QUALITY
Due to world-wide commercialization of agricultural and food products, uniformity
in grading and standardization is considered one of the main tools for marketing
of commodities in the internationally accepted markets. Grading is a process
of segregating a commodity into different quality depending upon the consumer's
acceptance and demand. Grading of a produce should also comply with the minimum
statutory requirements laid down by various enforcing government agencies. Hence,
before grading of a produce it needs.
proper cleaning, processing to a stage of conformity with the required mandatory
provision.
Depending upon the consumer acceptance and market demand and constituents, various
parameters are laid down for grading of a commodity, which reflects the quality,
and statutory requirements of that commodity after grading. The parameters fixed
for grading of a commodity depends upon the nature of the article and purpose
for which it is to be used. Grading of a commodity can be done at producer's
level, manufacturer's level, at wholesaler's level, at retailer's level depending
upon its final use, either for industrial purpose, or for indirect human consumption
or for the purpose of direct human consumption. Graded produce leads to not
only fetching a better price, but also open a venue to the consumer to select
a product of his choice.
As the quality of agricultural produce is subject to, considerable variation
on account of differences in soil, climate, type of seeds, cultivation, price,
manufacturing technique, packaging, storage, etc, the importance of adopting
suitable criteria for grading of a commodity is, therefore, obvious.
For assessing the quality of a produce, grading is done and for the purpose
of grading, various physical or chemical parameters are laid down depending
upon the commodity. Whereas, earlier concept of grading mostly relied upon the
physical parameters depending upon the size and colour, foreign matter, maturity,
moisture, insects infestation etc., but under the present quality concept importance
is laid down on the safety parameters such as presence of Pesticide Residue,
Metallic Contaminants Aflatoxin, Mycotoxins and Microbial load and hygiene.
These parameters vary from commodity to commodity depending upon their utility
and toxic limits. If a commodity is consumed directly for human consumption,
this has to be ensured that U the food safety parameters as laid down under
the mandatory provisions of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 are complied
with, in addition to the other quality parameters as laid down under the Act
for the commodity.
Standardization is a process of formulation of quality parameters and applying
mandatory rules so far as the grading of agricultural and food commodities are
concerned. Grading and Standardization are terms related to quality and the
word 'quality" is being used in different connotation. 'Grading" as per definition
by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is "totality of characteristic
of intenty that appears of its ability to certify statutory and implied needs
are usually translated into characteristic with the specified criteria. Needs
may include aspects of performance, usability, dependability, safety, grading,
environment, packing, storing etc. This, clearly, states that standards
define quality and reliability and their successful implementation for marketing
etc. Thus standardization plays a very crucial role in maintaining and improving
quality, reliability and productivity.
Standardization has open doors for quality improvement to fullfil consumer satisfaction.
It has, so far been taken as granted that person engaged in inspection, testing
and certification should followed it as such. But this cannot be taken as granted
so far as the consumer satisfaction is concerned. Therefore, it is necessary
that continuous attempts are made to identify lacunae in standards in respect
of processing, quality requirement, sampling procedure, method of analysis,
packing, consumer needs etc.
There are various certifying agencies with regard to standards and grading.
Earlier concept of certifying a product which defined as 'action of certifying
by means of certificate of conformity that a product or service is in conformity
with the specific standard of technical specification" cannot be constituted
as final. In the new situation, it is imperative that whenever conformity certificate
does not satisfy the consumers, it is necessary to bring in organizational and
technical changes in the certification system so as to meet the consumer's requirement.
Standardization System
A number of organizations in our country are engaged in the formulation of grade
standards and monitoring their quality. These can be basically classified as
: (1) Mandatory and (2) Voluntary. Mandatory provisions are being implemented
through a number of legislative measures.
Under the voluntary system there are two main organizations i.e. Directorate
of Marketing &. Inspection through APGM Act 1937 popularly known as "Agmark"
and the other is Bureau of Indian Standards through BIS Act 1986 popularly known
as 'IST'. Apart from these two organizations under the present concept of self-quality
assurance certification system, a number of other agencies have been authorized
to certify the quality of a product.
International standards are now being recognized as means to overcome technical
barriers that result in difference of various grade standards being adopted
by different countries. This has lead to most national standard bodies to align
their grade standards with the international standards as well as promulgation
of GATT standards code, which recognizes international standards as suitable
code standards for harmonizing among National Rules and Regulation. The GATT
standard code has recognized International standard of the International Organization
for Standardization (ISO) and International Electro-Technical Commission (IEC),
as suitable means of achieving necessary harmonization amongst National standards
and technical standards. The increased acceptability of international standards
in the world market has prompted many countries to the GATT standard codes
to participate effectively in International Standardization Process, so that
potential obstacles in international trade could be eliminated.
The present day view is that National standards should be aligned with International
standards for giving impetus to exports. Though the developing countries have
become conscious of the economic growth yet they have to identify their products
fully through international standards in the world market to gain economic advantage.
It is, therefore, necessary to adopt International standards as a starting point
without going into costly exercise for preparation of national standards in
alignment with international standards for which they often lack the necessary
infrastructural facilities.
