Pine nut Grading and Marking Rules, 2021
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 4th October, 2021
G.S.R. 719(E).—Whereas, the draft of Pine nut Grading and Marking Rules, 2021,were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide number G.S.R.90 (E), dated the 1st February, 2021, inviting objections and suggestions from all persons likely to be affected thereby within forty-five days from the date on which copies of the said notification published in the Gazette of India were made available to the public;
And whereas, the copies of the said notification were made available to the public on the 1st February, 2021, and whereas, the objections and suggestions received from the stakeholders in respect of the said draft rules have been duly considered;
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937 (Act.1 of 1937), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely:-
1. Short title, application and commencement. – (1) These rules may be called the Pine nut Grading and Marking Rules, 2021.
(2) They shall apply to Pine nut obtained from Pinus pinea L., P. wallichiana and P. gerardiana intended for human consumption.
(3) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. Definitions. – (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) “Agricultural Marketing Adviser” means the Agricultural Marketing Adviser to the Government of India;
(b) “authorised packer” means a person or a body of persons who has been granted a certificate of authorisation to grade and mark the Pine nut in accordance with grade standards and procedures prescribed under these rules and the General Grading and Marking Rules;
(c) ―Certificate of Authorisation‖ means a certificate issued under the provisions of the General Grading and Marking Rules, 1988 authorising a person or a body of persons to grade and mark Pine nut with the grade designation mark;
(d) “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);
(e) “grade designation mark” means ―Agmark insignia‖ referred to in rule 3 ;
(f) ―Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules‖ means the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, made under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 (1 of 2010);
(g) “Schedule” means a Schedule appended to these rules.
(2) Words and expressions used in these rules and not defined but defined in the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act,1937 or the General Grading and Marking Rules, shall have the same meaning as are assigned to them under the said Act or the rules.
3. Grade designation mark.- The grade designation mark shall consist of design ―AGMARK Insignia‖ as set out in Schedule-I incorporating the certificate of authorisation number, the word “AGMARK”, name of the commodity and its grade.
4. Grade designations.– The grade designations to indicate the quality of Pine nut including the criteria for grade designation shall be as set out in Schedule-II.
5. Quality.-For the purpose of these rules, the quality of Pine nut shall be specified in Schedule-II.
6. Method of packing. – (1) Pine nut shall be packed in new clean 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 authorised by him under rule 11 of the General Grading and Marking Rules.
(2) 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.
(3) Pine nut shall be packed in pack sizes either in accordance with the provisions of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules or as allowed by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser under rule 11 of the General Grading and Marking Rules.
(4) Graded material of small pack sizes of the same lot or batch and grade may be packed in a master container with complete details thereon along with grade designation mark.
(5) Each package shall contain Pine nut of the same type and of the same grade designation.
(6) Each package shall be properly and securely closed and sealed so as to disallow spilling.
7. Method of marking. – (1) The grade designation mark shall be securely affixed to or printed on each package in the manner approved by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or the officer authorised by him under rule 11 of the General Grading and Marking Rules.
(2) In addition to the grade designation mark, following particulars shall be clearly and indelibly marked on each package, namely:-
- (a) name of the commodity;
- (b) grade;
- (c) variety or trade name (optional);
- (d) lot number;
- (e) date of packing;
- (f) crop year (optional);
- (g) net weight;
- (h) name and address of the authorised packer;
- (i) Maximum retail price (inclusive of all taxes);
- (j) BEST BEFORE MONTH YEAR;
- (k) any other particulars as may be required under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules or under the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 or any other law for the time being in force or any instructions issued under provisions of the Act.
(3) The ink used for marking on packages shall not contaminate the Pine nut.
(4) The authorised packer may after obtaining prior approval of the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or an officer authorised by him under rules 11 of the General Grading and Marking Rules mark his private trade mark or trade brand on the graded packages provided the same do not indicate quality other than that indicated by the grade designation mark affixed to the graded packages in accordance with these rules.
8. Special conditions. – (1) In addition to the conditions specified in sub-rule (8) of rule 3 of the General Grading and Marking Rules, every authorised packer shall comply the conditions specified under this rule.
(2) The authorised 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 or the officer authorised by him under rule 9 of the General Grading and Marking Rules, for testing the quality of Pine nut.
(3) The premises of authorised 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.
(4) The premises of the authorised packer shall have adequate storage facilities with pucca floor and free from dampness, any kind of cracks and crevices, rodent and insect infestation.
(5) The authorised packer and the approved chemist shall observe all instructions regarding testing, grading, packing, marking, sealing and maintenance of records which may be issued by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or an officer authorized by him in this behalf in accordance with the General Grading and Marking Rules from time to time…………….. Read More.