Organic Certification

Organic farming is the oldest form of agriculture and has been in practice from the prehistoric period. The organic agriculture is based on sustainable approach and used own-farm inputs. Though, during the Industrial revolution, introduction of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture increase the crop production. But extensively use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides having an impact on agriculture system and had serious side effects on human body due to residual traces found in agriculture produce.

The concept of organic farming regained its importance in the 1905 to 1924. The British botanist Sir Albert Howard, often referred to as the 'father of Modern Organic Agriculture', works as an agricultural adviser in Pusa, Bengal, where he documents traditional Indian farming practices, and came to regard them as superior to his conventional agriculture science.

In an earlier phase of organic movement, such type of certification was not necessary for selling of organic produce. When farmers would sell their produce directly at the farmers market or consumers directly buy from a farmer’s field.

As organics have grown in popularity, more and more consumers are purchasing organic food and they want some type of assurance related to organic practices followed by farmers as well as quality of produce. As such, consumers and buyer must rely on third-party regulatory certification. After seeking the demand of organic produce many private organizations and countries develop their own standards of organic certification. The major organic certification standards are NOP-USDA, EEC834/2007 – European Commission, NPOP – India, JAS – Japan etc.