In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) “Act” means the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937 (Act No. 1 of 1937);
(b) “ General Grading and Marking Rules” means the General Grading and Marking Rules, 1988 made under section 3 of the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937(1 of 1937);
(c) “Agricultural Marketing Adviser” means the Agricultural Marketing Adviser to the Government of India;
(d) “annual report” means any report on licensed operators, products and processors submitted annually to the Agricultural Marketing Adviser by the Authorised Inspection and Certification Agencies;
(e) “appeal” means the act or fact of challenging by which an Authorised Inspection and Certification Agency can request for reconsideration of an order passed by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser under these rules;
(f) “applicant” means an Inspection and Certification Agency that has applied for Certificate of Authorisation to the Agricultural Marketing Adviser;
(g) “Authorised Inspection and Certification Agency” means an agency which has been authorised for Inspection and Certification by issuing a Certificate of Authorisation under these rules;
(h) “certificate” means a document issued by an Authorised Inspection and Certification Agency declaring that the licensed operator is carrying out the activities or that the stated products have been produced in accordance with the specified requirements under these rules;
(i) “certificate of authorisation” means a certificate issued by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser under these rules authorising an Inspection and certification 3 agency for certifying organic farms, products and process, to grade and mark organic agricultural produce;
(j) “certification” means the procedure by which a written assurance is given by the Authorised Inspection and Certification Agency that a clearly identified production or processing system has been methodically assessed and it conforms to the specified requirements as mentioned in the National Programme for Organic Production notified by the Director General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, vide notification No. 72(RE- 2003) / 2002-2007 dated the 21st July,2004;
(k) “certification mark” means the grade designation mark as specified in the Schedule;
(l) “certification process” means the system followed by an Authorised Inspection and Certification Agency in accordance with the criteria for carrying out certification of conformity;
(m) “certified organic agricultural produce” means such agricultural produce which has been produced through organic agriculture and certified under these rules;
(n) “conversion” means the process of changing an agricultural farm from conventional to organic farm;
(o) “license” means the authorisation given by an Authorised Inspection and Certification Agency to a licensed operator that grants him the rights of certification under these rules;
(p) “licensed operator” means an individual or a group of persons or a business enterprise practicing organic farming or organic processing which has been given a license by the Authorised Inspection and Certification Agency under these rules;
(q) “National Accreditation Body” means the agency set up by the Central Government under the National Programme for Organic Production notified by the Director General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, vide notification No.72(RE-2003)/2002-2007 dated the 21st July,2004 and as revised from time to time;
(r) “organic” means a particular farming system as mentioned in the National Programme for Organic Production notified by the Director General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, vide notification No.72(RE-2003)/2002-2007 dated the 21st July,2004 and as revised from time to time and not the term used in chemistry;
4
(s) “Schedule” means the Schedule appended to these rules;
(t) “standards” means the standards for organic products prescribed under these rules;
(u) “transaction / import certificate” means a document issued by an Authorised Inspection and Certification Agency declaring that the specified lot or consignment of goods are derived from production or processing system that has been certified by them.