AGMARK

About AGMARK:

AGMARK is a certification mark for agricultural produce, assuring that they conform to a grade standard notified by Directorate of Marketing & Inspection (DMI), Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare under Agricultural Produce (Grading Marking) Act, 1937. The present AGMARK Standards cover quality guidelines for These standards differentiate between quality and 2-3 grades are prescribed for each commodity. Till date, grade standards for 222 agricultural commodities have been notified. These include fruits, Vegetables, cereals, pulses, oilseeds, vegetable oils, ghee, spices, honey, creamery butter, wheat, atta, besan, etc.

• AGMARK standards are voluntary for agricultural commodities, based on grading
• Set up under Agricultural Products (Grading and Marketing) Act 1937, as amended in 1986
• Enforced by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI) under administrative control of Department of Agriculture and Co-operation, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India
• Different grades standards are prescribed based on inherent quality of agricultural commodities and various other parameters related to cleanliness, extraneous matter, active components, etc.
• Certificates are issued through AGMARK notified Regional Laboratories located in different regions in the country, meeting the requirements laid down under the Act or rules made thereunder
• Application for AGMARK certification to be made to Agricultural Marketing Advisor or any other Officer authorised by him
• Certificate is issued on conforming the products as per specifications and the Certificate holder is entitled to use “AGMARK” on packages of that products
• The manner of affixing AGMARK on the packages or labels; methods of packing, marking, check sampling and grading are specified under the Act and rules made thereunder
• Till date 105 specific commodity Grading and Marking Rules covering about 213 agricultural commodities of different group have been notified
• Organic Agricultural Produce Grading and Marking Rules 2009 have been notified as per the provision of Section 3 of the Act which provide for Organic Certification of agricultural commodities included in the Scheduled appended to the Act

Regulatory requirements and procedure for Certification:

While the certification scheme is essentially voluntary, Food Safety and Standards(Prohibition and Restriction on Sale)Regulations 2011 have prescribed mandatory certification under AGMARK for certain products viz. Blended Edible Vegetable Oil, Fat Spread. In case of Til Oil, Carbia Callosa, Honey dew, Tea and Ghee FSSAI has prescribed few conditional restrictions.

The certification scheme is implemented through 11 Regional Offices, 26 Sub Offices, 11 Regional Agmark Laboratories and Central Agmark Laboratory (Apex laboratory) of the Directorate. Out of twelve laboratories, 09 laboratories are accredited with the National Accreditation Board for testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) as per the International Standard ISO 17025. Persons desirous of grading and certifying a notified agricultural commodity under Agmark can apply to the nearest field office of the DMI.

AGMARK certification is mandatory for following products:

• Blended edible vegetable oils and fat spread
• Ghee
• Sesame (Til) Oil
• Honey
• Kangra Tea
• Carabia callosa and Honey Dew

Download, Read & Share: AGMARK Standards, Product Catalog, AGMARK Certification Scheme, Application form for AGMARK etc.

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