Organic Certification in India: What Consumers Should Understand

Walk through any market in India and you will see the word “organic” on packets, boards and price tags. For packaged and marketed food, that word is not just a description. It is a regulated claim, and it is supposed to be backed by a recognised certification system. Knowing how that system works helps you tell the difference between a verified claim and a hopeful one.

This guide explains the main frameworks behind organic certification in India, what the logos on a label mean, and the questions worth asking when a product is described as organic. It is general information to help you make informed choices, not legal advice.

“Organic” is a regulated claim for food in India

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulates organic food under the Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations, 2017, which were notified in December 2017. Under these regulations, food offered or promoted for sale as organic is expected to comply with one of two recognised certification systems: the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) or the Participatory Guarantee System for India (PGS-India).

The regulations also require that labelling conveys full and accurate information about a product’s organic status. In other words, the label itself is meant to tell you whether, and how, a product has been certified.

The two certification systems: NPOP and PGS-India

National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)

NPOP is a third-party certification system run under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) acting as its secretariat. Under NPOP, independent certification bodies accredited under the programme inspect and certify farms, producer groups, processors and traders against the national organic standards. APEDA publishes the current list of accredited certification bodies on the NPOP portal. The 8th edition of the NPOP standards, dated 2024, was formally launched in January 2025.

Because it is a third-party system aligned with international organic trade, NPOP certification is the route used for organic exports, and it is also used for products sold within India.

Participatory Guarantee System for India (PGS-India)

PGS-India was launched in 2011 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, with the National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF) as its secretariat. Instead of relying on an external inspector, farmers organise into local groups and assess one another’s practices, with oversight from the PGS-India system. It is designed to be lower-cost and more accessible for small farmers, and it is intended for the domestic market rather than exports.

What the logos on a label mean

FSSAI introduced a common organic logo, Jaivik Bharat, alongside the 2017 regulations so that consumers could identify certified organic food under either system. FSSAI’s guidance has been that consumers should look for this organic logo together with the FSSAI logo and licence number on the label. A product may also carry the mark of the system it was certified under, such as the India Organic logo for NPOP or the PGS-India organic mark.

Understanding “in-conversion” produce

Farmland does not become organic overnight. When a farm moves away from conventional practices, it goes through a conversion period during which it follows organic practices but its produce cannot yet be sold as fully certified organic. Produce from this stage is often described as “in conversion”, and it should not be labelled with the organic logo.

In-conversion produce can be a perfectly good choice. It simply means a farm is on its way to certification. What matters is that it is described honestly.

Small producers selling directly to you

The organic regulations include an exemption for organic food sold directly to the end consumer by a small original producer or producer organisation, within limits set by FSSAI. This recognises that certification is not always practical for very small farms selling face to face. It also means that some genuinely organically grown produce you buy directly from a farmer may not carry a certificate.

Because such produce has not been certified, it should not be presented with certification logos. If you buy directly, the most useful thing you can do is ask the farmer how the food was grown. That is exactly the kind of conversation food source transparency is meant to make easier.

How to check an organic claim

1. Read the whole label. Look for the FSSAI organic logo along with the FSSAI logo and licence number, and any NPOP or PGS-India mark.
2. Ask about the certificate. A seller should be able to tell you which system the product is certified under, who certified it, and whether the certificate covers that specific product.
3. Check the dates. Certificates have validity periods. A certificate that has expired, or that covers a different crop or farm, does not support the claim.
4. Use the official portals. APEDA lists accredited NPOP certification bodies on the NPOP portal, and FSSAI’s Jaivik Bharat portal brings together information from FSSAI, APEDA and PGS-India.
5. Treat other words with care. Terms such as “natural”, “chemical-free” or “farm fresh” are not the same as certified organic. They may be true, but they are not a certification.

What certification does and does not tell you

Organic certification verifies that production followed a defined set of standards and that records and inspections support it. It is a statement about how food was produced. It does not, on its own, tell you how fresh a product is, how far it travelled, or who grew it. Those are questions transparency answers, which is why certification and clear sourcing information work best together.

How HWH approaches certification

HWH does not issue organic certification. In the HWH app, farmers can submit applicable certification documents, which HWH administrators review before a farmer is eligible to publish products. The aim is to present each farmer’s certification status accurately, including when a farm is not certified. Submitting a document does not certify a farmer or product. You can read more on our Quality & Certification page.