Instructions for grant of C.A. and Certification of fruits & vegetables

under AGMARK for EXPORTS

                       

        Persons  desirous of obtaining Agmark  Certification on  fruits  &  vegetables  under Agmark  should  have  valid Certificate  of Authorization (C.A.) for grading of fruits and vegetables.   Provisions contained in Fruits and Vegetables Grading and Marking Rules, 2003 shall be applicable.

 

I.      Procedure for grant of C.A.

       

(1) Persons  desirous  of  obtaining C.A.   for grading fruits and vegetables under Agmark for exports shall  apply  to the concerned office of Directorate of Marketing & Inspection (DMI) in  the Prescribed Proforma I.

 

(2) Necessary  documents  as  prescribed in Annexure `A' shall be enclosed with the application.

 

(3) Demand draft for Rs. 1000/- as C.A. processing fee shall be enclosed with the application.

 

(4) Applicant for grant of C.A. can have his own premises (owned by him or rented).  He can also use common facilities of APMC pack houses,  Private/Coop pack houses etc.   Minimum   requirements   in the premises are given in Annexure `B'. Details of such arrangements shall be given with the application.  Details of such arrangements may not be given by APEDA approved pack houses. 

 

(5) Concerned office of the DMI will process the documents, inspect the proposed premises and grant C.A. within ten days of the receipt of complete documents.  Inspection of the premises is not required in case of APEDA approved pack houses.  In such cases, CA shall be issued within three days of the receipt of the complete documents. 

 

(6) Grade designation mark (Agmark insignia) shall be securely affixed to or printed on each container.   Since each and every container is accounted for in exports, it is not necessary to have  running replica serial No.  on each container. It   is also not necessary that Agmark insignia shall be printed in  printing presses  permitted  by the Directorate.    However  authorised  packer  shall  inform  the name and  address  of  the printing press from whom he is    getting   the  containers  bearing  Agmark   replica printed.

 

II.         Procedure for obtaining Certificate of  Agmark Grading (CAG) for export.

 

(1)    C.A.   holder  shall  apply giving  details  of  the consignment  to  the concerned office  of  DMI  for grant of    

         CAG for lot of fresh fruits and vegetables in the prescribed proforma (Annexure C-I).

(2)        Following documents shall be enclosed with the application. 

 

(a)   Self attested copy  of  commercial  invoice.

(b)   Self attested copy of residue analysis report of pesticides from APEDA/DMI approved laboratory.

(c)   Declaration by the exporter in prescribed proforma in Annexure C-II.

 

(3)  Demand draft for grading charges @ 0.2% of FOB value, subject to a minimum of Rs. 200/- per consignment shall be deposited.

 

(4) He will offer the lot for inspection at the approved premises.  The consignment shall be offered packed in appropriate packing boxes.

 

(5) Exporters (CA holder) can offer the lots for inspection and grading at the Airport/Seaport.  The size of such lots shall not be more than 5MT Net Wt.

 

(6) Inspecting officer shall draw sample as per the sampling plan (Annexure D).  Inspecting officer will sign on the containers selected for sampling.

 

(7) He will grade the sample according to prescribed standards and assign appropriate grade.

 

(8) CAG will be issued in the prescribed proforma. Only those officers whose signatures have been sent to customs authorities shall inspect the consignment and issue CAG.  Inspecting officer shall put his rubber stamp below his signatures.

 

(9) Item 14 of each CAG requires Certificate No.

 

Procedure for Certificate No. shall be as follows.

 

            First two alphabets shall be office code.  Next two alphabets shall be inspecting officer code.  Next shall  be  year  code  and  then running Serial No. e.g. CAG issued  by Mr. V.K. VERMA of Mumbai Office during  the  year  2003  shall  have  the following Certificate No. MU/VV/03/O1 and so on.

 

        Office Codes

        Ahmedabad       - AH                                        Delhi               -  DE

        Banglore            - BA                                        Kanpur            -  KA

        Chennai              - CH                                        Lucknow         -  LU

        Hyderabad         - HY                                         Amritsar         -  AM

        Kochi                 - KO                                        Kolkatta          -  KK

        Mumbai               - MU.

 

(10)   First and second copy of the CAG shall be given to C.A. holder.  First   shall go with consignment documents and C.A. holder can retain the second.  Third will be the office copy.

 

Proforma - I

Application For Grant Of Certificate Of Authorisation for Grading and Marking of ______________(Name Of Commodity) for Export  Grading.

 

 

To,

        The Dy. Agril. Marketing Adviser/

        Asstt. Agril. Marketing Adviser/

        Senior Marketing Officer

        Directorate of Marketing & Inspection

        ___________________.

 

Sir,

 

        I/We   _________________________of M/S______________________ (full postal address) being desirous of marking ____________________ {Name(s) of commodity}  with a grade designation mark in accordance with the rules made under  the provisions of Agricultural Produce (Grading & Marking) Act 1937, hereby request for grant of Certificate of Authorisation.

