Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

03-September-2012 16:35 IST

Certification for Organic Textiles

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), an autonomous body under the administrative control of the Department of Commerce has launched the Indian standards for organic textile on 30th July, 2012 with the following objectives:

• To ensure the veracity of the ‘organic’ status of fibre in textiles and apparels, right from the cultivation and harvesting of organic cotton through processing and labelling;

• To provide assurance of the organic nature of the fibre used and to convey that the process of manufacturing has been done in a socially and environmentally sound manner.

Introduction of Indian Standards for Organic Textile (ISOT) under National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) will further strengthen the organic claims of textiles industry to boost organic textiles export. Introduction of ISOT will improve credibility of India organic textiles in the international market and thereby, the export of organic textiles would be increased.

This information was given by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in a written reply to a question raised in the Lok Sabha today.

DS/GK

Organic textile certification strengthens traceability and ensures fibre and manufacturing meet organic and environmental standards. Launch of the Indian Standards for Organic Textile (ISOT) establishes a regulatory framework to verify and certify the organic status of textile fibres from cultivation through processing and labelling, mandating traceability, supply chain controls, and assurance that manufacturing meets social and environmental benchmarks under the National Programme for Organic Production.