The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is a statutory body established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985. The Act, which came into effect on February 13, 1986, created the institution to replace the earlier Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC). The core problem it was created to solve was the need for a dedicated, structured mechanism to develop and promote the export of "Scheduled Products," which include fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, cereals, and floriculture products.
APEDA functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Its mechanism involves several key provisions, including the registration of persons as exporters of Scheduled Products upon payment of a fee. It is mandated to fix standards and specifications for these products for export purposes and to carry out inspection of facilities like slaughterhouses and processing plants to ensure quality. APEDA also works by providing financial assistance and subsidy schemes for industry development, undertaking surveys, and improving the packaging and marketing of products outside India.
The Authority connects to the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), for which it functions as the Secretariat for the accreditation of Certification Bodies. It also has the distinct responsibility of monitoring the import of sugar. The APEDA Act has been subject to amendments, such as the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Amendment) Act, 2009, which was deemed to have come into force on October 13, 2008. The list of Scheduled Products under APEDA's jurisdiction is also periodically updated, with items like Cashew Kernels and Cardanol being brought under its purview.