The Export Inspection Council, the export certification body of the government, has launched three portals for faster certification of food and farm products and efficient monitoring of alerts raised by importing countries on non-compliances of standards.

“Building a strong ‘Brand India’ is important to increase exports from the country and all efforts should be made to promote and protect it. This type of assessment promoted by the digital initiatives is what is needed,” said Commerce & Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu.

The complete export food chain has been integrated in this digital platform, according to an official release. “Primary production, chain catch, aquaculture pond, dairy farms and apiaries are all linked. Processing units, testing laboratories, official controls and exports have complete traceability,” the release said.

The ‘one lab one assessment’ portal provides unified approach to all stakeholders like accreditation bodies, regulators and laboratories by bringing them together on a common platform. Simplified procedures for granting joint certification and taking joint decisions help in reducing cost, time and multiplicity of assessment, the release added.

The ‘export alert monitoring portal’ monitors non compliances raised by importing countries. The portal will enable monitoring of alerts and action taken by multiple organisations involved in initial certification in the food safety & biosecurity and analysing the trend, understanding the trade barriers to reduce the alerts and enhance the export trade.

The portals not only provide an opportunity for ease of export but also play an important role in the ‘Go Green’ initiative by reducing paper usage and saving millions of trees, Prabhu said.

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