NPOP Organic Certification
Any organic product exported from India must be certified under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), run by APEDA under the Ministry of Commerce. Certification comes from an accredited certification body after an annual inspection, and the scope certificate is valid for one year. We prepare your file, register you on TraceNet and deal with the certification body for you.
What it is
NPOP organic certification is a third-party check that your farm, processing unit or trading business follows India’s National Standards for Organic Production. An accredited certification body inspects you, reviews your records and, if you comply, issues a scope certificate. Every sale of certified produce then gets its own transaction certificate.
The programme was launched in 2001 and is notified under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992. APEDA implements it for the Department of Commerce, and the National Accreditation Body accredits and oversees the certification bodies. The current rulebook is the NPOP 8th edition, launched in 2024, with all certification run through APEDA’s TraceNet system.
In practice, the certificate follows the product down the chain. Think of a Haryana basmati grower group selling paddy to a Sonipat rice mill that exports the rice. The group and the mill each need their own NPOP certificate, and every sale between certified operators needs a transaction certificate.
Who it applies to
Organic exporters
Anyone exporting a product sold as organic, whether you grow, process or trade it. You will also need an Importer Exporter Code. Without an NPOP certificate, the consignment cannot go out as organic.
Farmers and grower groups
Individual farms, and small farmers organised as a grower group through a society, a co-operative or a farmer producer company. The group holds one certificate for all its members.
Processors and brands
Mills, packers and food brands that process organic produce. A Faridabad spice unit buying certified turmeric still needs its own certificate before its packs can say organic.
Why it matters
Lets you export as organic
NPOP organic certification is mandatory for organic exports. Each shipment needs a transaction certificate from TraceNet, and exporters of APEDA-scheduled products also need APEDA registration.
Lets you sell as organic in India
Under the Food Safety and Standards (Organic Food) Regulations, 2017, organic food sold in India must be certified under NPOP or PGS-India and carry the Jaivik Bharat logo.
Gives buyers proof they can check
Every certificate carries a unique code on TraceNet, so a buyer can confirm your status without taking your word for it.
Documents required
Business documents
- PAN, GST and incorporation or registration certificate
- Importer Exporter Code, for exporters
- FSSAI licence, for processors and food brands
- Authorised signatory details
Farm records
- Land records and field maps
- Input history: seeds, manures, pest control, for the conversion period
- Crop plan and production estimates
- Buffer zone details, if neighbours farm conventionally
Processing and group records
- Organic system plan and process flow
- Storage and segregation records
- For groups: member list, farmer agreements and Internal Control System records
How it works
Choose a certification body
You pick one body accredited under NPOP for your scope. You cannot hold two NPOP certificates for the same activity with different bodies.
Register on TraceNet and sign the contract
Your organic system plan and farm or unit details go on TraceNet. You sign a contract with the certification body that sets out both sides’ duties.
Prepare for the inspection
A qualified inspector visits every unit you own or contract and checks your records. Samples are tested where there is a risk of contamination. Then a different person in the body reviews the report and decides.
Collect the scope certificate
Once approved, you get a scope certificate for the year. Here is the catch: produce from land still in conversion is certified only as “in-conversion”. It cannot be labelled organic or carry the India Organic logo.
Get a transaction certificate for every sale
Each sale to another certified operator or abroad needs a transaction certificate. For exports, a provisional certificate is issued before shipment.
Timelines
Convert the land first
At least two years for annual and biennial crops, and three years before the first organic harvest of perennial crops.
Expect yearly inspections
At least once a year for every operator, plus risk-based additional and unannounced visits by the certification body.
Renew every year
The scope certificate is valid for one year, so certification is renewed every year after a fresh inspection.
Grower group certification at a glance
| Rule | NPOP 2024 requirement |
|---|---|
| Legal form | Society, co-operative society, or farmer producer organisation/company |
| Group size | 25 to 500 farmers (minimum 10 for aquaculture) |
| Location | Members within a 50 km radius, preferably in the same or adjacent villages |
| Larger farms | Holdings of 4 ha and above inspected separately every year; their total area must be under 50% of the group’s area |
| Internal control | Internal Control System inspects 100% of members twice a year |
What happens if certification is withdrawn
No organic sales
Without a valid scope certificate, no transaction certificate can be issued, so your goods cannot be exported or sold as organic.
Two-year wait after termination
A terminated operator, including its directors or promoters, can reapply only after two years and must go through the full conversion cycle again.
Five-year debarment
Certification terminated twice means the operator is debarred from organic certification for five years.
Frequently asked questions
Is NPOP certification compulsory for exporting organic products?
Yes. Any organic product exported from India must comply with the NPOP, which is notified under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992. Each consignment needs a transaction certificate issued through TraceNet by your accredited certification body. You also need an IEC and the usual export registrations, which we arrange alongside so the certificate and the paperwork are ready together.
Who issues the NPOP certificate?
A certification body accredited by the National Accreditation Body under NPOP issues it, not APEDA directly. APEDA runs the programme and TraceNet, while the accredited body inspects you and decides. You choose the body, and you can hold only one NPOP certificate for the same scope of activity. We help you compare bodies on scope, location and timing before you apply for NPOP organic certification.
How long before my produce can be sold as organic?
The conversion period is at least two years for annual and biennial crops and three years for perennial crops before the first organic harvest. During conversion, produce can be certified only as “in-conversion” and cannot carry the India Organic logo. Start keeping records early, because the inspector checks the conversion years.
How long is the NPOP scope certificate valid?
The scope certificate is valid for one year. Every operator is inspected at least once a year, and the certification body also makes risk-based additional and unannounced visits. Renewal is therefore an annual cycle of records, inspection and decision. We keep the calendar so your certificate does not lapse in the middle of an export season.
Can small farmers get certified together?
Yes, as a grower group. Under the NPOP 2024 procedures, the group must be a registered society, a co-operative society or a farmer producer organisation, with 25 to 500 farmers within a 50 km radius. Its Internal Control System must inspect every member twice a year. One certificate then covers the whole group.
Do I need NPOP certification to sell organic food in India?
Usually, yes. The Food Safety and Standards (Organic Food) Regulations, 2017 require organic food sold in India to be certified under NPOP or PGS-India and to carry the Jaivik Bharat logo. Small producers with annual turnover up to ₹12 lakh were exempted from certification. PGS-India is for the domestic market only, so exporters still need NPOP.
What is a transaction certificate?
A transaction certificate is issued by your certification body for every sale of organic products under NPOP. For exports, a provisional transaction certificate is issued before shipment, carrying all details except transport. All certificates are generated on TraceNet with a unique verifiable code that buyers can check. We raise these requests with your body so shipments are not held up.
What does Taxhint do, and what does the certification body do?
We handle the eligibility check, the organic system plan, records, TraceNet registration, the IEC and APEDA registrations, and follow-up with the certification body. The inspection, sampling and certification decision are made only by the accredited certification body. Laboratory tests, where needed, are done by accredited labs. You deal with one team for all of it.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
NPOP inspection and certification charges are set by each accredited certification body under the tariff it files, and depend on your scope, area and number of units. For exporters, APEDA’s registration-cum-membership certificate fee is ₹5,000 plus GST.
Ready to begin?
Tell us what you grow or process and where you sell it, and we will map your route to NPOP organic certification.