Is NPOP certification mandatory for organic exports?

Yes — under Paragraph 7 of FTP 2023-28, organic products exported from India must be certified under NPOP. The TraceNet/TRACE portal validates the certificate at customs.

What is the conversion period under NPOP?

The conversion period is minimum 18 months for annual crops and 36 months for perennial crops. During conversion, the produce cannot be sold as "organic". A conversion-period certificate is issued.

What is the difference between NPOP and PGS-India?

NPOP is third-party certification (accredited CB issues certificate) under APEDA — required for exports. PGS-India is a participatory guarantee system under NCOF/Ministry of Agriculture — appropriate for domestic organic trade among small farmers.

Who issues the Scope Certificate for each shipment?

The accredited CB issues the Scope Certificate (per-shipment) after verifying that the consignment is genuinely organic. The SC is uploaded on the APEDA TRACE portal for export validation.

Is NPOP recognised by EU and USA?

NPOP is recognised as equivalent to EU Organic (Regulation 2018/848) under the India-EU equivalence agreement. For USA, separate USDA NOP certification is generally required — NPOP equivalence is limited.

What is the cost of NPOP certification?

The annual cost is typically ₹40,000–₹1,50,000 per operator depending on farm size and complexity, paid to the accredited CB. Per-shipment Scope Certificate costs ₹1,000–₹3,000.

Can a group of small farmers obtain NPOP certification?

Yes — under Group Certification (Internal Control System — ICS), a group of small farmers can be certified together. The ICS manager inspects each member; the CB inspects the ICS system.

What happens if prohibited substances are detected during surveillance?

The CB suspends certification; produce from the affected plot cannot be sold as organic. The farm may need to re-enter the conversion period (another 18-36 months).

Editor's pickLicenses & Reg

Npop Certification

NPOP Certification made simple. Get clear guidance on eligibility, forms, fees and turnaround time, plus expert filing support from I-Pro Solutions's compliance.

Statutory basis: **Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992** — Section 5 (export policy).

Turnaround

7–14 Working Days

₹

Starts from

₹16,499

Money-back accuracy

Guaranteed

Total starting from

₹16,499

Professional + estimated government fee

Professional fee₹11,499 starts with

Government fee (est.)₹5,000 - ₹25,000

Turnaround7–14 Working Days

Money-back accuracy. CA/CS specialist. Tracked client portal.

CONFIRMEDverified 25 Aug 2026

Dedicated specialist

CA-led, named point of contact

Tracked client portal

Real-time status, end-to-end

Money-back accuracy

Refile-free if our error

Flat-fee pricing

No hidden charges, ever

About this service

Npop Certification is a key regulatory filing administered by APEDA is the nodal agency for NPOP under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. APEDA's NPOP Division accredits **Certification Bodies (CBs)** under ISO/IEC 17065:2012 (with NPOP as the accreditation scheme operator). Individual farmers/processors obtain organic certification through accredited CBs (Lacon, Ecocert, Control Union, IMO, SGS, OneCert, Aditi Organic, etc.) — not directly from APEDA/NPOP. NPOP is recognised as equivalent to EU Organic Regulation (EU Reg 2018/848 — equivalence agreement in operation, pending renegotiation), USDA NOP (via USDA recognition), and Swiss Organic Ordinance.. Filing is executed via - **Application for Organic Certification** (Form NPOP-1) — submitted by producer/processor to an accredited CB. under **Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992** — Section 5 (export policy); **Foreign Trade (Regulation) Rules, 1993**. The NPOP is operated under the **Foreign Trade Policy** — Paragraph 7 of FTP 2023-28 (Export of Organic Products). The **National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)** — 8th Edition, May 2023 — notified by APEDA. Operational under **APEDA Act 1985 — Section 11(2)(a)** (functions of APEDA include "development of organic agriculture"). Participatory Guarantee System for India (PGS-India) — separate programme under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (PGS-India operated by NCOF — National Centre of Organic Farming).. Our specialist-led team ensures full compliance with statutory documentation, eligibility verification, and expedited government approval.

