End of U.S.–India Recognition Arrangement

On January 11, 2021, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP) ended its recognition agreement with India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The recognition agreement allowed APEDA to accredit certifiers to provide USDA organic certification in India. This change adapts to the evolution of organic supply chains over time and allows AMS to protect its certified farms and businesses around the world.

Upon ending the recognition agreement, AMS provided an 18-month transition period for Indian organic operations that were certified USDA organic by an APEDA-accredited certifier under the recognition to become certified directly by a USDA-accredited certifier. That transition period ended on July 12, 2022.

Organic products imported to the U.S. from India must be certified to the USDA organic regulations by a USDA-accredited certifying agent. As required under the USDA organic regulations, this applies to all operations in the supply chain. Importers and buyers can verify an operation’s status as “Certified” in the NOP’s Organic Integrity Database.

Organic products imported to the U.S. from India must be accompanied by a NOP Import Certificate NOP 2110-10 issued by a USDA-accredited certifying agent.  USDA-accredited certifiers and operations are also responsible for ensuring compliance to any additional Government of India export requirements, including TraceNet certificates for all organic exports. Certifiers and importers in the U.S. must require all documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance of the full supply chain, including documents such as valid NOP organic certificates, National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) TraceNet certificates, NOP Import Certificates issued by USDA-accredited certifiers, and other supply chain records.

Organic certifiers are responsible for carrying out any directives issued by the NOP. All operations in India, including operations in the supply chain, must comply with all the requirements of the directives in order to continue to export to the United States.

If you source organic products or ingredients from India, visit the Organic Integrity Database to verify your supplier’s status as certified.

For more information, visit the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s India website.