Certification Standards for Organic Textiles by APEDA

The draft Indian Standards for Organic Textiles (ISOT) has been developed in consultation with the organic stakeholders. The National Steering Committee (NSC) approved draft ISOT for implementation which has been forwarded to the Ministry of Textiles for their validation & comments.

The global market for organic textiles is 7.4 billion US$ (Source: Textile Exchange report 2012-13). Keeping in view the demand of organic textiles in the global market and the potential in India for producing organic textiles, ISOT has been developed. ISOT is yet to be notified for implementation under National Programme on Organic Production (NPOP).

Implementation of ISOT will strengthen the position of farming families. In India the organic silk, cotton and hemp fibers are being made by tribal rural women (silk worm rearers, yarn makers and handloom weavers) in the States of Jharkhand, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.