Under the present quality concept system, it is not only necessary to standardize
a product, but standardization of inspection techniques, test procedures, sampling
technique, packaging materials and other process are necessary for successful
marketing of a product up to the satisfaction of consumer acceptability. The
process of standardization has in fact to start right from the production level
up to the entire processing till the product is marketed and consumed.
The mechanism of grading and standardization is a continuous process and the
same needs review and changes depending upon the technological changes and requirements.
But it has been observed that such process through research and developmental
activities has not been given much importance in our country and in most of
the cases, standards are being adopted depending upon minimum requirements without
a proper scientific study.
Role of standards and certification in context of WTO agreement
International
standards for quality have played an important role in both protection of health
and safety of consumers and facilitation of international trade. However, with
the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the signing of the
non-tariff agreements, the international scenario has rapidly changed and opportunities
are available to all countries to benefit from greater access to world markets.
In the given scenario, the role of standards and conformity assessment has become
very important in ensuring that the product is safe and of the desired
quality.
However, while imposing standards and conformity assessment procedures by member
countries, it is necessary that certain rules and disciplines be followed so
that the standards/regulations do not act as unreasonable barriers to trade.
This aspect has been taken care of through the non-tariff agreements, which
basically lay down the rules and disciplines with regard to standards and conformity
assessment procedures for international trade.
WTO Agreements
The aspects relating to standardization and certification of quality are specified
in the following three agreements to serve its overriding purpose of helping
trade flow as freely as possible.
Agreement on
(i) Technical barrier to Trade (TBT)
(ii) Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Measures (SPS Agreements)
(iii) Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI Agreement)
These Agreements basically aim at free flow of trade as possible by
adherence to international standards in respect of quality, safety management
systems, laboratory testing and conformity assessment (inspection and certification)
systems and mutual recognition by member countries of each other's systems.
Such mutual recognition is further based on establishment of accreditation mechanisms
in each country for inspection, certification or laboratory testing activities
based on widely accepted international criteria (ISO 17020, ISO 17025, ISO/IEC
Guide 62 for ISO 9000, ISO/IEC Guide 66 for ISO 14000).
Both SPS and TBT Agreements stipulate countries to participate in International
Standardization work. The international body which has been referenced for the
purpose of human health under the SPS Agreement is the CODEX ALIMENTARIUS
COMMISSION. With regard to TBT work, the work of INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION
FOR STANDARDIZATION (ISO) and INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION (IEC)
are important.
The SPS Agreement is especially crucial because it allows member countries to
impose measures to protect health and safety of its population for which they
can install import control systems in food sector. Given the premier status
that Codex Standards have been assigned under the SPS Agreement, they would
become practically obligatory in international trade in food sector.
Conclusion:
The foods are expected to meet the limits prescribed under PFA / Codex / Agmark
or other standards etc. The parameters to be satisfied include moisture, foreign
matter, damaged or insect infested materials, uric acid, aflatoxins, poisonous
metals, insecticides, rodent hair, excreta etc.
Agricultural produces are the most consumed goods a over the world. The International
Food Trade is enormous and is growing fast with the ever- more rapid means of
communication and transport as well as the new technologies of food preservations.
Now in the trade, the provision for health, safety and requirements for various
ingredients are to be primarily and essentially ensured. In this context observation
of standards and their harmonized versions on product specifications, terminology,
sampling, methods of tests and even certain codes of practice are unquestionably important.
Under these situations, International Trade for food products particularly from
developing countries like India is likely to face enormous trade hardship if
one does not take note of these- aspects right now.
Much attention is now required to be paid at the primary production level of
the agricultural produce. Good agricultural practices not only with respect
to the applications of pesticides but also for other agrochemicals are required
to be adhered to strictly. Similarly, the use of the drugs and chemicals should
be minimized and to be used only when needed in desired quantity.
Our
Honorable Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has already remarked about
liberalization of world trade in agriculture and need of training at farmer
level. These are:
"Liberalization of world trade in agriculture has opened up new vistas
of growth Agriculture is one of the areas in which India has an inherent strength
to dominate the global markets. As we move away from an economy of scarcity
to an economy of plenty, it is now both possible and necessary for us to fix
our sights on the vast opportunities in the export market. At the same time,
our country also stands exposed to price fluctuations in the world markets.
India can avoid the pitfalls and seize the prospects of freer global trade in
agriculture only if we treat this as a national mission... Let us fully mobilize
the vast pool of our peoples' traditional knowledge, just as we harness the
latest advance in technology. Let us together resolve to make India a leading
agricultural power in the world in the 21st Century"
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister of India
"For instance, I often wonder why there are so few facilities even for
our most progressive farmers, who otherwise might have very little exposure
to the formal educational system, to improve their theoretical and practical
knowledge. If business executives and professionals can have short term retraining
courses specially designed for them, why not for our knowledge-hungry farmers?
Lack of formalized agricultural education to practicing farmers is, in my view,
the weakest link in our farm strategy. There seems to be a well-entrenched misconception
that a farmer needs no formal education in farm management. We must rectify
this lacuna urgently to enrich the human resource in Indian agriculture".
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister of India
In view of the above the National Institute of Agriculture Marketing, Jaipur,
a premier institution in training and agricultural marketing have already initiated
organizing workshops and training-cum-awareness programmes for progressive farmers,
trainers and other people engaged in agriculture marketing. The present workshop
is an effort in this direction.