Overview
How Indian agro companies obtain USDA National Organic Program certification for exporting to the USA and Canada. Timeline, costs, and accredited certifying bodies.
Key Insights for Importers
How Indian agro companies obtain USDA National Organic Program certification for exporting to the USA and Canada. Timeline, costs, and accredited certifying bodies.
The annual organic certificate proves the supplier is certified — it does NOT cover your specific shipment. The Transaction Certificate (TC) must be issued for each shipment by the NPOP-accredited certifying body and must match your Bill of Lading exactly.
India's Export Infrastructure: What Buyers Should Know
India's organic certification ecosystem has grown to over 30 NPOP-accredited certifying bodies covering all major agricultural states. The most widely recognised bodies for international trade are Control Union, ECOCERT, Lacon, and OneCert — their NPOP certificates are accepted at EU, UK, and Canadian borders without additional verification. For USDA NOP, US-accredited certifiers operating in India include CCOF, QCS, and OEFFA. When verifying a supplier's organic certificate, always check: (1) the certificate is current, (2) the specific product category is in scope, (3) the certifying body is on the NPOP accredited list, and (4) the TC for your shipment has been issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NPOP certification equivalent to USDA NOP organic?
Yes. India's NPOP (National Programme for Organic Production) has a formal equivalency arrangement with the USDA NOP (National Organic Program) since 2011. NPOP-certified products from India can be labelled and sold as "organic" in the United States without requiring additional USDA NOP certification. The equivalency covers unprocessed and processed plant products — livestock and livestock products are excluded.
Do Indian exporters need USDA NOP certification to export organic products to USA?
No, Indian organic exporters do not need to separately obtain USDA NOP certification. Products certified under NPOP by an APEDA-accredited certification body are accepted in the USA under the NPOP-NOP equivalency agreement. The exporter must provide a valid NPOP certificate and organic transaction certificate (OTC) with each shipment.
What documentation does a US importer need for NPOP-certified organic products from India?
US importers receiving NPOP-certified organic products from India should require: (1) a valid NPOP organic certificate issued by an APEDA-accredited certification body, (2) an Organic Transaction Certificate (OTC) for each shipment, (3) COA from a NABL-accredited laboratory, and (4) Bill of Lading and Phytosanitary Certificate. No additional USDA NOP certificate is required thanks to the equivalency agreement.
Which APEDA-accredited bodies certify NPOP organic products in India?
APEDA-accredited certification bodies for NPOP in India include: IMO Control, OneCert Asia, ECOCERT India, Lacon Quality Certification, Bureau Veritas Certification India, ADITI Organic Certifications, Control Union, and others. Radiance Overseas works with accredited certification bodies and can provide OTCs and organic certificates with every shipment.