• No. 38, 1st & 3rd Floor, 20th Main Road. First Block, Near Rajajinagar Metro Station Rajajinagar, Bengaluru 560 010
  • aditi@aditicert.net

CERTIFICATION

What we do

A pioneering Indian MNC with deep routed foundation in agriculture, Aditi focuses its efforts in developing services around the sustainability of the industry’s supply chains. For over a decade, we have and continue to assist stakeholders in the implementation and promotion of sustainable practices through our certification services.

Third Party Certification
From the field audit to the issuing of the scope certificate, our teams evaluate and ensure that your activities comply with the specifications prescribed in the standards you have chosen. This certification extends to Crop Production, ICS, Processing, Trading, Wild Collection, Bee Keeping, Animal Husbandry and Bird Friendly practices.
Third Party Certification
From the field audit to the issuing of the scope certificate, our teams evaluate and ensure that your activities comply with the specifications prescribed in the standards you have chosen. This certification extends to Crop Production, ICS, Processing, Trading, Wild Collection, Bee Keeping, Animal Husbandry and Bird Friendly practices.
Participatory Guarantee System
Quality assurance initiative, locally relevant, emphasizes the participation of stakeholders, including producers and consumers and operates outside the frame of third party certification. Empowers farmers with increased capacity building.
Participatory Guarantee System
Quality assurance initiative, locally relevant, emphasizes the participation of stakeholders, including producers and consumers and operates outside the frame of third party certification. Empowers farmers with increased capacity building.
Voluntary Certification Scheme for Medicinal Plants
The certification under the scheme requires ensuring conformity to standards on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Medicinal Plants-Requirements and Good Field Collection Practices (GFCP) of Medicinal Plants-Requirements
Voluntary Certification Scheme for Medicinal Plants & Produce 
The certification under the scheme requires ensuring conformity to standards on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Medicinal Plants-Requirements and Good Field Collection Practices (GFCP) of Medicinal Plants-Requirements
IndG.A.P
The IndGAP certification is designed to promote safe and sustainable agricultural practices in India and ensure that the produce grown in the country meets international food safety and quality standards. The certification is recognized by various international organizations, such as the GlobalGAP, and can help Indian farmers access new markets and increase their export potential.
IndG.A.P
The IndGAP certification is designed to promote safe and sustainable agricultural practices in India and ensure that the produce grown in the country meets international food safety and quality standards. The certification is recognized by various international organizations, such as the GlobalGAP, and can help Indian farmers access new markets and increase their export potential.

Activities

Who needs to be certified?
Any independent individual who wishes to grow crops organically.
Conversion
Transition to Organic production-Annuals require a period of 24 months before sowing, perennials require 36 months.
Planting Material
Organic seeds and planting material are allowed. If organic source unavailable, chemically untreated seeds, planting materials can be used after permission from CB.
Nutrient Management
Manure from organic animal husbandry. Soil management shall be by use of green manures, on-farm inputs, intercrop, crop rotation. Those organic or mineral fertilizers that are brought in shall be as per Standard requirements. All GMOs, synthetic nitrogenous fertilisers are prohibited. Sewage sludge, growth regulators are prohibited
Physical Control
Physical barriers, buffer zones, roadside buffers, and sign boards on organic farm-Prevent commingling and/or contamination.
Pest, Disease Management
Use of preventive cultural techniques which limit the development of pests, fostering of insect predators are encouraged Products used for pest, disease and weed management, prepared at the farm from local plants, animals and microorganisms are allowed. The use of synthetic herbicides, fungicides, growth regulators, synthetic dyes insecticides and other pesticides are prohibited. Permitted products for plant pest and disease control shall be as per standard requirements.
Book Keeping
Written plan of farm management-Annually. Diary of farm with daily activities.
Group Certification
Requests a high level of commitment and knowledge by the organisation or certificate holder. Is possible for crop production, animal husbandry, or beekeeping.
Normative Framework
The group certification system is based on an internal quality system and shall apply to groups, cooperatives, contract producers and small scale processing. Producers must have a similar production system and should be in geographical proximity (min No. 25 and max no. 500). Farms with land holding of 4 ha and above can be part of the group but will be inspected annually.
Internal Control
A group must have a legal status and a well structured and documented Internal control system. Groups shall be inspected twice annually by trained inspection staff who shall not have any conflict of interest that hinders work. There shall be documented records signed by producers and inspectors.
Internal Quality System
The IQS pertaining to a group should have SOPs, Internal standards in local language, sufficient staff to operate the ICS an internal approval body which evaluates, supervises, approved and imposes sanctions if necessary.
Trainings
ICS personnel shall be adequately trained and records pertaining to training shall be made available. Farmers shall be regularly trained by ICS personnel, there shall be one initial advisory visit and training details shall be documented.
External Control
The sampling plan for inspection is based on the inspector’s perception of risk based on the following factors: Size of holding, Number of the members in the group, Degree of similarity between the production system and crop system, inter mingling/contamination, local hazards. Risk factor calculation are as per respective standandards.
Records
The group must present a detailed Organic Management Plan. Farmers must keep a minimum of records. Records on purchased, stored, processed, and sold quantities must be kept at each step, from the producer to export or final sale.
Certification
The group can only be certified in case the ICS works properly. In case certification relates to crop production in a group, all rules applicable to crop production shall apply. New producers can be included in the organic farmers list only after approval by the certifier.
Who Need to be certified 

