Comprehensive Guide to Export Procedures for Peanuts and Peanut Products

Peanuts and peanut products are a significant export commodity for India, and ensuring compliance with international safety and quality standards is crucial for smooth trade. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has laid out detailed procedures for the export of peanuts and peanut products (PPP). This blog provides a comprehensive overview of these procedures, covering everything from registration to sampling, analysis, and certification.

Background

The export of peanuts and peanut products is regulated to ensure compliance with Maximum Levels (MLs) of aflatoxins and other safety parameters set by importing countries. APEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, oversees the registration and certification process for peanut exports. The procedures aim to harmonize safety standards, facilitate traceability, and ensure quality compliance.

Objectives

Compliance with Importing Country Standards: Ensure that exported PPP meet aflatoxin and quality parameters of importing countries.
Marking and Labeling: Establish a system for appropriate labeling of PPP packages.
Traceability: Facilitate web-based electronic monitoring through Peanut.Net for tracking, product recall, and single-window clearance.
Minimizing Paperwork: Streamline processes to reduce administrative burden.

Scope

The procedures apply to all stakeholders involved in the production, processing, storage, and export of PPP, including:

Producers, aggregators, processors, and exporters.
Peanut processing units, grading units, shelling units, and storage warehouses.
Laboratories and health certificate issuing organizations.

Key Categories of PPP for Export

The procedures cover various categories of peanuts and peanut products, including:

Groundnuts for direct human consumption.
Groundnuts for sorting or further processing.
Groundnuts as bird feed.
Groundnuts for exports to specific countries like the EU, Russian Federation, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and others.

Registration Process

Farm Registration

Peanuts must be sourced from aggregators registered with the State Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) and APEDA’s Peanut.Net system.
Farmers are encouraged to adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to minimize aflatoxin contamination.

Unit Registration

Processing units, grading units, shelling units, and storage warehouses must register with APEDA through its online system.
Geo-coordinates of the units are captured for traceability.

Sampling and Analysis 

Sampling Procedures

Sampling is conducted at APEDA-registered storage warehouses.
Laboratories draw samples for aflatoxin analysis based on EU regulations or Codex guidelines, depending on the destination country.

Analysis

Laboratories analyze samples for aflatoxin levels and moisture content using validated methods.
Results are reported in µg/kg for aflatoxins and percentage for moisture.

Certification

Laboratories issue a Certificate of Analysis within 96 hours of sampling.
Exporters must ensure that PPP meets prescribed MLs before shipment.

Certification Process

Certificate of Export (COE) 

Exporters apply for COE through Peanut.Net after obtaining the Certificate of Analysis and Container Stuffing Certificate.
APEDA issues COE only if the consignment meets aflatoxin levels and other quality parameters.

Health Certificates

Health certificates are issued for exports to specific countries like the EU, Malaysia, and Russia, based on their unique requirements.

Responsibilities

Exporters

Ensure compliance with aflatoxin levels, food safety, and quality standards.
Develop infrastructure for proper storage and transport of peanuts.
Update APEDA on any changes in importing country requirements.

Laboratories

Must be ISO/IEC-17025 accredited for aflatoxin analysis.
Validate sampling and analysis methods to meet importing country standards.

National Referral Laboratory (NRL) 

Conduct audits and surveillance of laboratories.
Issue alerts for non-compliance and recommend corrective actions.

APEDA

Monitor the functioning of NRL, laboratories, and exporters.
Conduct inspections and issue Certificates of Export.

Penal Provisions

Non-compliance with procedures can lead to penalties, including:

Cancellation of registration or membership certificates.
Suspension of laboratory recognition.
Notification to DGFT for cancellation of Import-Export Code.

Sampling Guidelines

Sampling is a critical step in ensuring compliance. Key points include:

Incremental samples are taken from various locations in the lot.
Aggregate samples are prepared and analyzed for aflatoxin levels.
Sampling methods vary based on the type of lot (static or dynamic) and packaging.

Maximum Levels of Aflatoxins 

The MLs of aflatoxins vary by destination country:

EU: 2 µg/kg for B1 and 4 µg/kg for total aflatoxins.
Russia and Singapore: 5 µg/kg for B1.
Japan and Korea: 10 µg/kg for B1.
Malaysia and Indonesia: 15 µg/kg for total aflatoxins.
Thailand: 20 µg/kg for total aflatoxins.

Special Requirements for Specific Countries 

Health certificates must comply with Commission Regulation (EU) No. 2019/1793.

Malaysia

Certificates must confirm aflatoxin levels as per Malaysian Food Regulations 1985.

Russia

Certificates must include detailed analysis of pesticides, mycotoxins, radionuclides, and toxic elements.

Conclusion

The export of peanuts and peanut products is a highly regulated process that requires strict adherence to safety and quality standards. APEDA’s procedures ensure that Indian exporters can meet the requirements of importing countries, thereby facilitating smooth trade and maintaining India’s reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality peanuts.

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Source: Ministry of Commerce & Industry

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