Ministry of Agriculture notifies the Pine nut Grading and Marking Rules, 2021.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on 1^st February 2021 has notified the Pine nut Grading and Marking Rules, 2021 and the ministry has invited Objections or suggestions from the public which shall be addressed to the Agricultural Marketing Adviser to the Government of India, Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, Head Office, CGO Complex, NH – IV, Faridabad (Haryana) 121001.

Key Highlights from the Rules.

• The Pine nut shall be packed in paper bags or cloth bags or poly woven bags with inner lining of food grade material or any bio-degradable packaging materials or poly packs of food grade material or any other packaging material as approved by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or the officer authorized by him under rule 11 of the General Grading and Marking Rules.
• The packaging material shall be free from insect and fungal infestation and should not impart any toxic substance or undesirable odour or flavour to the product.
• The grade designation mark shall consist of AGMARK Insignia as set out in schedule-I incorporating the certificate of authorization number, the word “AGMARK”, name of the commodity and grade.
• The authorized packer shall either set up his own laboratory as per prescribed norms or have access to an approved State Grading Laboratory or cooperative or association laboratory or a private commercial laboratory manned by a qualified chemist approved by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser.
• The premises of authorized packer shall be maintained in hygienic and sanitary conditions with proper ventilations and well lighted arrangement and the personnel engaged in these operations shall be in sound health and free from any infectious, contagious or communicable diseases.
• The premises of the authorized packer shall have adequate storage facilities with pucca floor and free from dampness, any kind of cracks and crevices, rodent and insect infestation.
• The authorized packer and the approved chemist shall observe all instructions regarding testing, grading, packing, marking, sealing, and maintenance of records that may be issued under the provisions of the Act.