 

        I/We  have  carefully  gone  through   the  provisions  of  AP(G&M)Act,1937,  the  General  Grading & Marking Rules 1988,  relevent  commodity Grading  &  Marking  Rules and the instructions issued by  the  Agricutural Marketing Adviser to the Govt.  of India or an Officer authorised by him in this  regard for grading & marking of the said commodity and agree to abide by them .

 

        The  requisite particulars are furnished herewith in the prescribed performa and the requisite documents are enclosed .

 

         Yours faithfully,

 

 

         (Signature of the applicant)

 Place:

                                                                                                                                    Status:

Date:                                                                                                                           for M/S____________________

 

 

                           ACKNOWLEDGEMENT SLIP

Received  the  application  dated __________ of  M/S  _____________ alongwith  the  enclosures and D.D.No.  _________ dated _____________  for Rs. ______________for grant of Certificate of Authorisation  for Grading & Marking of____________ under Agmark for Export grading .

 

 

(Office Seal with Signature)

 

 

PARTICULARS TO BE FURNISHED WITH THE APPLICATION

FOR CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORISATION.

 

1.           Name and full Postal Address of the Party.                     

 

2.           Name(s) of the commodity proposed to be

              graded.                                  

 

3.           Status of the Firm i.e. Proprietary/Partnership/

              Pvt. Ltd./ Public Ltd/ Regd. Society/Public

              Undertaking etc. (copy of the relevant document

              be enclosed).

 

4.           Period for which the applicant has been

              in the business.

 

5.           Name (s) and Address of two representatives

              of the firm who will attend the grading work

              and correspond in the matter. (specimen signatures

              to be furnished separately).

 

6. *(a)   RBI Code No., if any.

    *(b)    Import Export Code No. (issued by DGFT).

     (c)    Membership of the commodity Board, APEDA

              etc., if any.

 

7.           ST/CST No. , if allotted.

 

8.           Full Address of the premises where grading

              & marking will be carried out.

 

9.           Status of the said premises                                                           owner/lesse

              (strike out whichever is not applicable).

 

*10.       Details of the machinery/packing

              machines/cold storage etc. available in

              the plant/premises with their capacity.

 

              Name of the Machinery        Nos.                                      Capacity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.        Any other information relevant to

              grading of the commodity.

 

12.        Trade name, if any.              

                                                             

 

 

( Signature of the applicant/

Authorized person)

Designation

                                                              for M/s                      

Place :

Date :                                                  

                                                             

                                                             

* Not required in case of APEDA recognized pack houses.                  

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEXURE ‘A’

 

 

LIST OF THE DOCUMENTS TO BE FRUNISHED ALONG WITH THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF C.A. FOR EXPORT GRADING.

 

 

1. Application for grant of CA in the prescribed proforma-I.

 

2. Signatures of authorized persons of the firm on the letter pad. 

 

*3.Copy of the proprietorship declaration/partnership deed/memorandum and articles of association/bye-laws of society etc.

 

*4. Blue print or neatly drawn sketch of the premises showing all dimensions duly singed by the authorized person of the firm. 

 

5. Medical fitness certificates issued by the Registered Medical Practitioner certifying that the workers engaged in the handling of the product in various operations, are free from any communicable and contagious diseases. 

 

*6. Copy of import export code No. issued by DGFT.

 

7. Copy of APEDA registration, if registered. 

 

 

Note : (i) Photocopies of all documents should be signed and stamped by authorized person of the firm.

 

(ii) Three sets of the documents are to be submitted to the concerned office of the Directorate. 

 

 

*Not applicable in case of APEDA recognized pack houses. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEXURE – ‘B’

 

Minimum Requirements in the Premises for Grading of Fruits & Vegetables.

 

 

  1. Premises should be clean and in hygienic condition.

 

  1. Surroundings of the premises should be clean.

 

  1. It should not be situated near tanneries, chemical plants, fertilizer plants etc.

 

  1. Walls of the premises should be properly plastered and free from crevices, holes, dampness etc.  Thatched roof is not advisable.

 

  1. Premises should be pest, insect, rodent proof.

 

  1. Premises should be free from cobwebs and spiders.

 

  1. Premises should have proper drainage system.

 

  1. Premises should have arrangements for disposal of rejected, rotten, waste of horticulture produce.

 

 

 

 

ANNEXURE – ‘C-I’

 

 

To,

            The Asstt./Dy. Agricultural Marketing Adviser,

            ______________________

 

 

Subject : Request for grant of Certificate of Agmark Grading (CAG) for consignment of ___________________________ for export.

 

Sir,

 

            I/We intend to export ________________________________ (name of the commodity) to ____________________ (destination).  Details of the consignment are as under.

 

Commodity                No. of Boxes              Qty.                 Total Qty.        FOB value

                                                                (in each box)        (in MTs)        (in Rs.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The above mentioned consignment may be inspected at

 

      (a) our approved premises at                ________________________________.

