• The Agriculture & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) refuted the  allegations regarding irregularities in organic cotton certification.

• It said the aspersions cast against the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) were baseless and unwarranted.

• APEDA said it is committed to ensuring that the organic certification system under the NPOP is credible, transparent, and clear.

National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)

• Organic products are grown under a system of agriculture without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides with an environmentally and socially responsible approach. 

• This is a method of farming that works at grassroots level preserving the reproductive and regenerative capacity of the soil, good plant nutrition, and sound soil management, producing nutritious food rich in vitality which has resistance to diseases.

• India is bestowed with a lot of potential to produce all varieties of organic products due to its various agro climatic conditions. 

• In several parts of the country, the inherited tradition of organic farming is an added advantage.

• This holds promise for the organic producers to tap the market which is growing steadily in the domestic and export sector.

• According to the government, India ranks first in the number of organic farmers.

• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is implementing the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). 

• The NPOP was launched in 2001 to promote exports of organic products and APEDA acts as its secretariat for the implementation.

• The programme involves the accreditation of certification bodies, standards for organic production, promotion of organic farming and marketing, etc. 

• The NPOP standards for production and accreditation system have been recognised by the European Commission and Switzerland for unprocessed plant products as equivalent to their country standards. 

• With these recognitions, Indian organic products duly certified by the accredited certification bodies of India are accepted by the importing countries. 

• The system of grower group certification was launched in 2005, as it was felt necessary to cater to small and marginal farmers.

• Third party certification is a mandatory requirement for export of organic products. 

• At present, there are 37 active certification bodies operating in India, which include 14 state certification bodies.

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