Organic Certification

Certification for Organic Production, Processing & Export

1. What is Organic Certification?

Organic Certification verifies that agricultural products and food products are produced, processed, handled and labelled in accordance with applicable organic production standards.
Organic certification helps businesses demonstrate compliance with recognized organic standards and provides confidence to consumers, buyers and international markets regarding the integrity of organic products.

2. Who Needs Organic Certification?

Organic certification is relevant to businesses involved in:
  • Organic Farming & Agriculture
  • Organic Crop Production
  • Fruits & Vegetable Production
  • Organic Dairy & Livestock
  • Organic Food Processing
  • Organic Food Manufacturing
  • Organic Spices & Herbs
  • Organic Tea & Coffee
  • Organic Rice, Pulses & Grains
  • Organic Oilseeds & Edible Oils
  • Organic Fertilizers & Inputs
  • Organic Product Trading & Handling
  • Organic Food Export

3. Major Organic Certification Standards

Depending on the target market and product, different organic standards may apply, including:

NPOP – National Programme for Organic Production
The NPOP framework administered by APEDA provides the regulatory framework for organic production and certification in India and supports the export of certified organic products.

PGS-India
Participatory Guarantee System (PGS-India) is a decentralized organic assurance system primarily designed for domestic markets and small farmers/groups.

USDA Organic
For businesses targeting the United States, certification under the applicable USDA organic requirements may be required.

EU Organic
Businesses exporting organic products to the European Union need to comply with applicable EU organic production and control requirements.

Other International Standards
Depending on the destination market, additional organic standards or buyer-specific requirements may apply.

4. Key Areas Covered Under Organic Certification

Organic certification generally involves controls relating to:
  • Organic production practices
  • Land and crop management
  • Seed and planting material
  • Soil fertility management
  • Fertilizer and input usage
  • Pest and disease management
  • Irrigation and water management
  • Livestock management, where applicable
  • Harvesting and post-harvest handling
  • Processing and manufacturing
  • Storage and transportation
  • Traceability
  • Separation of organic and non-organic products
  • Record keeping
  • Labelling and use of organic claims

5. Organic Certification Process

Step 1 – Initial Assessment
Review the farm, processing unit, products, operations and applicable organic certification requirements.

Step 2 – Select Applicable Standard
Identify the appropriate certification standard based on the product, production system and target market.

Step 3 – Application & Registration
Submit the required application, business details and supporting documents to the applicable certification body.

Step 4 – Organic System Plan / Documentation
Prepare the required organic management plan, farm records, input details, process information and traceability documentation.

Step 5 – Inspection
The certification body conducts an inspection of the farm, processing unit or applicable facilities to verify compliance.

Step 6 – Corrective Actions
Address observations or non-conformities identified during the inspection, wherever applicable.

Step 7 – Certification Decision
After satisfactory evaluation and compliance with the applicable requirements, the organic certificate is issued.

Step 8 – Annual Compliance
Organic certification generally requires continued compliance, record maintenance and periodic inspection/verification.

6. Our Organic Certification Consultancy Services

Best EXIM & Industrial Consultants provides consultancy and documentation support for organic certification requirements.
Our services include:
  • Organic Certification Requirement Assessment
  • NPOP Certification Assistance
  • Organic Farm Certification Support
  • Organic Processing Certification Support
  • Organic Export Certification Assistance
  • USDA Organic Certification Guidance
  • EU Organic Certification Guidance
  • Organic System Plan / Documentation Support
  • Farm & Process Documentation
  • Input & Material Compliance Guidance
  • Traceability System Development
  • Record & Register Preparation
  • Internal Inspection Preparation
  • Certification Audit / Inspection Preparation
  • Corrective Action Support
  • Organic Labelling & Compliance Guidance
  • Renewal & Continued Compliance Support

7. Benefits of Organic Certification

Organic certification can help businesses:
  • Establish credibility for organic claims
  • Access certified organic markets
  • Support domestic and international sales
  • Improve traceability and documentation

Ready to Get Started?

Contact us today for a free consultation! Our expert team is here to help with all your financial, compliance, and subsidy needs. Reach out now to see how we can assist you in achieving your goals and simplifying your processes.