Eligibility & thresholds

Minimum

Valid identity & address proof of applicant
Active PAN & registered business premises
Authorized representative authorization

Maximum

Compliant under applicable regulatory laws
No pending statutory disqualifications
Valid across authorized operational jurisdictions

Statutory floor

Pre-filing statutory documentation verification
Official statutory fee schedule as per authority
Mandatory periodic compliance filings post-approval

What's included

Everything in one transparent fee — no add-ons, no surprises.

Investor-Centric AOA Drafting

If you plan to raise institutional funding, standard Articles of Association (AOA) will not suffice. Venture capitalists demand specific clauses regarding right of first refusal (ROFR), tag-along/drag-along rights, and anti-dilution provisions. Our elite corporate lawyers draft sophisticated AOAs that anticipate future funding rounds, preventing costly and time-consuming structural overhauls when you secure term sheets.

Complex Multi-Founder Structuring

Co-founder disputes are the leading cause of early-stage startup failure. We don't just register your company; we advise on optimal equity splits, director roles, and authorized capital distribution. We provide templates for Co-Founder Agreements and vesting schedules, ensuring that the foundational relationship between partners is legally documented and aligned for long-term stability.

Rapid SPICe+ Processing Engine

Time is of the essence for startups. We utilize an advanced compliance engine that preemptively validates all data entered into the SPICe+ (INC-32) form. By cross-referencing PAN databases, checking DIN eligibility, and formatting registered office proofs perfectly, we eliminate typographical errors that typically cause frustrating ROC resubmission delays, ensuring first-pass approval.

Strategic Authorized Capital Advisory

Determining your initial Authorized Share Capital is a delicate balance. Set it too low, and you'll immediately face high fees to increase it during your first seed round. Set it too high, and you pay unnecessary upfront government stamp duty. We analyze your 12-to-18-month funding roadmap to recommend the exact optimal capital structure that minimizes immediate costs while accommodating your immediate growth.

ESOP Implementation Framework

Attracting top-tier talent in the startup ecosystem often requires offering Employee Stock Ownership Plans. A Private Limited Company is the only structure that efficiently supports this. As part of our premium advisory, we structure your initial cap table to accommodate a future ESOP pool seamlessly, ensuring you are ready to incentivize your founding team.

Comprehensive Post-Incorporation Toolkit

Receiving the Certificate of Incorporation is just the starting line. Within the first 30 to 180 days, you must open a bank account, appoint a statutory auditor (ADT-1), and file the Commencement of Business (INC-20A). We provide a complete post-incorporation execution service, handling these mandatory compliance milestones so you can focus entirely on product development and sales.

Government Fee Breakdown

Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. All figures verified as of 25 August 2026.

Fee Component	Amount (₹)	Basis / Authority
Npop Certification Statutory Fee	₹5,000 - ₹25,000	Official government fee schedule (separate from professional fee)Statutory Authority
Total Government Fee	₹5,000 - ₹25,000	(for default assumptions stated below)

Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. Verified 25 August 2026.

Required documents

Each list identifies exactly what to provide — and what you do not need to submit. Use the accordions to expand.

›Entity PAN + GSTIN. — Entity PAN + GSTIN.
›Constitution document. — Constitution document.
›Land records (for farmer) — khatian/patta, mutation, soil test report. — Land records (for farmer) — khatian/patta, mutation, soil test report.
›Land history — last 3 years' land use (crops, inputs). — Land history — last 3 years' land use (crops, inputs).
›Organic System Plan (Form NPOP-1) — farm map, crop rotation, input management, buffer zone. — Organic System Plan (Form NPOP-1) — farm map, crop rotation, input management, buffer zone.
›Affidavit of non-use of prohibited substances for last 3 years. — Affidavit of non-use of prohibited substances for last 3 years.
›Risk assessment — buffer zones, contamination risks, water source. — Risk assessment — buffer zones, contamination risks, water source.
›List of inputs used (must be NPOP-approved). — List of inputs used (must be NPOP-approved).
›For processors — process flow, ingredient list (organic + non-organic), packaging materials. — For processors — process flow, ingredient list (organic + non-organic), packaging materials.
›For group certification — Internal Control System (ICS) manual + ICS manager credentials. — For group certification — Internal Control System (ICS) manual + ICS manager credentials.

