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What are the Organic Certifications in India

The pivotal role of Organic certifications in India and the consumer trust behind Organic labels.

In recent years, India has witnessed an increasing demand for organic and natural products.With the change in preferences and lifestyle standards, consumers opt for sustainability and strong health.

As the demand for organic produce grows, the vitality of certification processes that deliver authenticity and trust has become apparent.

The Indian Organic Market is growing at a 22% year-on-year rate as the rapid degradation of the environment calls for a natural approach to living and the rapid consciousness among Indian consumers for organic products.

Organic certifications act as a crucial link between producers and consumers, ensuring the purity of organic offerings.

This article sheds light on organic certifications and their importance for consumer trust in organic products in India.

Understanding Organic Certifications

Organic certifications grant a label to authentic products that are genuinely produced and processed using organic techniques. Certified organic brands can sell and represent their products as organic.

Certifying organic produce is a rigorous process that verifies that a product has been produced through methods that comply with organic farm practices.

Certifications represent a major deciding factor for consumers choosing organic. The benefits include:

Consumer trust: It assures genuinely organic, free from synthetic chemicals, and sustainably produced products. Good purchasing power and consumer awareness are giving rise to the market for organic alternatives.

While choosing organic, consumers look for labels that certify that certain products are organic and healthy for consumption.

Market access: Certification gives access to a wider market where products can command a premium price, domestically and internationally.

The Organic food industry in India is projected to grow from USD 2.07 Billion in 2024 to USD 10 Billion by 2032.

The National Millet Mission to promote and focus on strategies to enhance production, and consumption, and create awareness of the health benefits of millet was a clear indicator of the right endorsement.

Traceability: A major way to build trust for organic products is their traceability to the source. Sellers and producers can enhance the transparency of the produce about its journey from the farm to the consumer.

Environmental protection: Organic and naturally processed products have environmental benefits. Excessive use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides to feed a rapidly growing population can adversely affect soil, biodiversity, and water resources.

In the Indian State of Punjab, which alone consumes 9% of the total fertilizers in the country, the health of farmers and farm laborers is declining due to toxic inhalation.

Organic Certifications in India:

India has emerged as a global leader in the organic agriculture.
With the largest organic producers, India has vast tracts of cultivated land. A robust certification system that adheres to international standards is needed to establish consumer trust for organic labels.

By understanding the nooks and crooks of India’s organic certification system, we can appreciate the efforts made to promote sustainable and healthy agricultural practices in the country.

The National Program for Organic Production (NPOP)

The National Program for Organic Production has been the cornerstone of India’s organic certification system, since 2001.

It aims to promote organic farming, set up an institutional framework for the National Standards for Organic Production, and provide information on the system and criteria.

Implemented under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, NPOP provides a focused and well-directed development of organic agriculture.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) plays a vital role in operationalizing the framework.

Features of NPOP:

• NPOP sets the standards for organic production, processing, and trade within the country's borders.
• The accreditation includes inspection, certification bodies, and the national organic logo to build trust and authenticity of organic products for consumers.
• To facilitate certification of organic products in conformity with the importing countries organic standards as per equivalence agreement between the two countries or as per importing country requirements



• To accredit particular certification bodies seeking accreditation authority as a third-party certification body for Indian organic food.
• APEDA's efforts have been instrumental in establishing India as a significant player in the global organic market.





• The unified logo of Jaivik Bharat signifies organic food in India, effectively intertwining with all the elements of the environment, in adherence to the National Organic Standards.
• NPOP has a major function of accrediting agencies that can certify organic food products their their unique labels and processes. These agencies include Bureau Veritas, ECOCERT India, SSOCA, and Control Union.

Participatory Guarantee System for India (PGS)

PGS or Participatory Guarantee System is another system of certifying organic products at the local level.

This system is focused on local quality assurance systems and certifies producers based on the active participation of stakeholders.

Implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, PGS is a participatory framework where farmers have sound control over the certification process, built on trust, social networks, and knowledge-sharing.

PGS applies to on-farm activities like crop production, poultry rearing, etc, and certifies groups of farmers or communities that can organize as a group.

This system provides two types of accreditation:

1. PGS Green: Granted to group farms or communities under the process of organic conversion which have successfully transformed into organic.
2. PGS-Organic: Granted to group farms or communities that have achieved the organic level.

For a better understanding, Nourish Organics is a certified India Organic brand, while Kaira District Co-Operative Milk Producers Union Ltd. is a certified PGS Green brand.

Conclusion:

Organic certifications serve as a critical link between producers and consumers. They ensure the integrity of sustainable farming and organic products and safeguard consumers' health.

By choosing certified organic products, customers can actively support a safer future and contribute to the growth of numerous communities.

India’s organic moment is gaining speed with a growing number of farmers adopting organic agriculture practices.

As consumer awareness increases, the demand for certified organic products rises and this poses a strong opportunity for India to become a global leader in organic farming.

Explore one of India’s largest organic and natural marketplace here.