The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is taking strong action against unfair practices in organic product certification. APEDA, which works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is responsible for overseeing the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). This program sets clear standards for certifying organic products.
Recently, APEDA decided to take strict measures against six certification agencies and one exporter. These actions were taken due to serious failures in following the NPOP rules. Among the agencies facing penalties are the State Organic Certification Agencies of Uttarakhand and Bihar. Four private certification agencies also received penalties.
APEDA issued a circular explaining the actions. Eccentric Organic Pvt. Ltd. has had its NPOP accreditation cancelled. Furthermore, the directors of this company have been banned from participating in the organic sector for three years.
Other agencies also face significant consequences. Global Certification Society (GCS), Natural Organic Certification Agency (NOCA), and Krishi Certification Pvt. Ltd. have had their accreditation suspended for one year. They also face a fine of Rs. Five lakhs each for their non-compliance.
The Bihar State Seed and Organic Certification Agency (BSSOCA) now has its scope of accreditation limited to Bihar State only. It has also been fined Rs. Five lakhs. The Uttarakhand State Organic Certification Agency (USOCA) has been fined Rs. Ten Lakhs. Its operations are now also restricted to Uttarakhand State.
An exporter, M/s Adroit Indulgence Pvt. Ltd., has had its NPOP certification suspended. This suspension is in place until an inquiry is completed and a final decision is made. This action follows major non-compliance and violations of NPOP rules.
Senior APEDA officials have stated that strict adherence to NPOP procedures will be enforced. These actions come after complaints were made and investigations were carried out. The sub-committee of the National Accreditation Body (NAB), which operates under NPOP, recommended these measures in a recent meeting.
This is not the first time APEDA has taken action. In March 2025, penalties were imposed on 12 certification agencies from states like Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Uttarakhand.
With the increasing global demand for organic products, certification is crucial. Some Indian organic products have been rejected in international markets due to non-compliance with global standards. APEDA aims to restore buyer confidence and ensure that Indian organic products meet international quality benchmarks.
The latest actions send a clear message to all certification bodies. They must ensure transparency and maintain credibility in the organic sector. Even government-run certification agencies have been found to violate norms, leading to APEDA’s punitive actions.