The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) was set up by the Govt. of India under the Marine Products Export Development Authority Act 1972. MPEDA functions under the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India and acts as a coordinating agency with different Central and State Government establishments engaged in fishery production and allied activities. The functions of MPEDA are guided by an Authority and three Standing Committees of MPEDA viz, Executive Committee, Technical Committee and Export Promotion Committee.

The activities of MPEDA are mainly focused in the following major heads:

• Market Promotion
• Capture Fisheries
• Culture Fisheries
• Processing infrastructure & value addition
• Quality control

The main functions of MPEDA are as follows:-

• developing and regulating off-shore and deep-sea fishing and undertaking measures for the conservation and management of off-shore and deep-sea fisheries;
• registering fishing vessels, processing plants or storage premises for marine products and conveyances used for the transport of marine products;
• fixing of standards and specifications for marine products for purposes of export;
• carrying out inspection of marine products;
• regulating the export of marine products;
• improving the marketing of marine products outside India:
• registering of exporters of marine products;
• training in various aspects of the marine products industry

Standard development activity:

For purposes of the export as per Section 6 (C) of the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963 where no standard is available the specifications for recognized Fresh, Frozen and Processed Fish and Fishery Products to be formulated by an Expert Committee consisting of the representatives from the following organizations:-

• Export Inspection Agency (Chairman)
• Marine Products Export Development Authority
• Seafood Exporter’s Association of India.
• Central Institute of Fishery Research Institute.
• Central Institute of Fisheries Technology
• Central Marine Fishery Research Institute.

Considering the growing market for organic products world over, MPEDA formulated "India Organic Aquaculture Project" (IOAP) in collaboration with Small Industries Product Promotion Organisation (SIPPO) during 2007.

Further, based on the recommendations of MPEDA, Government of India notified new standards for fishing vessels, storage premises, processing plants and conveyances.

Key Contact Person: Click to see the details of the key officials

Website: www.mpeda.gov.in