The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated a major review of its regulatory framework governing organic food products, forming a special expert panel to strengthen certification, traceability, and consumer confidence in the fast-growing segment.
The move comes amid a surge in consumer demand for organic products and concerns about authenticity and labeling accuracy. According to officials, the panel will undertake a comprehensive assessment of existing norms and recommend a modernized framework for the next five years, aligning India’s organic certification standards with global benchmarks.
The review will focus on several key areas — including harmonisation of domestic and international standards, stricter penal provisions for misleading claims, and a robust system for traceability from farm to shelf. Strengthening certification protocols and ensuring transparency across the supply chain are also top priorities.
This development follows the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority’s (APEDA) recent revamp of its National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) — the Ministry of Commerce’s certification framework — to make it more farmer-friendly and export-oriented. The FSSAI’s initiative is expected to complement these reforms by creating a unified, cross-agency certification ecosystem.
Industry observers say the review is long overdue. “Consumer trust in organic labels remains fragile due to inconsistent certification and false claims,” said a senior food policy analyst. “A uniform and enforceable system will be crucial if India wants to be seen as a credible organic exporter.”
The government has set an ambitious target of reaching US$2 billion in organic food exports within the next five years, positioning India as a global hub for trusted organic produce.
With the new panel in place, FSSAI aims not just to regulate—but to restore faith in the word organic on every Indian label.