| Licensing/Certification of Fertilizers
The Government of India has always followed policies that result in better availability and increased consumption of fertilizers in the country. As the land available for farming is strictly limited, an increase in the production of agricultural commodities is possible only through new farming practices, better water management, improved technologies and more extensive and balanced use of fertilizers. Prudent use of fertilizers plays a key role in improving the productivity of crops.
Policy Statement: No license is necessary for establishing a new fertilizer project or expanding the capacity of existing fertilizer plants. Investments or projects in the fertilizer segment can be taken up after filing the Industrial Entrepreneur's Memorandum with the Secretariat for Industrial Assistance (SIA). However, applicants first need to get a statutory clearance of the project site from the environmental angle. Any main public/cooperative sector project for setting up new plants or for revamping/retrofitting/expanding existing plants is subject to investment approval of the government. This approval is given through the Public Investment Board, depending on the amount of investment involved and the delegated financial powers available with each company.
Procedure to obtain dealer license for trading in fertilizers: The procedural requirements to obtain dealer license for trading in fertilizers, including application form, registration are all available with the Department of Fertilizers.
The Fertilizer Import and Movement Division is a constituent of the Department of Fertilizers of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. It is involved in the process for import, transportation and distribution of fertilizers in the country.
Seeds
Seeds are the most basic input of agriculture. In India, the government regulates the production and sale of seeds. However, realizing the important role that the private sector can play in this sector, the Central Government has begun a scheme to provide assistance to private companies, individual entrepreneurs, self help groups and seed cooperatives to boost seed production.
Detailed guidelines regarding eligibility for application, credit linked assistance, implementation period and insurance are available. This agreement between the National Seeds Corporation Limited and seed growers comes under the purview of the latter. As per the New Policy on Seed Development 1988, it is obligatory for all importers of seeds to have a registration certificate. Getting a seed dealership also requires an application form.
Seed distributorship: The National Seeds Corporation Limited (NSC) may appoint one or more distributors for any State or for many States specifying the area(s) of distributorship for the distributor/distributors so appointed. The NSC can modify the area of distributor operations. Application forms are available for seed production under the Seed Certification Programme.
Insecticides
The import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of pesticides is regulated by the Insecticides Act of 1968. The rules of the Act make the registration of pesticides at the central level mandatory. Under the Act, it is also important to obtain license for manufacture, formulation, sale or exhibition of pesticides from the respective State Governments.
To effectively enforce the Insecticides Act, the Central Insecticides Board and the Registration Committee has been constituted at the central level.
The Central Insecticides Board provides a range of online services such as a product directory, a crop wise directory and related statistics. Application forms for registration of pesticides and forms for license to manufacture, sell, exhibit, distribute pesticides/insecticides are also available online. Click here for information on the status of your application and a look at the Insecticides Rules of 1971.
Agricultural Commodity Grading
Quality standards for agricultural commodities are framed based on their intrinsic features and value. Standards are being harmonized with international standards keeping in mind the requirements of the World Trade Organization. Certification of agricultural commodities is carried out both for the benefit of the producer or manufacturer as well as for the consumer.
The Directorate of Marketing and Inspection is involved in the promotion; standardisation and grading of agricultural and allied produce under the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act of 1937 that was amended in 1986. It is popularly known as the AgMark Standards. The Food Corporation of India uses testing laboratories across the country to effectively monitor the quality of food grains and provide quality assurance as per Prevention of Food Adulteration norms.
Parties who wish to have their commodities graded under Agmark have to first obtain a Certificate of Authorization. For this purpose, they should have adequate infrastructure to process the commodity and access to an approved laboratory for the determination of quality and safety factors. Interested parties have to apply in the prescribed performa along with prescribed documents to the nearest office of the directorate. Parties have to give details of infrastructure, processing facilities, details of laboratory and the like for obtaining a Certificate of Authorization. For information on Agmark standards, livestock grading, marketing rules and guidelines for grant of certificate of authorization for grading and marketing, click here.
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