The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

Source: PIB

Context

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has facilitated India’s first-ever commercial export shipment of dried whole egg powder from Balangir, Odisha, to Austria. The shipment, comprising 22.6 metric tonnes (MT) of dried whole egg powder, was virtually flagged off on 20 June 2026 (Saturday) by APEDA Chairman Shri Abhishek Dev, IAS, marking a significant milestone in promoting value-added agricultural and processed food exports from India. The export was carried out by OVO Farm Pvt Ltd, Balangir, an APEDA-registered exporter, which had established a state-of-the-art egg processing facility in Balangir in 2025. The facility is certified under FSSC 22000 Version 6, HALAL, and KOSHER standards, and complies with Export Inspection Council (EIC) requirements and European Union hygiene regulations. Dried whole egg powder, produced via the spray-drying of liquid eggs, has wide applications in food processing, bakery, confectionery, and pharmaceutical industries due to its long shelf life, ease of transportation, and versatility. The event was attended by Prem Chand, IAS (Commissioner-cum-Secretary, F&ARD Department, Government of Odisha) and Gaurav Shivaji Isalwar, IAS (Collector & District Magistrate, Balangir). APEDA extended financial assistance for processing infrastructure, quality management systems, and laboratory testing. The export underscores India’s growing presence in the EU’s processed food market and validates the quality of Indian poultry products against stringent EU standards.

The Export Shipment

• Date Flagged Off: 20 June 2026 (Saturday).
• Product: Dried Whole Egg Powder.
• Quantity: 22.6 metric tonnes (MT).
• From: Balangir district, Odisha, India.
• To: Austria (European Union).
• Exporter: OVO Farm Pvt Ltd, Balangir.
• Facilitating Agency: APEDA.
• Flagged Off (Virtually) By: Shri Abhishek Dev, IAS (Chairman, APEDA).

About the Exporter — OVO Farm Pvt Ltd

• Location: Balangir, Odisha.
• Status: APEDA-registered exporter.
• Facility Established: 2025.
• Type: State-of-the-art egg processing facility.

About APEDA — Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Verified)

Feature	Details
Type	Statutory body (apex export-promotion authority)
Established Under	APEDA Act, 1985 (Act 2 of 1986)
Act Passed	December 1985
Came into Effect	13 February 1986
Parent Ministry	Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India
Department	Department of Commerce
HQ	New Delhi
Chairman	Shri Abhishek Dev, IAS (since 1 April 2024)
Replaced	Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC)

APEDA’s Vision & Mission

• Vision: Establish India as a supplier of quality agro and food products in global markets.
• Mission: Act as an interface between trade/industry and Government to promote and develop agro exports from India.

APEDA’s Functions Under the Act (Verified)

1. Development of industries related to scheduled products for export (with financial assistance, surveys, feasibility studies).
2. Registration of exporters of scheduled products (on payment of fees).
3. Fixing standards and specifications for scheduled products.
4. Inspection of meat and meat products for quality.
5. Improving packaging and marketing of scheduled products.
6. Collection of statistics from owners of factories/establishments.
7. Training in various aspects of the industries connected with scheduled products.
8. Promotion of organic exports via National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
9. Implementation of National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).

APEDA’s Scheduled Products (17 Categories)

#	Category
1	Fruits, Vegetables and their Products
2	Meat and Meat Products
3	Poultry and Poultry Products
4	Dairy Products
5	Confectionery, Biscuits and Bakery Products
6	Honey, Jaggery and Sugar Products
7	Cocoa and its products, chocolates of all kinds
8	Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages
9	Cereal and Cereal Products
10	Groundnuts, Peanuts and Walnuts
11	Pickles, Papads and Chutneys
12	Guar Gum
13	Floriculture and Floriculture Products
14	Herbal and Medicinal Plants
15	De-oiled rice bran
16	Green pepper in brine
17	Cashew Nuts and its Products

Plus: Various millets under cereal products.

