Organic textiles gets certification standards

A certification standard for organic textiles has been launched

by the Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Development Authority (APEDA). Its aimed at boosting demand in major markets, including Europe and Japan. As a part of the certification process under NPOP (National Programme for Organic Productions), a legal regime administered by Department of Commerce, a part of the foreign trade policy, National Organic Textiles Standards (NOTS) was included. Asit Tripathy, Chairman, APEDA points out with the introduction of NOTS, India becomes the only country in the world to have organic textile standards at the national level. Meanwhile the European Commission, Switzerland and the US have given clearances to Indian organic products in their markets after recognising NPOP Standards and the conformity assessment procedures of India (1SO-17011) to be equivalent to their country standards. India is now in talks with Japan and Canada for equivalence.

Adding further, Tripathy said that over the last five years, organic products in India have been growing at an average of 30 per cent. India produces more than 1,000 branded organic products and each product is backed by a certification and traceability.

India witnessed a growth of 167 per cent to Rs 1,866 crores organic products exports in the fiscal 2011-12. The volume growth of organic food, cotton and textile products stood at 111.63 per cent.