All handlers who process, dry, freeze, clean, mix, pack, or label organic products after harvest, need to be certified

Requirements

Must assure traceability and transparency.

Requires a good documentation system.

Must not contaminate organic products through inappropriate post-harvest handling.

Origin

Only certified organic raw materials can be processed to organic products.

Raw materials procured shall have a copy of a valid scope certificate, issued according to the respective standard.

Seperation

Handlers processing both organic and conventional produce or organic produce certified as per different standards must be separated in time and space

In situations where separate warehousing is not feasible, adequate separation with clear demarcation and sign boards.

In case of continuous processes (e.g., mill), a reasonable purged quantity of product must be sold as conventional.

Identification

The operator must develop an organic production and handling plan depicting process flow and control points.

Records pertaining to Organic condition of the product must be made available-Eg., supplier certificates, way bills, reception notes, processing protocols,
storage books, invoices.

If processing does not take place at regular intervals , operator must inform ADITI in advance regarding the processing.

Pest Control

Organic products shall not come in contact with any polluting substances, such as fuels, pesticides, wood preservatives, detergents, molds etc.

Pests should be avoided with good manufacturing practices, pest management practices shall be in place.

Irradiation is prohibited.

Labelling and Packing

Organic status of the product shall be clearly reflected as per the standard. Inconversion products shall be clearly distinguishable.

Labelling, packing, promotional material shall be sent to ADITI for approval prior to printing.

Biodegradable, recyclable, reusable systems and eco-friendly packaging materials shall be used wherever possible

Strong Transfort

Organic product must be protected from Co-mingling with non-organic products and from contact with materials and substances not permitted for use in
organic farming and handling.

Storage areas and transport containers for organic product should be cleaned using methods and materials permitted in organic production

