The Karanj Seeds Grading and Marking Rules, 2009

Published vide Notification New Delhi, the 23rd November, 2009

Act2329

Ministry of Agriculture

(Department of Agriculture and Co-operation)

G.S.R. 842(E). - Whereas the draft of the Karanj Seeds Grading and Marking Rules, 2009, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937 (1 of 1937) was published in the Gazette of India, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide number G.S.R. 402(E), dated the 4^th June, 2009, 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 13^th June, 2009, and whereas the objections and suggestions received from the public 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 (1 of 1937), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely :-

Rules

Short title, application and commencement.- (i) These rules may be called the Karanj Seeds Grading and Marking Rules, 2009.

(ii) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

(iii) They shall apply to the Karanj seeds obtained from Karanj pods or beans of plant Pongamia pinnata of family Leguminosae.

Definitions.- (i) "Agricultural Marketing Adviser" means the Agricultural Marketing Adviser to the Government of India.

(ii) "authorised packer" means a person or a body of persons who has or have been granted a certificate of authorisation to grade and mark Karanj seeds in accordance with the grade standards and procedure under these rules;

(iii) "certificate of authorization" means a certificate issued under the provisions of the General Grading and Marking Rules, 1988 authorizing a person or a body of persons to grade and mark Karanj seeds with the grade designation mark;

(iv) "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);

(v) "Grade designation mark" means the "Agmark Insignia" referred to in rule 5.

(vi) "Schedule" means a Schedule appended to these rules.

Grade designations.- The Grade designations to indicate the quality of Karanj seeds shall be as set out in column (1) of Criteria for Grade designation of Schedule II.
Quality.- For the purpose of these rules, the quality of Karanj seeds shall be as given in Schedule II.
Grade designation mark.- The grade designation mark shall contain "AGMARK insignia" consisting of a design incorporating the certificate of authorisation number, the word "AGMARK", name of commodity and grade designation resembling the design as set out in Schedule I.
Method of packing- (1) Karanj seeds shall be packed in gunny bags, jute bags, polywoven bags, poly pouches, cloth bags, High Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE) laminated paper bags, new or un-mended B-Twill bags or any other suitable packing material with inner lining as approved by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser to the Government of India.

(2) The packing material shall be clean, sound, free from insect or fungal infestation and shall not impart any toxic substance or undesirable odour or flavour to the product.

(3) Karanj Seeds shall be packed in pack sizes as per the instructions issued by Agricultural Marketing Adviser from time to time.

(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 Karanj seeds of the same type and of the same grade designation.

(6) Each package shall be properly and securely closed and sealed and the mouth of the bag should be stitched as to disallow sweating or spilling.

Method of Marking.- (1) The grade designation mark shall be securely affixed to or printed on each package in a manner specified by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or an officer authorised by him in this behalf in accordance with rule 11 of the General Grading and Marking Rules, 1988.

(2) In addition to the grade designation mark, following particulars shall be clearly and indelibly marked on each package.

(a) Name and address of the packer

(b) Place of packing or processing

(d) Variety or trade name (optional)

(e) Crop year (optional)

(f) Grade

(g) Net weight

(h) Maximum retail price (inclusive of all taxes)

(i) Best before ___________ month ___________ year

(3) The ink used for marking on packages shall be of such quality which shall not contaminate the Karanj seeds.

(4) The authorised packer, may, after obtaining prior approval of the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or an officer authorised by him in this behalf, mark his private trade mark or trade brand on the graded packages provided that 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.

Conditions of certificate of authorisation.- (1) Every authorised packer shall follow all instructions specified by the Agricultural marketing Adviser from time to time.

(2) The authorised packer shall either set up his own laboratory as per norms or have access to an approved State Grading Laboratory or co-operative or association laboratory or a private commercial laboratory manned by a qualified chemist approved by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or an officer authorised by him in this behalf in accordance with rule 9 of the General Grading and Marking Rules, 1988 for testing the quality of Karanj Seeds.

(3) The premises shall be maintained in perfect hygienic and sanitary conditions with proper ventilations and well lighted arrangement. The personnel engaged in these operations shall be in sound health and free from any infectious, contagious or communicable diseases.

(4) The premises shall have adequate storage facilities with pucca floor and free from rodent and insect infestation.

(5) The authorised packer and the approved chemist shall follow all instructions regarding testing, grading, packing, marking, sealing and maintenance of records which may be issued by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or any other officer authorised by him in this behalf from time to time.

Schedule I

(see rule 5)

(Design of Agmark insignia)

Name of the Commodity .....................

Grade .....................................................

Schedule II

(see rule 3 and 4)

Grade designation and quality of Karanj Seeds (Pongamia pinnata)

Karanj seed shall be obtained from clean, healthy and mature pods or beans of the plant Pongamia pinnata of family Leguminosae.
The minimum requirements of the Karanj Seeds shall be,-

(a) wholesome, mature, clean and dried;

(b) of characteristic size, shape and colour,

(d) free from fungus infestation, mould growth;

(e) free from added artificial colouring matter;

(f) free from rodent hair and excreta;

(g) free from the seeds of Argemone mexicana (Linn.), toxic seeds and other toxic weeds;

(h) free from rancidity and mustiness;

(i) the odour and flavour of the seeds when grind and moistened shall be fresh;

Criteria for grade designation

Grade Designation	Extraneous matter		Broken seeds, percent by mass (max)	Bulk density (No. of seeds/kg (max)	Insect infected seeds percent by mass (max)	Moisture, percent (max.)	Oil percent (on dry weight basis) (Min.)
Grade Designation	Organic percent by mass (max)	Inorganic Percent by mass (max)	Broken seeds, percent by mass (max)	Bulk density (No. of seeds/kg (max)	Insect infected seeds percent by mass (max)	Moisture, percent (max.)	Oil percent (on dry weight basis) (Min.)
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)	(8)
Special	1.0	0.5	9.0	800	3.0	9.0	30.0
Standard	2.0	1.0	11.0	1000	5.0	10.0	25.0
General	3.0	1.0	12.0	1200	6.0	11.0	20.0

Other requirement:

(i) The condition of the Karanj Seeds shall be as to enable it:-

- to withstand transport and handling and

- to arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination.

(ii) Karanj Seeds shall be stored in appropriate cool and dry place maintained in a clean and hygienic condition.

Explanation:

(a) Extraneous matter:

(i) Organic matter consists of leaves, twigs, stems, organic matters other than the Karanj seeds.

(ii) Inorganic matter consists of metallic pieces, sand, gravel, dirt, pebbles, stones, lumps of earth, clay and mud, animal filth.

(b) Insect infected seeds means seeds which are wholly or partially bored or eaten by weevils.

(d) Damaged seeds means kernels or pieces of kernels that are sprouted or internally damaged as a result of heat, microbe and moisture.