AGMARK

AGMARK - Process, Procedure, Document Required, Fees, Eligibility, Duration

AGMARK or Agriculture Mark is a certification mark used on agricultural products in India to ensure the quality of agricultural products.

The AGMARK on agricultural products ensures that the products meet a set of standards set by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers Welfare, which is part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of the Government of India.

AGMARK covers quality guidelines for 222 agricultural commodities including fruits, vegetables, pulses, cereals, oilseeds, ghee, vegetable oils, spices, creamery butter, honey, wheat, atta, besan, and so on.

The phrase AGMARK is derived from the words 'Ag' and 'mark.' 'Ag' refers to agriculture, while 'mark' refers to a certification mark.

While the certification of AGMARK is largely optional, the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sale) Regulations 2011 mandate the certification for specific items such as blended edible vegetable oil and fat spread.

Benefits of AGMARK

The primary goal of AGMARK certification is to make sure that customers receive high-quality, unadulterated agricultural products. All organically grown or processed agricultural goods are certified by AGMARK and have a symbol printed on them. Firms who have obtained AGMARK certificate will receive the following benefits:

Subsidies to farmers: Farmers benefit from AGMARK as the state provides extra subsidies to items with the mark.

Organic integrity and quality: When a product has the AGMARK registration, it assures the consumer of the product's organic integrity and quality. So, the certification has nearly become a must to ensure the public of the products' authenticity and quality.

Product quality: Firms having AGMARK registration ensure that they abide by the rules and regulations laid down by the licensing authority. Regulatory compliance ensures that the product's quality is maintained.

Foreign market: The rules of AGMARK are in line with the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) requirements. As a result, the AGMARK accreditation aids in a product's ability to compete in foreign markets.

No legal challenges: An agricultural product's legal challenges lessen when they have AGMARK. This means that the firm is abiding by the law and is not engaging in any criminal activity.