Who Need to be certified
Any handler who wishes to collect medicinal or aromatic plants and plant materials from their natural habitats.
Wild Collection
Sustainable-Harvesting or gathering the product Red list or otherwise threatened species must not be collected
Location
Collection areas must not have received any treatment with products unauthorized Must not have threaten habitat/feed for any species. Minor forest produce-State Government rules may apply. Collection areas must not be in proximity to sources of pollution
Training & Supervision
Collectors must be trained on harvesting techniques, maximum harvest quantities, environmental damage, and suitable collection places. Supervised by responsible entity
Records & traceability
Detailed map of collection Area. Records of collected, stored, sold, transported quantities must be available.
Who Need to be certified
Brokers or exporters who buy and sell the product, without repacking or re-labelling it. Handlers who repack or label the product.
Product Origin and Trade
Exporters must be sure to hold a copy of valid organic certificates from all their suppliers NPOP Certified products (processed and unprocessed) can be sold within India, exported to the Middle East., unprocessed products to Europe, Australia, South east Asian countries. NOP certified products can be traded to USA. COS certified products can be sold to Canada and USA.
Storage and Handling Requirements
Identification of the product at all stages of product flow during transition. Segregation of organic products from in-conversion products. Fumigation of containers, irradiation/ionization, etc. are prohibited. The location in the warehouse during storage must be labeled as ‘organic’ or ‘in- conversion’.
Who Need to be certified
Any handler who wishes to take up organic livestock rearing with the purposes of processing organic livestock by products.
Source/Origin
Animals must be born from production units complying with organic guidelines. No transfer of livestock between organic and non-organic units. ADITI allows livestock from a non-organic source under specific conditions like establishing an organic livestock for first time, renewal of herd, or while introducing breeding males.
Records & Identification
Animals shall bear unique identification numbers in the form of ear tags. The producer shall maintain the health, breeding and production records of animals maintained in the farm. Details of parents, source, purchase, animal details (date of birth, parity), breeding details etc. shall be maintained.
Housing
Housing and day-to-day management of animals- Fulfill biological and behavioral needs Minimum surface area indoors and outdoors and min number of animals per hectare shall be as per standards Tethering of livestock is prohibited.
Conversion Period
For organic livestock-The conversion period shall be for three (3) years. If Simultaneous conversion of land and livestock, then it is reduced to 2 yrs. Minimum surface area indoors and outdoors and min number of animals per hectare shall be as per standards If land alone has reached organic status and the livestock from a non-organic source is introduced, conversion period is ninety (90) days during the implementation after that six months for the livestock reared for milk purposes.
Feed
85% of dry matter feed must be from organic sources Young animals for natural feed, such as, feeding of maternal milk, milk from other mammal or milk replacer of organic origin. The permitted supplements, feed materials and processing aids shall be as per NPOP standards
Health Care
A program of health management of animals and testing of the herd as per the common diseases of herd Minimum surface area of indoors and outdoors and minmum number of animals per hectare shall be as per standards Preference shall be given for treatment and prevention of diseases herbal/phyto-therapeutic, homeopathic or ayurvedic products when compared to allopathic veterinary drugs or antibiotic
Breeding
Reproduction through natural methods, although artificial insemination may be used. Breeding techniques employing genetic engineering shall not be used.
Manure
Manure application rates shall be at levels that do not contribute to ground and/or surface water contamination.
Who Need to be certified
A handler who wishes to maintain honey bee colonies organically, commonly in hives in purpose- to collect honey, and other products the hive produces or to produce bees for sale to other beekeepers.
Source/Origin
Beehives must be built mainly from natural materials, like unpainted timber Beeswax must be from organic apiaries, Colony infested with anyone of the notifiable disease will not be eligible for certification. The apiaries shall be placed within a radius of 3 kms from the organic farms.
Concersion & Breeding
Conversion period wont apply when bees are grown in wild and in natural conditions. One-year conversion period shall apply to those bee colonies which are reared. During this period, beeswax has to be replaced by wax from organic apiaries. For renovation of apiaries, 10% per year of the nonorganic queen bees & the swarms can be replaced.
Feed
During local dearth periods, the producer shall provide organic sugar feeding or organic pollen supplements or both so as to maintain colony strength. At the end of the production season, hives shall be left with sufficient reserves of honey & pollen to survive the winter
Health Care
Veterinary medicine shall not be used in bee keeping For pest and disease control and for hive disinfection, for protecting frames, hives & combs, permitted substances as per standards shall be used.
Product Extraction
Honey shall be extracted only from sealed combs. The used brood combs are prohibited for honey extraction. At time of harvest, repellent consisting of prohibited substances (chemical synthetic repellents) shall not be used. Beeswax from capping is the purest form of wax and shall be stored separately.
traceability
A diary must be kept for each single colony, including information on general handling, reproduction, veterinary treatments, yields, and special observations. A detailed map of the apiary site and its surrounding must be presented.
Bird Friendly Coffee
ADITI is authorized to conduct inspections and work with Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center to certify farms according to the Bird Friendly criteria. The Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center has developed the only 100% organic and shade-grown coffee certification available-“Bird Friendly.” This seal of approval ensures tropical “agroforests” are preserved and migratory birds find a healthy haven when they travel from your backyard to those faraway farms producing the beans you so enjoy every morning. First, the coffee is certified organic, which means managing a healthy soil base and applying no harmful pesticides to the coffee that could otherwise run off into streams and rivers. This helps reduce the billions of pounds of noxious chemicals injected annually into natural ecosystems that support wildlife and communities. This program goes a step further, requiring a variety of native shade trees throughout the coffee plantation. The combination of foliage cover, tree height and diversity needed to provide suitable migratory bird habitat while maintaining productive farms is very important part of the program. Producers must be recertified every three years to ensure they continue to meet these requirements and can truly call themselves “Bird Friendly.” Resulting in better-tasting coffee—its rich flavor comes from beans maturing slowly in the shade. Farmers protect water sources for their communities and sequester carbon by managing the forest-like system, which also provides a host of other products like cocoa and spices and the premium prices they fetch for Bird Friendly coffee supports their families and local economies.
Integra/Eco products
Integra is a socio-environmental and Fair Trade Program created by IBD Certifications, Brazil, applicable to non-organic products and processing from farming. The Integra certification applies to companies, properties, and groups that intend to set into motion processes for human, social, and environmental development that are stimulated by commercial fair trade relationships. Operations in the certification process are audited for the following criteria: Critical: Related to some of the international conventions and agreements. Minimal: Related to domestic legislation. Progress: Related to the stimulation of local development. In addition to those items already provided by national Law. Certified INTEGRA means stimulating local socio-environmental development and practicing fair trade. Aditi offers inspection services for the INTEGRA Program on behalf of IBD Brazil in India.
C.A.F.E Practices
ADITI is approved third-party organization who verifies suppliers participating in C.A.F.E. Practices. C.A.F.E. Practices ensures that Starbucks is sourcing sustainably grown and processed coffee by evaluating the economic, social and environmental aspects of coffee production. These aspects are measured against a defined set of criteria detailed in the C.A.F.E. Practices Generic and Smallholder Scorecards. According to an impact study performed by Conservation International, C.A.F.E. Practices has significantly benefited more than one million workers employed by participating farms.

