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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Soil analytical dataWater quality dataCrop production practicesPlant protection measuresAnimal husbandry detailsCrop rotation planDetails on seed and planting materials.
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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
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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.
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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
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• 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
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• Eco-friendly, biodegradable packaging materials is to be used
• Product integrity should be maintained
• Proper labeling of products is must
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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
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• 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
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• 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.
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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.
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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
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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)