Union Government introduced National Certification Standards for Organic Textiles to boost Demand

The Union government on 30 July 2012 introduced national certification standards for organic textiles to boost the demand for organic textiles in major markets, including Europe and Japan. The Indian Standards for Organic Textiles (ISOT) launched by Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Anand Sharma here is to be included under the National Programme for Organic Productions (NPOP). The NPOP includes norms for organic production and processing of agriculture crops along with certification standards. All organic products are grown under a system of agriculture without the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

Prior to the introduction of the national certification standards, private standards prevailed in the country for organic textiles. The private standards were not in conformity with the international benchmarks.

India with the introduction of the national certification standards  thus took over the long-standing position of the Global Organic Textiles standards (GOTS), which are private standards prevailing in the organic textiles industry.  India became the only country in the world to have introduced organic textiles standards at the national level.

Organic textiles exports were pegged at Rs 1027 crore in 2011-12 as per the data provided by the APEDA. In 2011 India exported certified organic products to various countries in Europe, Asia and the US worth Rs 1866 crore. India currently produces more than 1000 branded organic products which are backed by certification.

The demand for Indian organic products such as tea, coffee, spices, basmati rice, cereals, garment, vegetables and medicinal plants was found to be steadily growing in recent years as consumers' prefer products which are free from chemical residues.