Govt plans to extend NPOP organic certificate to textile products

To boost export of organic products, the government plans to extend its existing certification to textile, cosmetics and ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, unani, Unani, sidha and homeopathy (AYUSH) products, agri-export promotion body APEDA Chairman Paban K Borthakur said.

At present, organic foods are certified through the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Commerce Ministry and the Participatory Guarantee System for India of the Agriculture Ministry.

“NPOP, launched in 2001, is the world’s largest organic certification programme. As a step further, NPOP now proposes to enter into organic AYUSH products, organic textiles and organic cosmetics,” Borthakur said after inaugurating the global trade fair on organic products ‘Biofach India’ in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

Since 2006, the NPOP has been recognised by the European Union and Switzerland. India has a similar agreement with the US, he said.

As a result of these agreements, Indian organic products are being exported to these countries without the need for re-certification, he said in a statement. Noting the NPOP has laid the foundation of organic movement in the country, the APEDA chairman said it has played a key role over the years to establish the credibility of India’s organic sector in national and international trade.