For any Indian farmer, food processor, or small brand producing genuinely chemical-free food, the Jaivik Bharat logo is what turns an “organic” claim into a legally verifiable one. Without certification, a product cannot carry the FSSAI-recognised organic marks, and under the Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations, 2017, businesses above a certain turnover cannot even label a product “organic” without it. This guide walks through the Jaivik Bharat certification process step by step — the pathways, the actual steps involved, the paperwork, and realistic costs — sourced directly from FSSAI’s Jaivik Bharat portal and APEDA’s official documentation.
If you’re not yet familiar with what the logo represents or why it matters to consumers, start with our explainer on Jaivik Bharat and India’s organic food certification system. This article picks up from there and focuses specifically on the producer’s side: how to actually get certified.
Step 1: Choose Your Certification Pathway
The Jaivik Bharat certification process follows two recognised routes, and the right one depends on the scale of your operation:
- NPOP (National Programme for Organic Production) — administered by APEDA under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, this is third-party certification carried out by an accredited certification body. It suits medium and large producers, processors, and anyone planning to export.
- PGS-India (Participatory Guarantee System) — a peer-review certification system designed for small and marginal farmers selling primarily in the domestic market. Farmers organise into local groups, overseen by Regional Councils, and collectively verify each other’s practices instead of paying a third-party auditor. As of the last published figures, PGS-India covered over 4,100 farmer groups and more than 173,000 individual farmers across 563 Regional Councils nationwide.
PGS-India is significantly more affordable — it is free or very low-cost compared to third-party certification — which is precisely why it was designed for smallholders who cannot absorb NPOP’s audit fees. Whichever route you take, the Jaivik Bharat certification process always begins with a valid FSSAI registration.
PGS-India is significantly more affordable — it is free or very low-cost compared to third-party certification — which is precisely why it was designed for smallholders who cannot absorb NPOP’s audit fees. NPOP suits medium and large producers, processors, and exporters instead.
Step 2: Complete FSSAI Registration First
Before applying for organic certification, your food business must already hold a valid FSSAI licence or registration — this is a baseline requirement for any food business operator in India, organic or not. Once this is in place, you can proceed to apply under NPOP or PGS-India as appropriate to your scale.
Step 3A: The NPOP Certification Process
- Select an accredited certification body. APEDA accredits organisations that are authorised to inspect and certify farms and processing units under NPOP. There are around two dozen such accredited certification bodies operating in India, and their accreditation is overseen by the National Accreditation Body (NAB).
- Apply through TRACENET. APEDA’s online application and traceability system is used to submit your application, track certification status, and maintain records once certified.
- Undergo a conversion period. Land must typically be free of banned synthetic fertilisers and pesticides for a set period (commonly around 36 months) before the harvest from it can be certified organic.
- Farm/facility inspection. The certification body’s inspector visits your farm or processing unit to verify practices, record-keeping, and compliance with NPOP standards.
- Certification and labelling. Once approved, you receive your certificate and can use the India Organic logo along with your certifying body’s name and licence number on your packaging.
Step 3B: The PGS-India Certification Process
- Join or form a local group. PGS-India works through farmer groups, typically formed at the village or cluster level, registered with a Regional Council.
- Commit to the PGS-India standards. This includes agreeing not to use banned synthetic inputs and maintaining basic farm records.
- Peer inspection and group review. Members of the group inspect each other’s fields, and the group collectively vouches for compliance — a “participatory” review rather than a third-party audit.
- Regional Council verification and certification. The Regional Council reviews the group’s records and issues PGS-India Organic certification, typically valid for one year with annual renewal.
PGS-India works through farmer groups, typically formed at the village or cluster level, registered with a Regional Council. Members of the group inspect each other’s fields, and the group collectively vouches for compliance — a participatory review rather than a third-party audit.
How Much Does Certification Cost?
Costs vary significantly by pathway and scale:
- NPOP certification typically costs in the range of Rs 15,000–50,000 per year through an APEDA-accredited certification body, depending on farm size, crop diversity, remoteness, and the specific agency’s tariff. Inspection travel charges (roughly Rs 1,000–5,000 per visit) and one-time documentation assistance (roughly Rs 5,000–15,000) can push first-year costs for a small farm to Rs 20,000–60,000. APEDA publishes an official annual tariff schedule for accredited certification bodies, which is the authoritative reference for current rates.
- PGS-India certification is free or available at very low cost, since it relies on peer review within farmer groups rather than paid third-party audits — this is the primary reason it exists as a parallel pathway for smallholders.
Because the fee difference is substantial, most individual small and marginal farmers growing for the domestic market are better served by PGS-India, while processors, larger farms, and exporters generally need NPOP certification since importing countries and larger retail buyers typically require it.
After Certification: Using the Logo Correctly
Once certified, in line with India’s organic certification standards, single-ingredient products should be labelled “Organic,” while multi-ingredient products require “Certified Organic” labelling and must contain at least 95% organic ingredients by weight. Your packaging should display the FSSAI logo and licence number alongside either the India Organic (NPOP) or PGS-India Organic mark — never the Jaivik Bharat logo as a standalone claim without the underlying certification mark. This is also the standard your buyers, retailers, and eventually consumers will check for, so it is worth getting label compliance right the first time. You may also want to review our companion guide on Jaivik Bharat certified product categories and where they’re sold to see how certified goods are positioned in the market once you’re through the process.
For producers building a broader sustainable farming practice, certification is often just one part of the journey — see our resources on sustainable farming in India for related practices worth adopting alongside certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most individual small and marginal farmers selling in the domestic market are better served by PGS-India, since it is free or very low-cost and relies on peer group review rather than paid third-party audits. NPOP is generally required for processors, larger farms, and exporters.
Land typically needs to be free of banned synthetic fertilisers and pesticides for around 36 months before the harvest from it can be certified organic under NPOP standards.
NPOP certification typically costs Rs 15,000-50,000 per year through an APEDA-accredited certification body, with first-year costs for a small farm potentially reaching Rs 20,000-60,000 once inspection travel and documentation assistance are included. Exact rates vary by agency and are published in APEDA’s official tariff schedule.
Yes. A valid FSSAI licence or registration is a baseline requirement for any food business operator in India, and must be in place before you apply for NPOP or PGS-India organic certification.