INDOCERT

What INDOCERT does

INDOCERT is a nonprofit membership organization incorporated in October 2001 in Aluva, Kerala, and is positioned as India's first indigenous organic certification body. It provides third-party inspection, auditing, and certification services across a broad stack of international organic and sustainability standards, including India's NPOP, USDA NOP (via collaboration with bio-inspecta Switzerland), EU Regulation 2018/848, the Canada Organic Regime, JAS, GB Recognition (DEFRA UK), Naturland, BioSuisse, Rainforest Alliance, trustea, 4C, FSA, HORTICERT, UEBT, WCSF, and Castor SuCCESS. The company operates a web-based traceability platform (Tracenet) and an Internal Control System (ICS) for grower group certification, which together support supply chain traceability and group-level compliance management.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring certification fees, including annual scope certificates, per-transaction transaction certificates, and program-specific annual renewals, supplemented by professional services revenue from HACCP training (Level 3) and input approval evaluation. Go-to-market is sales-led and consultative: clients engage through inquiry, application review, on-site audit/inspection, and certification issuance, supported by regional representatives in North America, Australia/New Zealand, and Europe, plus a domestic Indian operation from Kerala. The customer base spans primary producers (individual farmers and grower groups), processors, traders, exporters, retailers, and a visible cohort of mid-to-large enterprise clients in tea, coffee, spices, natural ingredients, and plantations across multiple geographies.

INDOCERT is governed by a Board of Trustees and led by Executive Director/Secretary Mathew Sebastian, with no parent company, external funding rounds, or M&A activity disclosed. Through 2024 the organization materially expanded its accreditation footprint (EU Commission listing, DEFRA UK, FSA/ASI, HORTICERT, UEBT), launched JAS certification in 2025, expanded NPOP scope to processors and traders after the lifting of NAB sanctions, and opened a new office facility in Aluva — signaling a sustained build-out of international certification capability rather than a step-change scaling event.

Name

INDOCERT

Legal name

INDOCERT

Website

https://indocert.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

INDOCERT is India's first indigenous organic certification body, providing inspection, auditing, and certification services across NPOP, USDA NOP, EU, COR, JAS, and multiple sustainability standards to farmers, processors, traders, and exporters worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic and Sustainability Certification Services

akta.pro primary industry

Organic Certification Services (AFALAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accredited Certification Bodies (CBs) – ISO 22000/FSSC 22000/BRCGS/SQF (AFALACAA), Food Safety & Quality Scheme Certifications (GFSI Programs) (AFALAMAI), Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing Certification Services (AFALAMAD), Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD)

Keywords

• Organic certification services
• Sustainability certification
• Inspection and auditing
• Farm certification bodies
• HACCP training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ernakulam

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Services: INDOCERT generates revenue through certification fees including scope certificates (valid for one year), transaction certificates for each sale, and annual renewal fees for maintaining certification status across various organic and sustainability standards.
2. HACCP Training Programs: Revenue from structured training programs including the HACCP Level 3 course with video lessons, chapter-wise assessments, and final certification assessment.
3. Input Approval Services: Evaluation and approval services for organic agricultural inputs including fertilizers, bio-fertilizers, requiring product documentation review and production unit inspection.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

INDOCERT is India's first indigenous organic certification body, providing third-party inspection, auditing, and certification services for organic and sustainable agricultural production across multiple international standards, including NPOP, USDA NOP, EU Regulation 2018/848, Canada Organic Regime, JAS, GB Recognition, Rainforest Alliance, trustea, 4C, Naturland, BioSuisse, FSA, Horticert, UEBT, WCSF, and Castor SuCCESS. Its certified operators range from individual farmers and grower groups to processors, traders, and exporters requiring scope certificates, transaction certificates, and annual renewals. The company also delivers HACCP Level 3 training and Input Approval evaluation services for organic agricultural inputs.

