APEDA manages the export of agricultural goods and food products from India. Let us discuss its functions in detail.
The Agricultural Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is a statutory authority established by the government of India to promote exports of agricultural products. The authority implements various schemes and policies to achieve the export target. The organization’s mandate includes the promotion of exports from agricultural products, development of export markets for these products, establishment, and maintenance of trade facilities, providing assistance to exporters, support to research institutions engaged in developing advanced technology for exporting agricultural products, provision of insurance coverage to exporters during transportation, etc.The registered exporters of agricultural products can take advantage of the various benefits that the authority offers. To know more about the functions of APEDA and the products it monitors, read on!
What is APEDA?
Agricultural Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) was established on 8th November 1985 under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with the objective to promote exports of agricultural products from India.
The agency has its headquarters in New Delhi and operates through eleven Regional Offices throughout the country. APEDA is responsible for monitoring, regulating, and developing export policies in support of the agriculture sector; providing Consultancy Services to exporters, importers & traders in connection with export activities including trade facilitation schemes; conducting market research studies relating to various crops as per direction from Government; publishing reports/publications on issues related to exports, etc.
The APEDA has played an important role in boosting Indian Agricultural Exports over the years. In 2016-17 alone, total merchandise exports from India reached $63 billion – up 15% from the previous year thanks to strong performance across all sectors especially Textiles & Apparel which registered a growth rate close to 25%. Major crops exported by India through APEDA include Rice ($10.3 billion), Wheat ($8.4 billion), Cotton (& Woolen Fabric Export Development Board) ($6.9 billion), and Cement ($ 5 billion).
How To Register With APEDA?
If you’re interested in exporting agricultural products from India, then you will need to register with the Agricultural Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
By registering with APEDA, you will be able to access a range of resources and support that will help your business grow and succeed. You can register online or by visiting one of their offices in major cities across India.
To register, create a profile on the APEDA website by filling out a form and clicking “submit.” This will automatically generate your registration number and other necessary information.
Once you have registered, click on “export” on the main menu bar to access all of the resources available to exporters. In particular, be sure to check out the section entitled “Exporting Agriculture Products,” which contains helpful tips and advice about exporting various types of crops and livestock products from India.
Finally, always keep up-to-date with changes related to Indian agriculture by regularly visiting the APEDA website or subscribing to its mailing list so that you can stay informed about new regulations and developments related to export marketing.
For the registration process you will require these documents ready with you:
- A properly signed application form.
- Copy of Import-Export code issued by D.G.F.T.
- Bank Certificate duly signed by the authorities
- Bank A/c. statement of the bank account of the firm (for latest 2 months)
- Canceled cheque
Functions of APEDA
With its many functions like market intelligence gathering, market research, and development of new export markets for agriculture products among others, we can be confident that these exports will continue to grow every year. To ensure the integrity and authenticity of these products during their journey from producers to exporters and consumers across the globe, APEDA engages in several activities. These include
- Maintaining traceability throughout the entire supply chain by identifying originators/seed suppliers.
- Conducting sampling at various stages including farmers’ fields to check quality & purity.
- Checking processing plants against set standards for ingredients like sugar content or food additives.
- Verifying country-of-origin marking on exported goods.
Composition of APEDA
The APEDA authority consists of the following members:
- A Chairman is appointed by the Central Government.
- The Agricultural Marketing Advisor.
- One representative of Niti Ayog appointed the central government.
- Three members of Parliament.
- Central government appoints 8 members who represent:
(i) Agriculture and Rural Development
(ii) Commerce
(iii) Finance
(iv) Industry
(v) Food
(vi) Civil Supplies
(vii) Civil Aviation
(viii) Shipping and transport6.
- To represent the States and the Union Territories, 5 members are appointed by the Central Government.
- The Central Government appoints Seven members to represent:
(i) Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ii) National Horticultural Board
(iii) National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation
(iv) Central Food Technological Research Institute
(v) Indian Institute of Packaging
(vi) Spices Export Promotion Council
(vii) Cashew Export Promotion Council.
- Two people among the specialists and scientists in the fields of agriculture, economics, and marketing of the scheduled products are appointed by the Central Government.
- Central Government represents 12 members representing :
(a)Fruit and Vegetable Products Industries
(b)Meat, Poultry and Dairy Products Industries
(c)Other Scheduled Products Industries
(d)Packaging Industry
Products Monitored By APEDA
APEDA manages the export of the following products,
- Fruits, Vegetables and their Products.
- Meat and Meat Products.
- Poultry and Poultry Products.
- Dairy Products.
- Confectionery, Biscuits, and Bakery Products.
- Honey, Jaggery, and Sugar Products.
- Cocoa and its products, chocolates of all kinds.
- Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages.
- Cereal and Cereal Products.
- Groundnuts, Peanuts, and Walnuts.
- Pickles, Papads, and Chutneys.
- Guar Gum.
- Floriculture and Floriculture Products.
- Herbal and Medicinal Plants.
- De-oiled rice bran.
- Green pepper in brine.
- Cashew Nuts and Its Products.
- The Second Schedule of the APEDA Act also mentions Basmati Rice.
Conclusion
The Agricultural Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is a statutory authority to promote and develop India’s exports of agricultural products. It has two main objectives: first, to create an environment that will enable Indian exporters to compete in world markets on a level playing field; and second, to help Indian farmers achieve increased production by providing them with the necessary inputs and knowledge. APEDA monitors a wide range of products for export quality and food safety. This list includes items such as pulses, fruits, vegetables, spices, processed foods, etc. If you have any questions about the APEDA Registration process, our legal experts at Vakilsearch can provide you with the best-in-class legal assistance.
Also Read:
