A Presentation on

Mandatory Agmark Certification

Dr.S.C.Khurana
Deputy Agricultural Marketing Adviser
Directorate of Marketing & Inspection
Ministry of Agriculture
Head Office, Faridabad – 121001.
 Legal Back up of Standards Formulation and
Agmark Certification Programme - AP(G&M) Act, 1937.
Provides for Grading & Marking of agricultural & other produce included in the
Schedule appended to the Act.

 Empowers Central Govt. to make rules to carry out provisions of the Act.
(Section 3).

 Rules may provide for-

Fixing Grade designation to indicate quality.
Defining the quality.
Authorizing a person to mark with grade designation.
Specifying the manner in which article could be packed, sealed and marked.

 Empowers Central Govt. to prescribe compulsory grade designation in

respect of certain articles. Compulsory grade designation has not been
prescribed for any commodity as per this provision. However, certification
of blended edible vegetable oils and fat spread is compulsory under
Agmark as per the provision in Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and
Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011.

 Provision for adding an article of agricultural produce or other than an

agricultural produce to the Schedule (Section-6).
 General Grading & Marking Rules, 1988

Provides procedure for-

 Grant of Certificate of Authorization.

 Approval of primary grading labs/chemists.
 Approval of commercial labs/chemists.
 Grant of Certificate Agmark Grading (CAG).
 Action on irregularities/ misgradings.
 Consumer protection measures.

Agricultural Marketing Adviser has authorized Incharge of various

Sub-offices and Regional Offices of DMI to grant C.A., approve
primary grading labs, issue CAG, take action on irregularities/
misgradings, etc.
 Commodity Grading & Marking Rules

 105 notified.
 213 commodities covered.
 PRESCRIBE

 Commodity specific requirements.

 Packaging requirements.

 Hygienic requirements.
 Grade standards based on quality parameters.
 Food Safety standards as per Food Safety and Standards Act.
 Commodities covered till date

• Food grains and allied products : 30

• Fruits and vegetables : 51
• Spices and condiments : 27
• Edible nuts : 08
• Oil seeds : 17
• Vegetable oils : 19
• Oil cakes : 08
• Essential oils : 08
• Fibre crops : 05
• Livestock, dairy & poultry products : 10
• Others : 30

Total 213
 Agmark Standards

 Voluntary standards.

 Purity, Quality and Safety parameters.

 Quality differentiated by 2-3 Grades.

 Provision for certification.

Agmark Insignia
Infrastructure for grading and certification.

 Regional/Sub Offices of DMI : 37

 Regional Agmark Laboratories : 11

 Central Agmark Laboratory ; 01

(Apex laboratory)
 Pre-requisites for Certification under Agmark

Grant of Certificate of Authorization

 Documents such as ownership of premises, blueprint
of premises, specimen copy of TBL, details of
processing, packing machinery, details of grading
laboratory, etc.

 Premises for grading and marking-

 Hygienic premises
 Infrastructure to process and pack the commodity
 Access to primary grading laboratory.

 Workers not to have any communicable disease.

 Inspection of the premises and grading laboratory to

assess the capability to undertake grading and
marking.
 Grading & Marking Rules relevant to provisions of FSS
Act, 2006

 Blended Edible Vegetable Oils Grading & Marking Rules,

1991 (as amended).

 Fat Spread Grading & Marking Rules, 1994.

 Kangra Tea Grading & Marking Rules, 1976

 Ghee Grading & Marking Rules, 1938 (as amended)

 Vegetable Oils Grading and Marking Rules, 1955 (as

amended)

 Honey Grading and Marking Rules, 2008

 Spices Grading and Marking Rules, 2012

 Blended Edible Vegetable Oils
Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales)
Regulations, 2011.
Chapter 2 Prohibition and Restriction on Sales.
2.1.1 Notwithstanding the provisions of 2.7 of labelling and packaging regulations, no person shall
either by himself or by any servant or agent sell .

(5) a mixture of two or more edible oils as an edible oil;

Provided also that prohibition in Regulation 2.1.1 (5) shall remain inoperative in respect of admixture of
any two edible vegetable oils as one edible vegetable oil, where –

(a) the proportion by weight of any vegetable oil used in the admixture is not less than 20 per cent by
weight; and
(b) the admixture of edible vegetable oils, is processed or packed and sold, in sealed packages
weighing not more than 15 litres under Agmark Certification Mark compulsorily

Food Safety & Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives)
Regulations, 2011

2.2.1.24 Blended Edible Vegetable Oil

Nature of oil
(1) Both raw edible vegetable oils in the blend
(2) One raw edible vegetable oil (s) and one refined vegetable oil (s) in the blend
(3) Both refined edible vegetable oils in the blend
 Blended Edible Vegetable Oils (Contd..)

Requirements in Blended Edible Vegetable Oils Grading & Marking Rules, 1991 for
certification under Agmark.

 Prescribed documents

 Certificate from Ministry of Civil Supplies authorizing person or body of persons.

 The authorized packer to have either own machinery and equipment for expression and refining
of the constituent vegetable edible oils or shall have appropriate arrangements for their
procurement.

 Fully equipped laboratory in the premises.