Product overview

INDOCERT is India's first indigenous organic certification body, incorporated in October 2001 as a nonprofit membership organization. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of certification services organized into two main categories: Organic Certifications (including NPOP, Canada Organic Regime, JAS, EU Compliance, GB Recognition Programmes, USDA NOP, Naturland, and BioSuisse) and Sustainability Certifications (including Rainforest Alliance, Horticert, Farm Sustainability Assessment, trustea, 4C, WCSF, Castor SuCCESS, and UEBT). Additionally, INDOCERT provides HACCP Training Level 3 and Input Approval services. The company operates across multiple scopes including Crop Production, Wild Collection, and Processing certification. All certification services follow a standardized process of application review, audit/inspection, and certification, serving operators including primary producers, processors, traders, exporters, and retailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) Certification India's national organic certification standard managed by APEDA under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, providing standards for organic production and accreditation of certification bodies; offered by INDOCERT to organic operators in India. Expanded in October 2024 to welcome both Processors and Traders following the lifting of sanctions previously imposed by APEDA.
• USDA NOP Certification US organic regulation certification issued by USDA; INDOCERT conducts NOP inspections in collaboration with bio-inspecta Switzerland. Scope includes Crop Production, ICS, Handling (Processing/Trade), and Wild Collection for US market access.
• EU Compliance Certification Certification services aligned with EU compliance standards under Regulation (EU) 2018/848. Accredited to certify Category C (Aquaculture), D (Processed Food Products), E (Feed Products), and G (Others) in India, as well as Category A in Sri Lanka.
• Canada Organic Regime (COR) Certification Accredited by Canadian Food Inspection Agency on recommendation of IOAS to certify agricultural products, packaging and labelling activities as organic in accordance with requirements set out in Part 13 of the Safe Foods for Canadians Regulations.
• Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) Certification Organic certification standard enforced in Japan for operators exporting organic products to Japan and using the JAS logo; INDOCERT holds accreditation for JAS scopes including Organic Products of Plant Origin, Organic Processed Foods and Organic Feed in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Ghana.
• GB Recognition Programmes Recognised by DEFRA (UK) to certify organic products according to INDOCERT organic standards for Great Britain; covers Category A (Unprocessed plant products), Category D (Processed agricultural products for food), and Category E (Processed agricultural products for feed).
• Naturland Certification Globally recognized certification representing high standards in organic agriculture, sustainable practices, and social responsibility; INDOCERT is qualified to carry out Naturland inspections.
• BioSuisse Certification INDOCERT is approved by International Certification Bio Suisse AG (ICB AG) to carry out Biosuisse organic inspections in areas of Agricultural Production, Processing, Trade, Wild Collection, Aquaculture and Beekeeping.
• Rainforest Alliance Certification Certification for farms, groups, and factories complying with the 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard, including Farm Requirements and Supply Chain Requirements, with a Regenerative Agriculture Standard Add-on available for the coffee sector.
• Horticert Certification Internationally recognized certification system ensuring ecological, social, and economic sustainability throughout the entire supply chain of peat substitutes used in potting soils and substrates; covers coir pith, coconut-based products, green compost, wood fibers, and other sustainable alternatives.
• Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) Verification SAI Platform-developed sustainability verification tool providing farms and agri-businesses with a practical toolset to assess, improve, and verify on-farm sustainability performance; applicable to all crops and farm sizes; INDOCERT offers FSA verification for stand-alone farms and Farm Management Groups.
• trustea Certification trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation accredited certification evaluating social, economic, agronomic and environmental performance of Indian tea estates, smallholders and Bought Leaf Factories; covers soil and water conservation, traceability, food safety, worker rights, biodiversity and environment management.
• 4C Certification Certification confirming that a 4C System User meets the rigorous standards of the 4C Code of Conduct; valid for three years with regular audits; covers any type of production facility including small-scale farmers, cooperatives, mills, and exporters.
• World Castor Sustainability Forum (WCSF) Certification Promotes sustainable castor production by ensuring adherence to environmental, social, and economic best practices; enhances traceability, responsible sourcing, and fair labor practices in the castor supply chain.
• Castor SuCCESS Certification Sustainable Castor Caring for Environmental & Social Standards code covering a set of environmental and social criteria which farmers must comply with to produce certified sustainable castor; INDOCERT is one of the empanelled certification bodies to conduct SuCCESS farming and supply chain audits.
• Union for Ethical Bio Trade (UEBT) Certification Non-profit association promoting sourcing with respect; covers social, environmental and economic issues related to sourcing of ingredients from biodiversity; INDOCERT is accredited to provide certification according to UEBT ingredient certification and UEBT/Rainforest Alliance Herbs & Spices Programme.
• HACCP Training Level 3 Structured training program designed in alignment with International HACCP Alliance (IHA) requirements and Codex Alimentarius principles; provides comprehensive understanding of prerequisite programs, hazard analysis, and systematic application of seven HACCP principles within food operations; includes 35 video lessons, 15 chapter-wise assessments, and final certification assessment.
• Input Approval Service Evaluation of inputs for organic agriculture including organic fertilizers (Vermicompost, Press mud), bio-fertilizers (Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum, Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria), and other agricultural inputs; ensures inputs comply with NPOP Annex 1, 2, and 3 requirements.
• Crop Production Certification Organic crop production certification services providing reliable and cost-effective certification for individual farms and grower groups; includes biodiversity promotion, disease resistant varieties, conversion periods, soil and water conservation.
• Wild Collection Certification Certification for wild products marketed as organic, derived from self-sustainable growing environments with clearly defined collection areas that must not have been treated with non-allowed inputs.
• Processing Certification Certification for the modification of raw agricultural products when organic products need to be processed and labeled for marketing as organic; includes handling activities such as selling, processing or packaging agricultural products.

