under the Act are covered for organic
certification under Agmark.

Q.9. Which standards are prescribed for organic certification under Agmark ?
Ans. Organic certification under Agmark shall be carried out as per the standards
prescribed in National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) notified by the Director
General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, vide
notification No. 72 (RE-2003)/2002-2007 dated the 21
st
 July, 2004 and as revised from
time to time and Specific Commodity Grading and Marking Rules.   NPOP and various
Specific Commodity Grading and Marking  Rules can be accessed at the website:
http://agmarknet.nic.in  by clicking on the icon “Grades and Standards”.

Q. 10. What is Organic  Agriculture?
Ans. National Programme for Organic Production defines organic agriculture as a system
of farm design and management to create an eco system, which can achieve sustainable
productivity without the use of artificial external inputs such as chemical fertilizers and
pesticides.  
Q.11. Who is eligible for grant of Certificate of Authorisation for carrying out
organic certification under Agmark?
Ans. Any Accreditated Inspection and Certification Agency under the National
Programme for Organic Production is eligible to apply for seeking Certificate of
Authorisation.   At present 18 agencies are accreditated under the National Programme
for Organic Production.

Q. 12. How can a Accreditated Inspection  and Certification Agency (AICA)  get
Certificate of Authorization for certification of organic agricultural commodities
under Agmark?
Ans. The AICA desirous to get Certificate of Authorization for organic certification under
Agmark has to comply with the requirements in Rule 3 of General Grading and Marking
Rules, 1988, Rule 9 of Organic Agricultural Produce Grading and Marking Rules, 2009
and requirements in Specific Commodity Grading and Marking Rules.  The details can be
had from the Guidelines for grant of C.A. for organic certification available on the website :
http://agmarknet.nic.in  by clicking on the window “Organic Certification”. Q. 13. How can a person /grower group get their agricultural produce certified as
organic under Agmark?
Ans. The person(s) can get registered with the Certificate of Authorisation holder as a
Licensed Operator.  They may contact the Certificate of Authorisation holder for details of
getting registered as a Licensed Operator.  The names and addresses of the C.A. holders
can be accessed at the website.

Q. 14. How can a consumer know that a organic product is certified under Agmark?
Ans. All agricultural commodities grown and/or processed organically and certified under
Agmark have  Agmark India Organic Insignia printed on the container.  Consumers
should check the Agmark India Organic insignia, batch number./lot number, date of
packing  and best before date while making the purchase.  Consumer should ensure that
container is properly sealed and is not tampered with.

Following Document are Necessary for FPO Certification

Requirement for FPO Application Proceedings

• Copy of test report(s), duly authenticated, from independent FPO recognized laboratory.
• Document authenticating enterprise of the firm, such as Registration by Company Registrar OR State Authority or Memorandum of Article in case Applicant Firm is a Limited Company OR Partnership Deed in case the applicant firm is under Partnership.

• D.D. Of rs.1000 for Govt. Fee
• Application Form
• Affidavits
• Offices / Factory Map
• Partnerships / Memorandum of Company
• Three Years S.t., C.s.t.,Pan Number in the Name of Company
• List of Machinery
• Pollution Certificate for N.o.c. Certificate
• Declaration of Fpo Grade Certificate By Mfg. Company
• Agreements /order Copy for Providing Goods By Mfg. Company
• Bank Reference for A / C Number Of company
• Specimen Copy of Work Done
• Export License No. with True Copy
• Company Registration Certificate
• Trademark Registration No.