About APEDA
1. ESTABLISHMENT OF APEDA
The 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. The Act (2 of 1986) came into effect from 13th February, 1986 by a notification issued in the Gazette of India: Extraordinary: Part-II [Sec. 3(ii): 13.2.1986). The Authority replaced the Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC).
1.1 APEDA Organisation Set Up
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development Authority (APEDA) has its headquarters at New Delhi and is headed by Chairman, APEDA.
APEDA has set up Regional Offices at Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, P.O. Varanasi, Chandigarh, Extension Office (EO) Bhopal, Chennai, Kochi and Jammu and Kashmir.
1.2 Assigned Functions
In accordance with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985, (2 of 1986) 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 equity capital through joint ventures and other relieves 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 there from;
- Training in various aspects of the industries connected with the scheduled products;
- Such other matters as may be prescribed.
1.3 Products Monitored
APEDA is mandated with the responsibility of export promotion and development of the following scheduled products in First Schedule of APEDA Act:
- Fruits, Vegetables and their Products
- Meat and Meat Products
- Poultry and Poultry Products
- Dairy Products
- Confectionery, Biscuits and Bakery Products
- Honey, Jaggery and Sugar Products
- Cocoa and its products, chocolates of all kinds
- Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages
- Cereal and Cereal Products
- Groundnuts, Peanuts and Walnuts
- Pickles, Papads and Chutneys
- Guar Gum
- Floriculture and Floriculture Products
- Herbal and Medicinal Plants
Rice has been included in the Second Schedule of APEDA Act.
In addition to this, APEDA has been entrusted with the responsibility to monitor the import of sugar as well.
APEDA also functions as the Secretariat to service the National Accreditation Board (NAB) for the implementation of accreditation of the Certification Bodies under National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) for organic exports. “Organic Products” for export are to be certified only if Produced, Processed and Packed as per the standards laid down in the document “National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).”
1.4 ADMINISTRATIVE SET UP
Chairman - Appointed by the Central Government
Director - Appointed by APEDA
Secretary - Appointed by the Central Government
Other Officers and Staff - Appointed by the APEDA
Section 7 (3) of the APEDA Act provides for appointment of such officers and employees by the Authority as may be necessary for the efficient performance of its functions.
The total sanctioned staff strength is 124 in different categories of A, B, C & D.
At present, APEDA has a total of 25 female employees in Group A, B, C and D categories. The welfare of the female employees is also well looked after. APEDA has provided a separate ladies room within the office premises.
As per Govt. norms, the reservation for physically handicapped persons is 4% of the total strength in all grades. APEDA has total sanctioned staff strength of 124 out of which two are physically handicapped employees. The requirement of 4% will be completed in subsequent recruitments.
1.5 APEDA'S PRESENCE
APEDA has marked its presence in almost all agro potential states of India and has been providing services to agri-export community through its head office and Regional offices.
Head Office
- New Delhi
Regional Offices
- Mumbai
- Hyderabad
- Kolkata
- Bengaluru
- Guwahati
- Ahmedabad
- P.O. Varanasi
- Chandigarh
- Extension Office (EO) Bhopal
- Chennai
- Kochi
- Jammu and Kashmir