Parliament Question: Regulatory Framework for Organic Agricultural Products

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2669 ANSWERED ON 04/08/2026 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS 2669. SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA: Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्री) be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has examined the representation submitted by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand regarding the regulation of the trade, sale and import of organic agricultural products and the action taken thereon; (b) whether the Ministry, in coordination with FSSAI, the APEDA and other concerned stakeholders, has reviewed the existing regulatory framework for organic agricultural products; (c) whether the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee for stringent measures against counterfeit organic products have been considered; and (d) whether the Government proposes to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework to curb counterfeit organic products and protect the credibility of India's organic agricultural exports and domestic market and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA) (a) to (d) India’s export and import standard for Organic products is the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). India has a Mutual recognition Arrangement (MRA) on Organic standards with Australia, which is implemented with effect from 24.09.2025. With respect to New Zealand, an interim Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) has been agreed, which shall come into effect, on the date of entry into force of the India-New Zealand FTA. The Government through the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development Authority(APEDA), which is the Secretariat for the NPOP, conducted detailed consultations with the key stakeholders including FSSAI for the revision of the NPOP Regulations, following which, the Eighth Edition of NPOP was notified on 5th January 2025, which came into effect from 180 days from the issuance of this notification. 1To strengthen the Organic legal and regulatory framework, so as to address non compliances including to curb counterfeit organic products and to protect the credibility of India's organic agricultural exports, stringent penalty provisions and sanctions have been introduced in the Eighth Edition of the NPOP, stipulating penalties for various forms of non-compliances by the certification bodies, certified operators etc. Penalty provisions have also been introduced against external service providers of Organic grower groups, as a further deterrent measure for various non- compliances by them, including misrepresentation. Trade of organic products in the domestic market is covered under the Food Safety and Standards (Organic Food) Regulations, 2017 read with the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is the nodal agency for maintaining oversight over domestic organic trade, including enforcing compliance of standards, by the stakeholders. ***** 2