{"id":22946,"date":"2019-08-14T09:45:00","date_gmt":"2019-08-14T04:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterslice.com\/learning\/?p=22946"},"modified":"2021-01-12T15:42:14","modified_gmt":"2021-01-12T10:12:14","slug":"ngos-urged-fssai-to-defer-food-safety-and-standards-regulations-2017-allied-to-organic-foods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterslice.com\/learning\/ngos-urged-fssai-to-defer-food-safety-and-standards-regulations-2017-allied-to-organic-foods\/","title":{"rendered":"NGOs Urged FSSAI to Defer Food Safety and Standards Regulations 2017 Allied to Organic Foods"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NGO and associated sectors have urged the FSSAI to defer the enforcement of Food Safety and Standards Regulations 2017 related to Organic Foods for further reasoning. The NGO and the Civil Society Groups have demanded in a letter to the CEO of FSSAI to postpone the conscription of regulation against uncertified organic farmers and to exempt local traders from these regulations. In this blog, we’re going to dig in deeper to know more about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food Safety and Standards Regulations\n2017<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The FSSAI under the Section 92 (1) of the FSS Act which is “Power of Food Authority to make Regulations” made a regulation namely, the “Food Safety and Standards {Organic Foods} Regulations, 2017<\/strong>”. This regulation was made available to the public on the 22nd of <\/sup>June 2017. It consists of three chapters setting up guidelines the organic food<\/a><\/strong> labeling and certification and Imports and Reciprocity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is India Organic?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

India\nOrganic is a certification mark used by manufacturers of organically farmed\nfood products. The food products containing the certification mark certifies it\nand proves that the food product complies with the National Standards for\nOrganic Products {NPOP} established in the year 2000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\ncertification mark came into existence in the year 2002, even though the\nNational Standards for Organic Products {NPOP} is in effect since 2000.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nstandards ensure that the products are produced without using any chemical\nfertilizers, induced hormones, or pesticides. The government agency that issues\nthis certification is the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export\nDevelopment Authority {APEDA}. This authority works under the National Program\nfor Organic Production of the Government of India.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is India Organic Certification?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The organic certification<\/a><\/strong> is a certification scheme that is used to certify\/ approve products that comply with organic food standards. Products that are certified containing the prescribed logo assures the consumers that the food they are consumers is healthy and is organic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

India has a higher number of organic farmers than any other country<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"organic
organic farmers graph<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

India has the third-highest annual increase of organic cultivable land in 2015<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"organic
organic cultivable land in 2015<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What was the step by FSSAI?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As\nper the Food Safety and Standards {Organic Foods} Regulations, 2017, the Food\nSafety Regulator, i.e., the FSSAI relaxed certain norms for small organic\nproducers. The FSSAI allowed small organic producers having a turnover of over\nRs. 12 lakhs to sell their products without obtaining the Organic\nCertification. However, such organic producers won’t be able to use the ‘Jaivik\nBharat’ logo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also,\nthe FSSAI gave similar relaxation to Aggregators having a turnover of Rs. 50\nlakhs. However, organic food retailers need to comply with existing\ncertification norms.  The regulatory body\nsaid that the self-certification of the aggregators and small organic producers\nhaving prescribed turnovers would be considered. However, the limits of\ncontaminants and insecticides will also be checked in case of such exempted\ncategories of producers and aggregators. These exemptions will be valid until 1\nApril 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>

Also, Read:<\/b> Food Security Card – Everything You Need to Know<\/a><\/mark>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Why the NGOs urged FSSAI to postpone\nits decision?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The NGOs gave the following reasons for requesting the FSSAI to defer its decision of enforcing the Food Safety and Standards {Organic Foods} Regulations 2017<\/strong>[1]<\/strong><\/a><\/sup>; <\/p>\n\n\n\n