APEDA’s Organisational Structure

• Chairman: Appointed by the Central Government.
• Director: Appointed by APEDA.
• Secretary: Appointed by the Central Government.
• Other Officers/Staff: Appointed by the Authority.
• Total Sanctioned Strength: ~73 (Group A: 41, Group B: 42, Group C: 60 — Group C abolished on vacancy).
• Authority Composition:
  • Chairman + Agricultural Marketing Adviser (ex officio).
  • 1 member from NITI Aayog.
  • 3 Members of Parliament (2 from Lok Sabha + 1 from Rajya Sabha).
  • 8 members from Central Ministries.
  • 5 members representing States/UTs (by rotation).
  • 7 members representing different stakeholder categories.
  • 2 specialists/scientists.

Recent APEDA Initiatives

• “One District, One Product (ODOP)” alignment for exports.
• Farm-to-Port supply chain integration.
• Krishi Udan Scheme with Civil Aviation Ministry for air freight.
• GI-tagged products promotion (Darjeeling tea, Basmati rice, etc.).
• Vocal for Local abroad campaigns.
• Coffee Table Books on regional foods.

Practice MCQs

Q1. With reference to the first-ever commercial export of dried whole egg powder from India, consider the following statements:

1. The export was facilitated by APEDA from Balangir, Odisha to Austria.
2. The shipment comprised 22.6 metric tonnes of dried whole egg powder.
3. The exporter was OVO Farm Pvt Ltd, an APEDA-registered exporter.
4. The shipment was flagged off by the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry in person at Balangir.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; the shipment was virtually flagged off by APEDA Chairman Shri Abhishek Dev, IAS, NOT by the Union Minister of Commerce in person.)

Q2. With reference to APEDA, consider the following statements:

1. APEDA is a statutory body established under the APEDA Act of 1985.
2. The APEDA Act came into effect on 13 February 1986.
3. APEDA functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
4. APEDA replaced the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; APEDA replaced the Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC), NOT MPEDA. MPEDA is a separate body for marine products.)

Q3. With reference to APEDA’s scheduled product categories, consider the following statements:

1. APEDA is mandated with the export promotion of 17 scheduled product categories.
2. The scheduled products include fruits, vegetables, dairy, poultry, and confectionery.
3. APEDA’s scheduled product exports in 2024-25 amounted to approximately USD 28.59 billion.
4. APEDA’s mandate covers marine and fishery products as scheduled categories.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; marine and fishery products are NOT under APEDA; they fall under the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) under the same Ministry.)

Q4. With reference to the certifications held by OVO Farm Pvt Ltd, consider the following statements:

1. The facility is certified under FSSC 22000 Version 6.
2. It holds both HALAL and KOSHER certifications.
3. The facility complies with European Union hygiene regulations and EIC standards.
4. FSSC 22000 is a financial accounting standard for export-oriented companies.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; FSSC 22000 is a Food Safety System Certification scheme, NOT a financial accounting standard.)

Q5. With reference to the dried whole egg powder, consider the following statements:

1. It is produced through the spray-drying of liquid eggs.
2. It has a longer shelf life than fresh eggs and is easier to transport and store.
3. It is widely used in the food processing, bakery, confectionery, and pharmaceutical industries.
4. India is currently the world’s largest producer of eggs, ahead of China and the United States.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; India is the 3rd largest egg producer globally, after China (1st) and the United States (2nd).)

Q6. With reference to the institutional context of APEDA, consider the following statements:

1. The current Chairman of APEDA is Shri Abhishek Dev, IAS.
2. APEDA is headquartered in New Delhi and has 15 Regional Offices across India.
3. APEDA implements the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
4. APEDA’s Chairman is appointed by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; APEDA’s Chairman is appointed by the Central Government (Section 4 of APEDA Act), NOT by the CAG.)

Answer Key

1. (c), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because the APEDA Chairman flagged off the shipment virtually.
2. (c), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because APEDA replaced PFEPC, not MPEDA.
3. (c), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because marine products fall under MPEDA, not APEDA.
4. (c), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because FSSC 22000 is a food safety standard.
5. (c), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because India is 3rd, not 1st.
6. (c), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because the Chairman is appointed by the Central Government.

Exam Relevance

Banking (RBI Gr B, SBI PO, IBPS, NABARD)	Very high importance, Agri-exports, APEDA, Food processing
NABARD Grade A	Very high importance, Direct subject — Agriculture, Rural development, Agro-processing
RBI Grade B	ESI awareness, Agri-trade, External sector
SIDBI Grade A	MSME-led food processing, Rural enterprises