HARMONIZATION AND STANDARDIZATION OF GRADE SPECIFICATION FOR CASHEW KERNELS (Anacardium Occidentale Linn.)

摘要

Liberalization of trade in agricultural commodities in the context of WTO compliance with Inernational quality including hygiene and safety standards has become increasingly stringent and will have to be competed in the libe ralized market. WTO complince with International quality includingiene and safecy standards has become increasingly stringent and will have to be competed in trie liberalized market. WTO agreement on Sanitary and Phyto Saniary measures (SPS) is now relevant to food quality and standardization in the trade context. For food safety, the standard guidelines established by CODEX Almentarians Commission have been recognized in India as valid standards for adoption in the country. So, Indian standards. of agriculture and allied commodities have to be harmonized with products standards. Laboratories which lack infrastructure facilities and sophisticated instruments to carry out quality testing as per CODEX requirement have to be upgrded accordingly. Upgraded Laboratories would be accredited with National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), Department of Science and Technology. These accredited laboratories are utilized for harmonization of standards with CODEX and for imparting training to those persons engaged in testing and standardization activities.