Organic Farming Certification System

PGS-India (Participatory Guarantee System of India) is 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.

PGS India system is based on participatory approach, a shared vision, transparency and trust. In addition it gives PGS movement a National recognition and institutional structure.

Participation:

Participation is an essential and dynamic part of PGS. Participation embodies the principle of collective responsibility for ensuring the organic integrity of the PGS. This collective responsibility is reflected through:

• Shared ownership of the PGS
• Stakeholder engagement in the development and operation process
• Understanding of how the system works and
• Direct communication between producers and consumers and other stakeholders

Vision:

Collective responsibility for implementation and decision making is driven by common shared vision. All the key stakeholders (producers, facilitating agencies, NGOs, social organizations, State Governments and state agencies) support the guiding principles and goals, PGS is striving to achieve and this is achieved initially through their participation and support in the design and then by joining it. This may include commitment in writing through signing an application and pledge that includes the vision.

Transparency:

Transparency is created by having all stakeholders, including producers and consumers, aware of exactly how the guarantee system works to include the standards, the organic guarantee process (norms) with clearly defined and documented systems and how decisions are made.

National Centre of Organic Farming will be the Secretariat of the PGS programme with Director NCOF as the Executive authority.

Key role and responsibilities of the Secretariat will be as follows:

• All executive and secretarial responsibilities related to execution of the programme, NAC meetings, implementation of the decisions of NAC, matters to be put up to NAC and coordination with NAC members
• Advise NAC on all technical and implementation issues
• Capacity building, education, training and outreach activities for Zonal and Regional councils.
• Training of local group leaders through RCOFs in collaboration with Zonal Council and Regional Councils.
• Surveillance and monitoring of Zonal and Regional Councils
• PGS India Website design, hosting and maintenance
• Custodian of entire PGS India database
• Receipt and processing of applications for authorization of NAC as Zonal/Regional Councils
• Facilitate election of members from RCs for nomination to PGS-NAC.
• Facilitate and maintain positive relationship with controllers of Third party certification system to ensure the compatibility of PGS programme with NPOP.
• Coordinate and liaise with different State Governments for promotion and popularization of PGS programme.
• Surveillance of PGS products through residue testing including collection of PGS samples, getting those samples tested for residue analysis and hosting of residue analysis results on PGS website.
• Appellate authority for local groups against the actions and decisions of Regional Councils/Zonal councils and for Regional Councils against the action of Zonal council.
• Literature development, publicity, technology dissemination and awareness creation through print and electronic media.

Role and Responsibilities of Zonal Council:

• Receipt, processing and authenticity verification of application for authorization as Regional Council. On being found suitable forwarding of applications to PGS secretariat for approval of PGS-NAC.
• Provide up-dated documents, policies, literature and other technical input to RCs for further information of local groups.
• Coordinate Regional Council Training workshops
• Coordinate national level education and outreach activities in collaboration with PGS Secretariat.
• Surveillance and monitoring on the functioning of Regional councils.
• Complaint redressal of farmers and local groups against the functioning and actions of Regional councils
• Appellate authority on complaints of certificate denial by RC or sanctions imposed by RC on local groups
• Appellate authority on complaints of traders/ retailers/ consumers on the quality/ organic integrity of PGS products of particular group and action taken by RC or inaction of RC.
• Collaborate PGS Secretariat in collection of PGS certified samples for residue analysis

Role and responsibility of Regional Council:

• Training and support to existing and new local groups in procedures and paper work necessary for each farmer’s organic guarantee.
• Translate and print PGS paper work in local language
• Register local groups and assist local groups for data uploading.
• Confirms that the Local Group Summary Worksheet listing all the farms that are to be Certified Organic is complete and was conscientiously maintained by the group
• Can NOT pick and choose individual farmers to certify, only approve/confirms the collective decision of the Local Group as a whole and organic integrity of the system adopted by the local group.
• Activate and/or issue certification UID number to each approved Local Group (received from the instant UID Pool maintained on PGS Website).
• Print and distribute Scope Certificates to individual farmer.
• Participate in sampling of Local Group farm appraisals.
• Provide Local Groups with guidelines for “Non‐compliance Sanctions” .
• To ensure complete transparency of the certification process.
• To facilitate Mutual Recognition and Support for the various groups (and individual farmers) on a national level by allowing Regional Councils to audit the Organic Guarantee of certified farms in other Regional Councils.
• To quickly build trust and credibility in the system as a whole ensure access to members of the public and media.

Local Group (LG):

Local group is the main functional and decision making body under Participatory Guarantee System. It is a local group of farmers that live in the same village or close by villages and interact regularly with each other

Download, Read & Share: Organic Farming Booklet, Operational Manual, Portal User Manual, Operational Manual for Domestic Organic Certification, Operational Manual for Regional Council, Local Group Operational Manual etc.

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