APEDA

In news:

• Madras HC dismisses M.P.’s plea on GI tag for basmati rice. Madhya Pradesh has challenged the exclusion of 13 districts from a map submitted by APEDA.

About APEDA

• Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act passed by the Parliament in December, 1985.
• It is an apex body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, responsible for the export promotion of agricultural products.
• In accordance with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985, the following functions have been assigned to the Authority.
  • Development of industries relating to the scheduled products for export by way of providing financial assistance or otherwise for undertaking surveys and feasibility studies, participation in enquiry capital through joint ventures and other reliefs and subsidy schemes;
  • Registration of persons as exporters of the scheduled products on payment of such fees as may be prescribed;
  • Fixing of standards and specifications for the scheduled products for the purpose of exports;
  • Carrying out inspection of meat and meat products in slaughter houses, processing plants, storage premises, conveyances or other places where such products are kept or handled for the purpose of ensuring the quality of such products;
  • Improving of packaging of the Scheduled products;
  • Improving of marketing of the Scheduled products outside India;
  • Promotion of export-oriented production and development of the Scheduled products;
  • Collection of statistics from the owners of factories or establishments engaged in the production, processing, packaging, marketing or export of the scheduled products or from such other persons as may be prescribed on any matter relating to the scheduled products and publication of the statistics so collected or of any portions thereof or extracts therefrom;
  • Training in various aspects of the industries connected with the scheduled products;
  • Such other matters as may be prescribed.

PRELIMS QUESTION:

Q. With reference to Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It functions under the Ministry of Agriculture

2. It is a statutory body

3. Its functions include fixing of standards and specifications for scheduled products for the purpose of exports

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a. 1 and 2 only

b. 1 and 3 only

c. 2 and 3 only

d. 1,2 and 3 only

Answer to Prelims question