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© TNAU Organic Cerification

TNAUOCTamil Nadu Agricultural University

Organic Certification

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is known worldwide for its outstanding academic excellence in Education,Research and Extension activities. The main idea ofinitiating certification programme in the institute is to

programme sustainable organic farming systems among the user groups andcertify organically grown products which are free fromtoxic elements and residues. This agency will getaccreditation with any one of the accreditation agency inIndia approved by the Ministry of Commerce, Govt., ofIndia. Until that period, this institute proclaims itself asa certification agency to certify the organically grown

agricultural and Horticultural products.This institute offers two types of certification options viz.,

i) Organic certification programme for farmers to use the TNAU labelto sell their products as organic within the country after properinspection and certification according to Indian organic standards and

ii) Pollutants free products certification as additional certificate to testtheir products for free of heavy metals, pathogens and pesticideresidues.


Steps in certification process• The first step is to request for application pack

for the type of certification that the user

required. The pack includes questionnaire

containing farm details, farm map indicating farm

boundaries, field history, details on animal

husbandry, farm input and output flow records

etc., including the free schedule for both the

type of certification viz., Organic certification

programme and Pollutant free product

certification and service charges.

• Upon the receipt of application, the committee

for certification reviews the application for

eligibility and assesses the left out information

according to the standards. The chairman of the

committee then informs the client farmer for

further requirements or non-compliances.

• If the application is in correct order, the TNAUOC office provides

the cost estimate for inspection and certification, which should be

accepted and acknowledged by the farmer. The fee must be paid

before the inspection. After this, the inspection committee will

inspect the farm and production operations for their compliance with

organic farming standards. The on site inspection will be completed

after getting acceptance from the grower.


Steps in certification processContd....

• The inspection committee makes their

certification decisions on the basis of

TNAU standards and policies. The office of

the certification is then requested to notify

the farmer about the status of

certification. Final certification approval

may be conditional.

• If approved, a copy of the certificate will

be sent to the farmer. If denied the

decision may be appealed by following the

guidelines of TNAUOC.

• Once get certified, the renewal of

certification is to be requested every year.

For that, the grower is charged for

inspection, travel and report preparation expenses. The annual

certification status is reviewed and decided by the Certification

Committee.


Certification requirements1. Organic production standards

Conversion requirements• Conversion period starts from the date of application• Bio - fencing boundary must be provided between

organic and inorganic farming fields.• Farm once converted to organic should not be

reverted to conventional farming• Conversion period - annuals - 12 months before

sowingPerennials - 24 months before first harvest

• Conversion period can be extended by thecertification committee based on the usage of landand environment conditions.

• Maintenance of farmers dairy is required whichcontains the details of farm map, input and outputrecords, storage details, livestock details, purchaseand sale record.

• For differentiating the farm under differentconversion period, different coloured dairies will beused as given below.

First year - Red colourSecond year - Blue colourThird year - Green colour

The farmer should provide the conversion plan details which includes.Basic data of the farmFarm map


Soil analytical dataWater quality dataCrop production practicesPlant protection measuresAnimal husbandry detailsCrop rotation planDetails on seed and planting materials.


2. Crop production standards

i) Seed / plant materials• Only Certified organic seed and plant materials

should be used• If organic seeds and planting materials are not

available, chemically untreated inorganic seedmaterials may be used until the period of organicseed availability

• Genetically engineered plants / seeds are notpermitted

ii) Sowing / land preparation• Seed treatment must be done with biological

sources only• Proper spacing between crops must be maintained• Uniformity in sowing dates should be adopted• Maintaining the required plant population is needed• Adopting summer deep ploughing for insitu

moisture conservation• Incorporation of crop residues/manures is must

iii) Diversity in crop production• Marginal lands in the farm must be allotted to

farm forest• Crop rotation with legumes and deep rooted crops

must be adopted

vi) Irrigation schedule• Dry spell for more than 15 - 20 days for crops should not be

permitted• Proper irrigation should be ensured at critical stages• Avoiding excessive irrigation


vi) Fertilization policy

• Maintenance of soil health to achieve sustainable

productivity on long-range basis is required.

• Fertilisation management should minimise

nutrient losses

• No inorganic sources of fertilisers to be used for

crop production

• Use of biodegradable materials from

microbial/plant/animal origin only permitted

• Split application of organic manures is

recommended to apply 75% as basal and 25% at

later stage

• Off-farm material usage is restricted

The following materials listed under are not allowed for

crop production

• Manures of human excreta]

• Industrial sludges

• All Mineral fertilisers

• Manures and fertilisers with high load of heavy

metals

• All synthetic nitrogenous fertilizers.


The use of vermicast, compost of spent mushroom, by products from

oil palm, coconut, cocoa, blood meal, bone meal, sea weed are restricted.

vi) Plant protection measures• Thermic weed control and physical methods of

pest, disease and weed management must befollowed.

• Use of bio pesticides / bio herbicides onlypermitted

• Biological control through NPV,l Bacillusthuringiensis (B.T.), Trichogramma etc. can beallowed.

