Agmark registration is a certification mark issued by the government of India to certify the quality of agricultural products. The certification helps in ensuring that the products meet certain minimum standards of quality and purity.
Meaning and Definition: Agmark is an acronym for Agricultural Marketing. It is a certification mark that is used in India to indicate that agricultural products comply with the quality standards laid down by the government of India. Agmark certification is granted to agricultural products that meet specific quality and purity criteria.
The Agmark certification acts as a benchmark for quality and is equivalent to vouching for the authenticity of the products. Agmark is governed by the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937 (as amended in 1986). Agmark Standards, presently, cover approximately 222 agricultural items, including cereals, pulses, vegetable oil, and other semi*processed goods. Agmark Registration (Agricultural Marketing and Grading) is a mark that is certified by the government. Governed under the Agricultural Produce (Grading & Marking) Act, 1937 and a 1986 Amendment, this certification demonstrates that the agricultural items are of a good standard as well as good quality. Agmark is a mix of two words: AG+MARK, where AG represents agriculture and Mark represents certification. This mark incorporates the following types of items:
The Agmark certification, for the most part, is a voluntary certification, unless expressly made compulsory as per the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011. The Government of India grants the Agmark certification. This mark incorporates:
- Agricultural and horticultural items.
- Food and beverages that are either entirely produced or partly produced and partly manufactured.
Legal Provisions: The legal provisions for Agmark registration in India are governed by the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937. Under this act, the government of India has the power to establish a system for the grading and marking of agricultural produce. The act also empowers the government to appoint officers who can enforce the provisions of the act.
Process: The process for Agmark registration in Bihar, India, involves the following steps:
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Submitting the application: The first step is to submit an application for Agmark registration along with the prescribed fee to the concerned authority.
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Inspection: The next step involves inspection of the premises where the agricultural product is produced, processed, or packed. The inspector will verify whether the product meets the standards set by the government of India.
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Testing: The product will be tested in a government-approved laboratory to ensure that it meets the quality and purity standards.
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Grant of certificate: If the product meets the standards set by the government, a certificate of Agmark registration will be granted.
Advantages: Agmark registration offers the following advantages:
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Assurance of quality: Agmark registration is an assurance of the quality and purity of the agricultural product.
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Increased marketability: Agmark certification helps in increasing the marketability of the product by providing assurance to consumers about its quality.
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Competitive advantage: Agmark certification can give a competitive advantage to the product over products that do not have the certification.
Disadvantages: The disadvantages of Agmark registration include:
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Cost involved: The cost involved in obtaining Agmark certification can be high, especially for small producers.
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Time-consuming process: The process of obtaining Agmark certification can be time-consuming and may take several weeks or even months.
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Stringent quality standards: The quality standards set by the government for Agmark certification are stringent, which may make it difficult for some producers to obtain the certification.
Cost involved: The cost involved in Agmark registration in Bihar, India, depends on the type of product and the volume of production. The fee for Agmark registration ranges from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 10,000, depending on the product and the volume of production.
Time involved: The time involved in Agmark registration in Bihar, India, can vary depending on the product and the volume of production. The process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
Documents required: The following documents are required for Agmark registration in Bihar, India:
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Application form
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Proof of ownership or lease of the premises where the agricultural product is produced, processed, or packed.
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Test report from a government-approved laboratory.
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Copy of the quality control manual.
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Copy of the registration certificate of the company.
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Copy of the PAN card.
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Bank challan or demand draft for the prescribed fee.
The Government of India, through its agency, Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI), lays down standards for agricultural products which is implemented at State level.
Agmark registration procedure offline
- For Agmark registration offline, you can visit the nearest office of the Director of marketing and Inspection (DMI) to obtain the Form A. In this form, you will need to apply for the granting of an Agmark registration certificate and authorization for grading and marking of commodities in the domestic market.
- While submitting the Agmark registration application form, you need to furnish the necessary documents. To know about the documentation criteria of the Agmark registration procedure, please refer to the section above
- While submitting the Agmark registration, you also need to submit the necessary Agmark registration fees. The Agmark registration fees will vary according to the commodity for which the application is filed. The total Agmark registration fees will also depend on other independent variables such as processing fees, grading charges, etc.
- Before certifying and grading a commodity notified under Agmark, an applicant must fulfill the following conditions-
- They must possess the infrastructure necessary to process the commodity.
- They must have their own laboratory or must have access to an approved laboratory for grading. If they have access to an approved laboratory, they need to furnish the consent letter from it in Form A-3.
- On meeting these eligibility criteria, they should apply to the DMI for issuing the Certificate of Authorisation.
- The authority, after successful completion of the verification process, will grant the certificate. The entire process takes about 30 to 40 days to complete.
- As per the Agmark registration criteria, a proper testing of both the raw materials and the processed product will need to be carried out by an approved chemist
- After the grading and certification, the field officers from DMI would also conduct periodic quality checks. For this, they would compare samples provided by the packer with those available in the market.
- The samples would be analysed in Regional Agmark Laboratories. If the graded commodity is not found to be in conformity to the prescribed standards, action as deemed fit would be taken against the packer.
Advantages of the Agmark registration
Certain benefits of Agmark registration are mentioned below-
- The Agmark registration adds legal significance and benefits to an agricultural produce.
- If a product has the Agmark registration, it gives the consumer the assurance about the organic integrity and quality of the product.
- These standards bear conformity to the requirements of the WTO (World Trade Organisation). Therefore, the Agmark certification helps a product to compete in the international markets as well.
- The Government grants subsidies to agricultural produce that has completed the Agmark registration process. Thus, it brings benefits to the farmers.
FAQs:
Ques:-Is it compulsory for all the producers to use this mark on their products?
No, it is not compulsory for all the producers to use this mark on their products. It is used only on those products which affect the health and safety of the consumers.
Ques:-Who can apply for AGMARK registration?
Any individual or body of persons wishing to start a grading and marketing business of agricultural produces could apply for the certification.
Ques:-Who issues AGMARK certification?
AGMARK is a certification mark employed on agricultural products in India, ensuring that they adhere to a set of standards established by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection an attached Office of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare under Ministry of Agricultural & Farmers Welfare.
Agmark registration is a certification mark that is issued by the government of India to ensure that agricultural products meet certain minimum standards of quality and purity. The certification is granted to products that comply with specific quality standards set by the government. The Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937, governs the legal provisions for Agmark registration in India.
Agmark certification provides assurance to consumers about the quality and purity of the agricultural product. The certification mark helps in increasing the marketability of the product by providing assurance to consumers about its quality. It also provides a competitive advantage to the product over products that do not have the certification.
Agmark registration is a voluntary process, but it is mandatory for certain products such as fruits, vegetables, and food grains, which are sold in government-regulated markets. The certification mark is also required for products that are exported from India.
The process for Agmark registration involves inspection of the premises where the agricultural product is produced, processed, or packed. The product is then tested in a government-approved laboratory to ensure that it meets the quality and purity standards set by the government. If the product meets the standards, a certificate of Agmark registration is granted.
The quality standards set by the government for Agmark certification are stringent, which makes it difficult for some producers to obtain the certification. The process of obtaining Agmark certification can also be time-consuming and may take several weeks or even months. The cost involved in obtaining Agmark certification can be high, especially for small producers.
In conclusion, Agmark registration is an important certification mark in India that helps in ensuring the quality and purity of agricultural products. It provides assurance to consumers about the quality of the product and helps in increasing the marketability of the product. However, the stringent quality standards, time-consuming process, and cost involved in obtaining Agmark certification can make it difficult for some producers to obtain the certification.