India updates procedure for organic ingredients re-exported to the US

India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, APEDA, has issued a new procedure for importing NOP-certified organic ingredients for processing in India and later re-export to the United States.

The procedure was issued on June 24. It applies to organic ingredients certified under the USDA National Organic Program, or NOP. Indian operators can use these imported ingredients to make or process organic products for the US market, but only under APEDA’s conditions.

The move gives exporters a clearer way to work with organic ingredients that are not available in India, or are not available in the needed quality or quantity. This is important for companies making value-added organic food products that require certified imported inputs.

APEDA’s procedure covers two main situations. The first is when imported NOP-certified organic ingredients make up no more than 30% of the final product. The second is for NPOP-certified organic processing units in Special Economic Zones, where imported ingredients account for more than 30%.

The aim is to keep this import and re-export channel controlled and traceable. The imported ingredients must be used for value addition or processing in India and then re-exported to the US. They cannot be sold in India or shipped to other markets under this procedure.

For exporters, the update creates a clearer compliance route at a time when organic trade is facing stricter checks on documents and traceability. It may also help Indian processors that rely on imported organic ingredients for multi-ingredient products made for the US market.

Read the full document here.

source and photo: apeda.gov.in