A quality assurance initiative that is locally relevant, emphasize the participation of stakeholders, including producers and consumers and operate outside the frame of third-party certification.

A participatory approach, shared vision, transparency, and trust are the basic element of PGS -India.

To ensure entry of individual farm producers and PGS-India certified organic farm produce into organized processing and retail sales, PGS-India provides a system of continued verification of organic integrity for farms (Individual & Group), on-farm and off-farm processing and handling.

Aditi is one the Regional Council (RC Code – 4567) approved by National Executive Committee (PGS -NEC) (File No. 10 (6)/2019/NCOF/Cert-PGS/881-882 dated 27th April 2021 for offering PGS – India certification services as per revised guidelines across all the 29 states and Union Territories.

Link to Operational Guidelines >>> https://pgsindiancof.gov.in/pdf_file/Revised_PGS_India_Guidlines.pdf

Link to PGS India Standards >>> https://pgsindia-ncof.gov.in/pdf_file/PGS_India_Standards.pdf
Steps for Certification
Step 1

Minimum of 5 farmers belonging to the same village or close by villages with continuous territory should farm a group and select the Regional Council for endorsement of application, approval of peer appraisal and issuing the PGS -India Scope certificates under PGS -India standards.

Along with signing the basic applications, farm history sheet, all the members in the group have signed the PGS pledge and group agreement to adhere to the group’s specific vision, participatory approach, and collective responsibility.

The local group shall Prepare necessary field documents with farm history. Each group shall maintain such documents in a group file comprising of application form, signed pledge, signed agreement, farm maps showing locations with GPS coordinates in respect of each member and last one year history on input usage and management practices. Elect Group leader and core team of peer reviewers (minimum 3 in 5 members group). It will be an optimal situation if all members of the group can participate in peer reviews, as this contributes to capacity building and information exchange between farmers and reduces conflicts of interests.

Step 2

The local group that is formed need to upload data on PGS website (https://pgsindia-ncof.gov.in/) for obtaining the have user ID and password and select the concerned Regional Council. Regional Councils can decide on maximum number of farmers per group keeping local situations in mind.

Step 3

The Regional Council shall review the documents received and endorsement the application for further generating the Unique Identity number (Local Group Number) and activate all the farmers.

In case of Individual farmer, he/she can Request the Peer appraisers of nearby group to physically inspect the farm and fill peer appraisal form. Filled peer appraisal farm to be submitted to Regional Council.