 

Or  (b) Airport/Seaport at                             ________________________________.

 

            Copies of commercial invoice, residue analysis report of pesticides and declaration in Annexure ‘C-II’ are enclosed.  D.D. for Rs._________________ towards grading charges is also enclosed. 

 

            It is requested that the CAG may be issued. 

 

Yours faithfully

 

Dated : _____________

 

 

(                                     )

                                                                                                     for M/s.

 

 

 

ANNEXURE – ‘C-II’

 

DECLARATION

(TO BE GIVEN BY THE EXPORTER ON THEIR LETTER HEAD).

 

(1)       I, ___________________________ of M/s ________________________ have/operate from the pack house which is located at the following address :

 

                                    __________________________________

 

                                    __________________________________

 

(2)       The pack house is registered/ not registered with APEDA vide Recognition

No. _____________ dated _____________. 

 

(3)       We wish to export ___________ (name of the commodity) whose details are as under :

 

Commodity                No. of Boxes                          Qty.                             Total Qty.       

                                                                           (in each box)            (in MTs)       

 

 

 

 

 

(4)       The analysis report bearing No. ______ dated __________ of the laboratory M/s _____________________________ pertains to ________________ (name of the commodity) referred to in item (3) above.

 

(5)       I, propose to effect export of the __________________ (name of the commodity) referred to above to ____________________ (destination) and these have been processed and packed under my supervision in the pack house referred to in item (1) above.

 

(6)       I, further certify that the ____________________ ( name of the commodity) referred to above are contained in _____________ number of boxes/cartons and that the laboratory analysis report establishes that _________________ (name of the commodity) do not contain pesticide residues exceeding the MRLs with respect to the destination.

 

 

Place :                                                                                    ( Signature of the applicant/

Date :                                                                                                 Authorized person)

                                                                                                            Designation

                                                                                                            for M/s                       

             

ANNEXURE – ‘D’

 

 

Sampling Plan

 

 

No. of Containers                                                      Minimum No. of containers

in the lot                                                                     to be sampled.

 

 

 Up to 50                                                                                2

 

51 to 100                                                                                3

 

101 to 200                                                                             6

 

201 to 500                                                                             12

 

501 to 1000                                                                           25

 

1001 and above.                                                                   2.5%

 

 

 

 

No. Q.11013/4/F&V/03-QC.I

Government of India

Ministry of Agriculture

Department of Agriculture & Cooperation

Directorate of Marketing & Inspection

Head office, NH.IV, Faridabad. 121001

Tel No. : 0129-2415316   e-mail : dmiqc@hub.nic.in

 

Dated : 13.01.05

 

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

 

Subject : Certification of Fruits and Vegetables for exports - regarding.

 

            All the Regional Offices are aware that DMI is the official certifying agency for exports of fresh fruits and vegetables to EU.  Certification is voluntary.  Training programme for inspecting officers was organized from 21st to 24th Nov., 2004 for attending to export certification.   Revised Instructions for grant of Certificate of Authorization (C.A.) and certification of fruits & vegetables under AGMARK for exports were circulated vide Office Memorandum of even number dated 07.10.04.

 

            APEDA has made Certificate of Agmark Grading compulsory for the issue of Phyto Sanitary Certificate for exports of grapes to EU implying that grapes will be compulsorily certified under AGMARK.  The season for export of grapes shall be beginning shortly.   All Regional Offices/Sub Offices particularly Regional Offices, Hyderabad and Mumbai and Sub Offices, Pune, Sangli and Nasik should be well prepared to attend to the export certification.   They should have necessary grading equipment for analyzing various parameters such as Total Soluble Solids and Sugar/Acid ratio.   Since the parameter Sugar/Acid ratio requires chemical analysis, it may be carried out in the pack house of the exporter if facilities are available.   Regional Offices/Sub Offices should assess the work load during the coming season so that arrangements for adequate number of inspecting officers could be made.  They should intimate the requirements of inspecting officers to the Head Office well in advance.  Only such inspecting Officers should attend to the export certification whose signatures have been sent to EU.     

 

              Issues relating to certification of grapes under AGMARK were discussed with exporters on 1512.04 and following decisions were taken.

 

1.         Since exporters of grapes already have cartons in stock without AGMARK insignia printed on them, printing of AGMARK insignia may be exempted for the season 2005 so that they may use the existing stock.   Accordingly, exporters of grapes may be permitted to use cartons without the AGMARK insignia for packing grapes during the year 2005.  

 

2.         Certification for export should be attended on top priority since grape is a perishable commodity.  Certificate of AGMARK Grading may be issued by the inspecting officer at the site if the consignment is acceptable and a grade has been assigned to it. 

 

            Details of C.A. granted and export consignments attended to should be sent to the Head Office, simultaneously. 

 

 

( Dr. G.R. Bhatia)

Addl. Agricultural Marketing Adviser

for Agricultural Marketing Adviser

to the Govt. of India

 

 

 

To,

            All Regional Offices of DMI.