Quantifiable outcome

• 926 farmers currently under the Millet Village Project organic certification process
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil)minorOthersINDOCERT is a proud member of RSPO, demonstrating commitment to sustainable palm oil standards and participation in the global sustainable palm oil initiative.
• IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements)coreOthersINDOCERT is a member of IFOAM, the leading global organization for organic agriculture movements, supporting and promoting organic farming worldwide.
• EOCC (European Organic Control College)coreTechnology or IntegrationINDOCERT is a member of EOCC, contributing to the development and harmonization of organic certification standards in Europe.
• IOIA (International Organic Accreditation Forum)coreTechnology or IntegrationINDOCERT is a member of IOIA, the international forum for organic accreditation bodies, supporting harmonization of organic certification standards globally.
• UPASI (United Plantations Association of South India)minorOthersINDOCERT is a member of UPASI, representing plantations in South India, facilitating collaboration with the plantation industry sector.
• bio-inspecta SwitzerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINDOCERT conducts NOP (National Organic Program) inspections in collaboration with bio-inspecta Switzerland for certification scope including Crop Production, ICS, Handling, and Wild Collection for US market access.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BCS Öko-Garantie: BCS is a Germany-based organic certification body accredited to certify against EU, NOP, JAS, and other standards with significant operations in Asia. It is a direct peer of INDOCERT, especially for Indian organic producers targeting EU/US/Japan export markets.
• ECOCERT: ECOCERT is a France-based global organic and sustainability certification body offering NPOP, EU, NOP, and sustainability certifications worldwide. It is the closest direct competitor to INDOCERT, competing for the same Indian and international organic operators and overlapping on scheme coverage.
• Quality Assurance International (QAI): QAI is a US-based organic certification body owned by NSF International, offering NOP, Canada Organic, and other certifications globally. It is a direct peer of INDOCERT for North American and international organic certification services.
• Control Union: Control Union is a Netherlands-headquartered global certification body with deep presence in agricultural commodity certifications (organic, textile, food). It is a direct peer to INDOCERT, particularly competing in Indian cotton, tea, and sustainability scheme certifications.
• OneCert International: OneCert is a US-based organic certification body accredited for NOP and other standards, with growing presence in Asia. It is a direct peer of INDOCERT, particularly competing on USDA NOP inspections conducted in collaboration with bio-inspecta.
• bio-inspecta: bio-inspecta is a Switzerland-based organic inspection and certification body. INDOCERT collaborates with bio-inspecta for USDA NOP inspections, making it both a partner and a direct peer in the NOP inspection market.
• CERES Certification of Environmental Standards: CERES is a Germany-based certification body offering organic (EU, NOP, JAS), sustainability, and fair-trade certifications globally. It is a direct competitor to INDOCERT, particularly for Indian operators seeking EU/NOP-compliant organic certification.
• Lacon GmbH: Lacon is a Germany-based organic certification body offering EU, NOP, and other organic certifications with operations in multiple countries. It is a direct peer of INDOCERT competing for international organic operator certifications.

Others

• Rainforest Alliance: Rainforest Alliance is the standard owner for the Sustainable Agriculture Standard that INDOCERT is approved to certify against. While not a direct certifier competitor, it is an ecosystem participant whose scheme approval enables INDOCERT's sustainability revenue.

Regional players

• NASAA Organic (Australian Organic): NASAA Organic is an Australia-based organic certification body serving primarily the Australian and Asia-Pacific markets. It is a regional peer to INDOCERT, with overlapping geographies in Oceania and similar certification scheme offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvvc6fMdGMNXfERQmKjcXFQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/indocert2020
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/indocert
• Instagraminstagram.com/indocert_india
• Xx.com/indocert

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about INDOCERT