Certification of Fruits & Vegetables for export.

 

 

Taking into consideration that European Commission (EC) has instructed its member countries to introduce checking operations with regard to import of fresh fruits and vegetables at their respective points of entry and, whereas the European Commission shall allow in the normal course entry of such commodities if checks have been carried out in the exporting country and, all relevant information is provided to them in this regard, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued a Public Notice No. 28 (RE-2002)/2002-2007 dated 02.08.02 laying down, that all the fresh fruits and vegetables exported to European Unions may be inspected and certified by Directorate of Marketing & Inspection (DMI), Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture.    

 

The inspection and certification is voluntary in nature.

 

Ministry of Commerce and Industry set up a Standing Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables under the Chairmanship of the Chairman, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) to look into formulation of export standards for fresh fruits and vegetables.  The Standards could be notified under Agricultural Produce (Grading & Marking) Act, 1937. 

 

Accordingly, standards of 18 important fruits and vegetables viz. Grapes, Litchi, Mangoes, Pomegranate, Guava, Pineapple, Banana, Papaya, Plums, Shelling peas, Sugar snap peas, Ribbed Celery, Headed cabbage, Spinach, Brussels Sprouts, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onion were drafted by DMI and were approved by the Standing Committee.  These Standards are harmonized with EC and Codex Standards and are in the process of formal Notification in Gazette of India.  Standards of other 7 fruits and vegetables viz. Pears, Cherry, Strawberry, Melons, Water melons, Beans and Cauliflower have been approved by the Standing Committee.

 

European Commission has designated Directorate of Marketing and Inspection as an official authority and inspection body in India for checking conformity to marketing standards applicable to fresh fruits and vegetables prior to import into the community vide Commission Regulation (EC) No. 761/2003 of 30^th April, 2003. 

 

Taking above facts into consideration, DMI is implementing Certification Scheme for export of fresh fruits and vegetables to EC countries.

 

Interested persons can contact nearest office of the DMI for getting details of the Certification Scheme.