 The laboratory to be manned by trained and approved Chemist.

 Labelling requirements.

 Printing of Agmark Insignia with running serial number.

 Grading as per prescribed standards.

 Lots to be analysed for food safety parameters from NABL accredited laboratories.
 Blended Edible Vegetable Oils (Contd…)
Requirements in Blended Edible Vegetable Oils Grading & Marking
Rules, 1991 for certification under Agmark

Five types of blends permitted :

 Refined Blend A-Admixture of any two refined edible vegetable oils
except rice bran oil.

 Refined Blend B-Admixture of any one refined edible vegetable oil

with refined rice bran oil.

 General Blend A – Admixture of any one raw edible vegetable oil with
any one refined edible vegetable oil except rice bran oil.

 General Blend B – Admixture of any one raw edible vegetable oil with
refined rice bran oil.

 Standard Blend A – Admixture of any two raw edible vegetable oils

except rice bran oil.
 Fat Spread

Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales)

Regulations, 2011

Chapter 2 Prohibition and Restriction on Sales.

2.3.14(13) - The fat spread shall not be sold in loose form. It shall be sold in sealed
packages only under AGMARK Certification mark.

Food Safety & Standards (Food Products Standards and Food

Additives) Regulations, 2011.

Three types
(a) Milk fat spread - Fat content will be exclusively milk fat.

(b) Mixed fat spread - Fat content will be a mixture of milk fat with any one or
more of hydrogenated, unhydrogenated refined edible vegetable Oils or
interesterified fat.

(c) Vegetable fat spread - Fat content will be a mixture of any two or more of
hydrogenated, unhydrogenated refined vegetable oils or interesterfied fat.

The word 'butter' will not be associated while labelling the product.
 Fat Spread (Contd…)
Requirements in Fat Spread Grading & Marking Rules, 1994

 Prescribed documents
 Own unit consisting of equipment and machinery for manufacturing fat
spread.
 Own fully equipped laboratory for analysis in the premises.
 The laboratory to be manned by trained and approved Chemist.

 Labeling requirements.

 Printing of Agmark Insignia with running serial number.

 Grading as per prescribed standards.

 Lots to be analysed for food safety parameters from NABL accredited

laboratories.
 Fat Spread (Contd…)

Fat Spread Grading and Marking Rules, 1994 (Contd…)

Three types

(a) Milk fat spread - Fat content will be exclusively milk fat.

(b) Mixed fat spread - Fat content will be a mixture of milk fat with any
one or more of hydrogenated, unhydrogenated refined edible
vegetable Oils or interesterified fat.

(c) Vegetable fat spread - Fat content will be a mixture of any two or
more of hydrogenated, unhydrogenated refined vegetable oils or
interesterified fat.

Two grades in each type of Fat Spread-

(a) Medium Fat – Fat per cent 60.1 to 80.0

(b) Low Fat – Fat per cent 40 to 60
 Kangra Tea

Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales)

Regulations, 2011.

Chapter 2 Prohibition and Restriction on Sales.

2.3 Prohibition and Restriction on sale of certain products

2.3.10 Restriction on sale of Kangra tea.

Kangra tea shall be sold or offered for sale only after it is graded and marked in
accordance with the provisions of the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking)
Act, 1937 (1 of 1937) and the regulations made there under.

Kangra Tea Grading & Marking Rules, 1976

Applied to Tea grown in Kangra and Mandi Districts of State of Himachal Pradesh.
The grading of Kangra tea can be carried out only in authorized premises in Kangra
and Mandi Districts.
 Ghee
• Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales)
Regulations, 2011.

Regulation 2.3.8
Restriction on sale of ghee having less Reichert value than that specified for
the area where such ghee is sold.

The ghee having less Reichert value and a different standard for Butyro-
refractometer reading at 40oC than that specified for the area in which it is
imported for sale or storage shall not be sold or stored in that area except under
the ‘AGMARK’ seal.

• Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food

Additives) Regulations, 2011

Regulation 2.1.10.2 provides area-wise specifications for ghee.

• Ghee Grading & Marking Rules, 1938 (as amended) are relevant for
certification under Agmark.
 Til Oil, Honey and Light Black Pepper

Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales)

Regulations, 2011.

Til Oil
Regulation 2.3.9 : Restriction on sale of Til Oil produced in Tripura, Assam and West Bengal.
Til Oil (Sesame Oil) obtained from white sesame seeds, grown in Tripura, Assam and West Bengal having
different standards than those specified for til oil shall be sold in sealed containers bearing Agmark label.
Where this til oil is sold or offered for sale without bearing an Agmark label, the standard given for til oil
shall apply.

Honey
Regulation 2.3.2: Restriction on sale of Carbia Callosa and Honey dew.: Carbia Callosa and Honey dew
shall be sold only in sealed containers bearing Agmark seal.

Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labeling) Regulations, 2011.

Light Black Pepper

Regulation 2.4.5: Specific Labelling Requirements of other Products
9. Light Black Pepper:- Every package containing light black pepper shall bear the following label in
addition to the Agmark seal and the requirements prescribed under regulation 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 of these
regulations:
 Thanks
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