The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has launched a strict crackdown on irregularities in organic certification across India. With the organic market expanding rapidly, APEDA has taken this step to protect India’s credibility in global markets and ensure that organic standards are not compromised.
Action Against Six Certification Agencies
APEDA has taken firm action against six certification agencies for violating the rules of the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). Eccentric Organic Pvt. Ltd. has faced the toughest penalty, with its accreditation completely revoked and its directors blacklisted for three years. The accreditation of Global Certification Society (GCS), Natural Organic Certification Agency (NOCA), and Krishi Certification Pvt. Ltd. has been suspended for one year each, and all three have been fined five lakh rupees for serious lapses in the certification process.
Interestingly, the crackdown was not limited to private bodies. Even state run certification agencies were found guilty of irregularities. The Bihar State Seed and Organic Certification Agency (BSSOCA) has had its accreditation restricted only to Bihar and has been fined five lakh rupees. Similarly, the Uttarakhand State Organic Certification Agency (USOCA) has been fined ten lakh rupees, with its operations limited to the state of Uttarakhand. These penalties show that APEDA is not sparing even government agencies in its mission to maintain strict organic standards.
Exporter Under Investigation
Along with the certification bodies, one exporter has also been punished. The certification of M/s Adroit Indulgence Pvt. Ltd. has been suspended until an investigation into major non compliances is completed. This suspension is a warning to exporters that any failure to follow NPOP rules will be taken seriously.
Exports of organic products from India have been growing quickly, but weak certification has led to rejections in major foreign markets such as Europe, the United States, and Japan. To prevent such setbacks, APEDA has declared a “zero tolerance” approach to irregularities. By enforcing strict penalties, the authority hopes to maintain buyer confidence and ensure that Indian organic products continue to be trusted worldwide.
Previous Action in March 2025
This is not the first time such action has been taken. Earlier, in March 2025, APEDA had penalized twelve certification agencies across states including Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Uttarakhand. The latest penalties are a continuation of these efforts to strengthen the integrity of India’s organic certification system.
Senior officials from APEDA have stated that the certification process must strictly follow the rules laid out under the National Programme for Organic Production. The recent measures send a clear warning to both private and government agencies that transparency and credibility in certification cannot be compromised. With this action, APEDA aims to safeguard the reputation of Indian organic products in global markets and reinforce trust among international buyers.
Date : 27 to 31 October 2025
Time : 7 PM to 10 PM
Fee : Rs. 3000
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