Step 4

Peer reviewers will ensure to complete Peer review appraisal form, sign and submit to the group leader. Each farmer is to be appraised by at least a two-member team. Inclusion of consumer’s representative increases the credibility and trust. Upload peer appraisal summary sheet for the entire group on the PGS-India website along with necessary group decision and send signed hard copy to Regional Council through post.

In case of individual farmer, in case if no group is close by then request RC shall do physical inspection and grant certification.

Step 5

The regional Council shall review the peer appraisal details on PGS portal and also participate in few field inspections to compare the peer appraisal summary findings with RCs own physical evaluation report, take into consideration previous non-compliances, complaints and investigation findings if any. The peer appraisal data is approved and PGS -India Scope Certificate is issued with estimated yield by the Regional Council.

Step 6

Uploading of actual yields is necessary to obtain Transaction Certificates (TC) by the local group.

Step 7

On approval of yields by RC, group can sell its produce as PGS certified produce and can generate Transaction Certificate on-line. TCs can be issued for each and every farmer member separately.

Certifications: PARTICIPATORY GUARANTEE SYSTEM (PGS)
Who can be certified?
Individual farm producers

PGS-India provides specific provisions to certify these farms through verification and guarantee from nearby PGS-India groups as per the guiding principles of PGS-India for groups. In exceptional cases where there is no PGS-India group nearby for such guarantee then national institutional structure through Regional Councils can assist such farmers for verification of their compliance to PGS-India guarantee process. But such farmers should make all out efforts to create groups and become part of PGS-India groups as and when possible. Individual farmers in villages where PGS-India groups are existing or are in close-by villages of such PGS-India groups, they shall be treated as part of those groups.

Individual producer registration is an interim arrangement and the producer must initiate efforts to bring in other members from the village community to form the group in due course (maximum 2 years) and transform individual status to group status. In case if an individual farmer is unable to form a group even after 2 years, then Regional Council will attach the farmers with the nearest group.

Group of Farmers

Minimum of 5 farmers can form a group and apply for certification abiding by the as per the general guiding principles of PGS-India involving peer appraisal and decision making by group.

Processor & handlers

On-farm processing and handling by the PGS local group shall form integral part of PGS-India groups and shall be covered as per the general guiding principles of PGS-India involving peer appraisal and decision making by group.

Off-farm processing and handling in stand-alone facilities away from PGS-groups can also be certified by adopting “Conformity assessment and verification” criteria similar to third party certification systems and individual units will be approved for PGS-India organic processing and handling.

Timelines and documentation

For Local Group – Four group meetings, at least two in each season. One training, any time during the year. First training within 6 months of registration. Peer appraisal to be done during crop growth period starting from 15 days of sowing till 15 days before harvest. Uploading of peer appraisal summary sheet till 7 days before harvest date. Uploading of actual yields within 60 days of harvest. If no TCs are issued and stock remains unsold the PGS-India website will delete the stock in auto mode after 12 months from the date of harvest.

LG need to maintain following documents for verification by RC: Application form of each member with last one year’s farm history ii. Copy of PGS-India pledge of each member iii. Copy of agreement with RC iv. Copy of individual peer appraisal sheets for last four seasons (24 months) till the physical inspection by RC v. Attendance and proceeding register for group meetings vi. Attendance registers for trainings vii. Copy of peer appraisal summary sheet (season-wise as submitted to RC)

Grant of Logo and Labelling

The scope certificate issued by the Regional Council will have a unique number, identifying the RC and Local Group along with the farmers along with will also list out the area, crops and products certified during the year as Annexure. The Scope certificates can be used for publicity, trade enquiry or for putting into trade literature and also can use the granted PGS logo.

The packets or containers of PGS certified products along can be printed with PGS logo with UID code. Two separate logos shall be granted for PGS organic and PGS under conversion as follows:

PGS Green and PGS Organic

The Products granted with PGS-Organic certification shall use PGS-India organic logo. Products under in-conversion to organic and granted with PGS-Green certification shall use PGS-Green logo. Such products shall not be claimed as organic and only the indication “Under Conversion to Organic” can be used. Logo of the Government programme (such as PKVY of MOVCDNER etc.) may also be indicated on the label. Logo of the Regional Council, certifying the product shall also be affixed on the product.

No. 38, 1st Floor & 3rd floor, 20th Main Road. First Block, Near Rajajinagar Metro Station Rajajinagar, Bengaluru 560 010.

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