India and Taiwan Sign Pact To enhance Trade of Organic Products

At the 9th Working Group on Trade Meeting in New Delhi, India and Taiwan inked a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for organic products. According to the release, this agreement allows for the sale of organic agricultural products in Taiwan, including the inclusion of the "India Organic" logo, as long as they are produced and managed organically in line with the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) and accompanied by an organic demonstration document (transaction certificate, etc.) issued by an accredited certification body under NPOP.

According to an official press release from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the deal between the two countries is notable since it marks the first bilateral agreement for organic products. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) will serve as a nodal agency, collaborating closely with Taiwan's Agriculture and Food Agency, Ministry of Agriculture (AFA), to achieve the agreements' objectives.

Similarly, agricultural products produced and processed organically in line with the Organic Agriculture Promotion Act will be sold in the country, accompanied by the "Taiwan Organic" label.

According to the government, mutual recognition will make it easier to export organic products by eliminating the need for dual certification. Following the agreement, both countries' organic products will have lower compliance costs and a simpler compliance requirement because they would be subject to a single standard. The accord will also assist both countries improve trading prospects in the organic industry.