What is APEDA, and why is it important for businesses?

What is APEDA?

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, or the APEDA, was established by the Union Government. The Government set up the Authority as per the directives of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act. The Parliament passed the said Act in the December of 1985. Its amended form became effective in 1986 on and from February 13, 1986. The official Gazette of India issued a notification as a Part II of Sec. 3(ii). The Authority replaced its earlier precursor, PFEPC, or the Processed Food Export Promotion Council. With such details about the APEDA, let us understand the intended functions of the Authority in the following section.

Why is APEDA important for businesses?

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act of 1985 has assigned the following functions to APEDA. These functions are many regulations that APEDA must check if the Businesses involved in agriculture conform to.

Assistance to the Agri-Businesses

APEDA provides assistance in the industrial development of businesses related to the mentioned scheduled products for Export. It is done so by providing financial assistance. APEDA can also undertake the following activities for imparting assistance to Businesses:

·        Conducting Surveys

·        Incorporating Feasibility Studies

·        Enquiry-Capital Participation through joint ventures

·        Agri-Reliefs

·        Agri-related Subsidy Schemes

Facilitates Export Registration

APEDA facilitates the registration of Exporters of the scheduled products. The procedure is continued on such prescribed fee payments. APEDA also fixes standards as well as specifications for the scheduled export products.

Inspection of the to-be-exported Meat Products

APEDA authorizes the inspection of meat products in the following facilities:

·        Slaughterhouses

·        Meat Processing Plants

·        Meat Storage Premises

·        Meat Conveyances

·        Places where meat products are kept

Each site is inspected to ensure the quality of meat products.

Improves Packaging and Product Marketing

APEDA aids in improving the packaging of the scheduled products, as well as its marketing standards in and outside India. It also promotes scheduled product production as well as development.

Maintain Stats of Productions

APEDA is delegated to collect the statistics from the Factories/Establishments owners engaged in the following applications of the scheduled products:

·        Production

·        Processing

·        Packaging

·        Marketing

·        Export

APEDA must also publish the statistics collected or any portions/extracts.

APEDA is also delegated to provide Training on various industrial aspects connected to the scheduled products.

Also read:  APEDA and its role in promoting Agricultural and Processed Food Exports from India

What are these Scheduled Products?

APEDA is provided with the responsibility of the promotion as well as the development of the following scheduled products for the specific purpose of Export:

·        Fruits & Vegetables

·        Meat Products

·        Poultry Products

·        Dairy Products

·        Confectionery

·        Bakery Products

·        Honey

·        Jaggery and Sugar Products

·        Cocoa Products, including chocolates of all kinds

·        Alcoholic as well as Non-Alcoholic Beverages

·        Cereal Products

·        Groundnuts, such as peanuts and walnuts

·        Pickles & Chutneys

·        Appetizers, such as Papad

·        Guar Gum

·        Floricultural Products

·        Herbal as well as Medicinal Plants

·        De-oiled Rice Bran

·        Brined Green Pepper

·        Cashew Nuts Products

Note: Basmati Rice has been recently included in the Second Schedule list of the APEDA Act.

The Government has also entrusted APEDA with the responsibility of monitoring sugar imports in India.

APEDA as a NAB Functionary

The Government has appointed APEDA as a Secretariat to the National Accreditation Board. It is done to implement the Certification Bodies Accreditation under National Programme for Organic Production or the NPOP for organic exports.

Organic Products for scheduled Export are certified only if they are produced, processed, and packed as per the laid down standards in the National Programme for Organic Production directives.

If you wish to further about APEDA license registration in India or the Eligibility Criteria for APEDA Registration, connect with the Legal Experts at Registrationwala or visit the dedicated service page for APEDA registration at our website.

Author: Dushyant Sharma

Hey there, I'm Dushyant Sharma. With the extensive knowledge I've gained in past 8 years, I have been creating content on various subjects such as banking, insurance, telecom, and all the important registration and licensing processes for various companies. I'm here to help everyone with my expertise in these areas through my articles.