How it works

Each step is labelled with who performs it — Customer, I-Pro, or the Regulator. Form names are linked to the official portal.

1
Customer⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 1: **I-Pro / Customer**
**I-Pro / Customer**: Select accredited CB (Lacon, Ecocert, Control Union, etc.); sign certification agreement.
2
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 2: **Customer / CB**
**Customer / CB**: Submit Organic System Plan (Form NPOP-1) + all documents.
3
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 3: **CB**
**CB**: Conducts **conversion period** — minimum **18 months** for annual crops; **36 months** for perennial crops before first organic harvest. (Pre-existing organic land can be certified immediately on verification.)
4
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 4: **CB**
**CB**: Conducts first on-site inspection (full farm inspection).
5
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 5: **CB**
**CB**: Issues **Conversion Period Certificate** (1st year) → then **Organic Certificate** after conversion period.
6
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 6: **CB**
**CB**: Annual surveillance inspection — verify continuing compliance.
7
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 7: **Customer / I-Pro**
**Customer / I-Pro**: For export shipment, apply for **Scope Certificate (SC)** on NPOP/TRACE portal — issued by CB.
8
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 8: **CB**
**CB**: Issues SC + Transaction Certificate (TC) per consignment.
9
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 9: **Customer**
**Customer**: Use SC/TC at port; upload on APEDA TRACE portal for export validation.
10
Regulator⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 10: **I-Pro**
**I-Pro**: Counsel on conversion period compliance, input use, and import-country-specific additional requirements.

Post-registration compliance

What to file next. I-Pro handles these as part of the annual compliance package.

Filing	Form	Deadline
Commencement of Business (Form INC-20A) Penalty: ₹50,000 for company + ₹1,000/day for directors (max ₹1 Lakh)	`One-time mandatory`	Within 180 days of incorporation after bank capital deposit
First Auditor Appointment (Form ADT-1) Penalty: Statutory non-compliance; prosecution of defaulting officers	`5-year tenure`	Within 30 days of incorporation by Board of Directors
Annual Financial Statements (Form AOC-4) Penalty: ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling	`Annual`	Within 30 days of AGM (by 29 October annually)
Annual Return (Form MGT-7) Penalty: ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling	`Annual`	Within 60 days of AGM (by 29 November annually)
Director KYC Verification (DIR-3 KYC) Penalty: ₹5,000 statutory fee per DIN + deactivation	`Annual`	Every designated partner / director holding active DIN by 30 September

Penalties for non-compliance

Statutory penalties under governing regulatory provisions. Avoid non-compliance delays.

Non-compliance	Provision	Penalty
Commencement of Business (Form INC-20A)	One-time mandatory	₹50,000 for company + ₹1,000/day for directors (max ₹1 Lakh)
First Auditor Appointment (Form ADT-1)	5-year tenure	Statutory non-compliance; prosecution of defaulting officers
Annual Financial Statements (Form AOC-4)	Annual	₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling
Annual Return (Form MGT-7)	Annual	₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling
Director KYC Verification (DIR-3 KYC)	Annual	₹5,000 statutory fee per DIN + deactivation

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoidable filing errors that cause delays or rejection. Each can be resolved before submission.

1
Mismatched applicant legal name or identity details across KYC proofs
Why: Government verification APIs cross-check with UIDAI and MCA databases and automatically flag discrepancies in spelling or dates.
Fix: Our specialists pre-validate your documents against official government databases before portal filing.
2
Submitting outdated utility bills or non-notarized commercial leases
Why: Premises proofs older than 60 days or defective landlord NOCs trigger statutory scrutiny queries and multi-week processing delays.
Fix: We verify recent billing dates and provide pre-formatted, legally vetted landlord NOC and lease formats.
3
Selecting incorrect classification, turnover slab, or statutory activity code
Why: Applications filed under inappropriate classifications attract show-cause notices and potential rejection without statutory fee refund.
Fix: We conduct a statutory scope assessment to align your application with the exact regulatory requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about this service.

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