This document discusses India's organic food exports and related trade policies. It notes that India has a large amount of certified organic agricultural land and is a top producer. Key points covered include: - Regulations recognize two certification systems to benefit farmers and control unethical practices. Labelling must provide accurate organic status information. - Biosecurity policies manage risks from pests, diseases, and GMOs in a holistic way across food and agriculture. - WTO/SPS Agreement implementation designated authorities, established standards, and focused on capacity building, research, and public-private partnerships related to biosecurity.

1. Food Trade Policy and Exports
Food Export

2. Organic food commodities
• Organic food products are grown under a system of agriculture without the use of chemical
fertilizers and pesticides with an environmentally and socially responsible approach
• Method of farming that works at grass root level preserving the reproductive and
regenerative capacity of the soil, good plant nutrition and sound soil management, produces
nutritious food rich in vitality which has resistance to diseases
• India ranked 8th in terms of World's Organic Agricultural land and 1st in terms of total
number of producers as per 2020 data

3. Cont..
• India produced around 3496800.34 MT (2020-21) of certified organic products which
includes all varieties of food products such as Oil Seeds, fiber, Sugar cane, Cereals &
Millets, Cotton, Pulses, Aromatic & Medicinal Plants, Tea, Coffee, Fruits, Spices, Dry
Fruits, Vegetables, Processed foods etc.

4. Trade laws
• The Regulations aim to benefit farmers by way of increasing their income
• These Regulations recognize two systems of certification i.e. Participatory Guarantee
System (PGS) implemented by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and National
Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) implemented by Ministry of Commerce and
Industry
• These regulations ensure integrity of the Organic Food products, and help in controlling
unscrupulous practices in the market

5. Trade laws
• Labelling on the package of organic food shall convey full and accurate information on the
organic status of the product
• Such product may carry a certification or quality assurance mark
• The organic food offered or promoted for sale shall also comply with all the applicable
provisions of one of the following systems, namely:
(i) National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)
(ii) Participatory Guarantee System for India (PGS-India)
(iii) Any other system or standards as may be notified by the Food Authority from time to
time

6. Biosecurity
Biosecurity is a strategic and integrated approach that encompasses the policy and regulatory
frameworks (including instruments and activities) that analyze and manage risks in the sector
of food safety, animal and plant life and health, including associated environmental risk

7. • Biosecurity covers the incidence of plant pests, animal pests and diseases, zoonoses, the
introduction and release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their products, and
the occurrence and management of invasive alien species and genotypes
• Holistic concept of direct relevance to the sustainability of agriculture, food safety, and the
protection of the environment
• Process of managing biological risks associated with food and agriculture in a holistic
manner

8. • strengthening of policy and regulatory frameworks for biosecurity in food and agriculture must
be among the highest priorities
• Policies will provide:
(i) optimization of scarce human and financial resources
(ii) improving the cohesiveness of advice on all aspects of biosecurity
(iii) recognition of the special importance of biosafety to food and agriculture as well as the
special impacts of food and agriculture on biosafety

9. Implementation of WTO/SPS Agreement
• Designating a single Central Government authority as responsible for implementation of
SPS measures
• Reviewing and updating of legislation and regulations related to SPS (Sanitary and
phytosanitary measures) to give effect to international agreement and establishing a nodal
point for enquiries and information exchange
• Establishing national standards on SPS measures in line with international standards
• Establishing a notification procedure
• Undertaking pest risk analysis and identifying and maintaining pest-free areas for plants
and animals as per international standards and safety assessment for food

10. • Providing scientific justification for high level protection in the absence of pest risk
assessment
• Recognizing of equivalence of specific measures through bilateral or multilateral
agreements
• Identifying researchable issues and strengthening back-up research
• Capacity building in terms of infrastructure and expertise
• Awareness building and catalyzing attitude change, and
• Developing functional public-private-NGO partnerships

11. In the wake of implementation of WTO/SPS Agreement
States of Biosecurity in India
• Animal Biosecurity
• Plant Biosecurity
• Fish Biosecurity