• Pheromone traps / sticky traps are allowed• The use of synthetic herbicides, fungicides,

insecticides, pesticides, synthetic growthregulators/dyes, genetically engineered organismsand products for plant protection are notpermitted.

• The preparations from Neem, Tephrosia, Propoliscan be used as repellants and pest controlmeasures.

• Use of copper salts and mineral powder are notpermitted

vii) Contamination controlOn suspicion of contamination, analysis of soil,

water and products will be carried out for heavy metals.

viii) Soil and water conservation• Land clearing by burning of organic matter is not

allowed• Proper erosion control measures should be followed


• Excessive exploitation of water resources shall not be allowed

x) Landscape• Birds resting nests should be provided• The biodiversity of the farm should be maintained

3. Food processing and handling / post harvest storage

• 100% of the ingredients of agricultural origin shall be certified

organic

• Water and salt may be used as organic products

• Preparations of micro organisms and enzymes commonly used in food

processing may be used with the exceptions of genetically engineered

micro organisms and their products

• Co-mingling with inorganic products shall be prevented

• Proper storage under controlled atmosphere, cooling, Freezing drying

and humidity regulation is needed

• Mechanical, physical and biological methods to control pests only

recommended

• Carcinogenic pesticides and disinfectants are not permitted

• Use of minerals and vitamins as additives and processing aids shall be

restricted

• Processing by mechanical, smoking, extraction, precipitation, filtration

only approved

• Irradiation is not allowed


• Eco-friendly, biodegradable packaging materials is to be used

• Product integrity should be maintained

• Proper labeling of products is must


4. Animal husbandry standards• Sufficient number of animals to be maintained

-2 animals/ha

• Landless animal husbandry system is not

allowed

• Animals should be allowed to conduct their

behavioural needs

• Sufficient free movement, fresh air and

natural daylight is to be provided according to

the needs of the animals

• Enough resting area and sanitation measures

for the animals

• Ample access to fresh water and feed to be

ensured

• Poultry, rabbits shall not be kept in cages

• Herd animals shall not be kept individually

• The conversion period for selling the meat as

organic is 12 months and for dairy and egg

production the period shall not be less than

30 days

• When organic livestock is not available, the

brought in animals is allowed as per the following age limits

• Birds of 2 days old chickens, 18 week old hens, piglets upto 6

weeks and calves upto 4 weeks are allowed


• Reproduction techniques should be natural

• Artificial insemination is allowed

• Embryo transfer techniques, hormonal heat

treatment induced birth and genetically

engineered species are not allowed

• Organic Feeds and feed ingredient alone is

recommended. If not possible 15% and 20%

dry matter intake respectively by ruminants

and non ruminants and it should be reduced

within 5 years to 10 and 15%

• Synthetic growth promoters, appetisers, preservatives, artificial

colouring agents, urea, abattair wastes, droppings, feeds subjected to

solvent extraction, pure amino acids, genetically engineered products

are prohibited.

• The bacteria, fungi, enzymes, by products of food industry and plant

based products shall be used as fooder preservatives

• Natural medicines and methods of curing is allowed


• The uses of conventional veterinary medicines are allowed when no

other justifiable alternative is available. If used, the conversion

period may extended at least double the legal period

• Transport and slaughter should minimize stress to animals.


5. Product testing

Analytical parameters

Chemical analysis

• The products provided by the growers for

testing will be analysed for the following

parameters.

• Inorganic contaminants such as total and

water soluble toxic / heavy metal elements

(NO3, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu) and

• Organic contaminants viz., total and Water

soluble Pesticide4 and herbicide residues

Pathogens

• Tests for identification and quantification of the pathogenic

population.


Administration of the certification programe

All the activities related with certification are administered through

the office of the Certification committee of the Institute. The application

packs and details on certification may be obtained from the following

address.

The Chairman,

Certification committee,

Centre for Soil and Crop Management Studies

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University

Coimbatore - 641 003.

Tamil Nadu, India

Phone : 0422 -2444961

Fax : 0422-2444961

Email : [email protected].

Vice Chancellor


Organisational structure

The Vice Chancellor of the Institute is the authority for the over all

functioning of the Institute. The board of directors and Chairman of the

certification program must assure the financial viability and credibility.

The members of the certification committee is autonomous in its

functioning and decide the certification requirements through inspections

and reports. The documents from the applicants are reviewed for

completeness by the staff of the committee and submitted to the chairman

of the certification committee.

Organisational Chart

Evaluation andcertifying body

(ECB)

Director (SCMS)Professor and Head (Agronomy)Professor and Head (Soil Science)Professor and Head (ENS)Professor and Head (Microbiology)Professor and Head (Meteorology) Professor and Head (Crop Physiology)

Inspection and Monitoring Body

(IMB)

1. Professor (SS & AC)2. Professor (Agronomy)3. Associate / Assistant Professor (ENS)4. Associate / Assistant Professor (Horti.)5. Associate Professor (Ento.)6. Associate Professor (Microbiology)

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