Organic food stakeholders oppose FSSAI's proposed regulatory changes, warn against undermining small farmers

Over 130 signatories representing India’s organic farming community have submitted a strongly worded letter to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), objecting to key proposals discussed at a hybrid meeting held by the authority on May 7, 2025. The meeting, convened to review the Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations 2017, reportedly considered drastic amendments that stakeholders claim will harm small producers and the broader movement for agroecological food systems.

The letter, coordinated by the Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA-Kisan Swaraj), expresses alarm over three critical proposals allegedly placed on the table: the removal of exemptions granted to small original organic producers and producer organisations with turnovers below ₹12 lakh per annum; the elimination of exemptions for aggregators and intermediaries selling directly to consumers with turnover below ₹50 lakh; and the deletion of Regulation 4(1)(iii), which currently allows for notification of additional standards and systems beyond NPOP and PGS-India.

Stakeholders accuse FSSAI of overstepping its mandate, asserting that the authority is attempting to regulate farming operations—something explicitly excluded under Section 18(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. “Organic certification is a quality assurance mechanism for farming practices, not a food safety issue per se,” the letter states, emphasizing that fake organic products, while potentially misleading, are not inherently unsafe compared to conventional food grown with agrochemicals.

The signatories argue that the informal, uncertified organic sector remains a major part of India’s organic market and plays a critical role in advancing food safety and sustainability. They cite APEDA’s 2023 data that pegs India’s organic market at ₹16,800 crore, with nearly ₹6,340 crore worth of organic produce sold as conventional due to lack of certification infrastructure. “Instead of strengthening and expanding quality assurance systems, FSSAI’s proposals will further choke the organic movement,” the letter warns.

Data from certification regimes are also presented to underscore the crisis in access and effectiveness. The number of active Regional Councils under PGS-India has dropped dramatically from 371 in 2018 to just 77 today, with only 2.1 lakh farmers certified. Under NPOP, only 13.6 lakh farmers—mainly through group certification—are covered, out of an estimated 1.14 crore organic practitioners in India. The letter highlights serious gaps in both regimes and criticizes FSSAI for failing to recognize alternative certification systems like PGS-OC or CETARA.

The stakeholders insist that the proposed changes will disproportionately affect small food business operators, most of whom shifted to organic farming based on government support and public interest. They urge FSSAI to preserve current exemptions, issue a fresh advisory reiterating the enabling nature of the regulations, and notify multiple quality assurance systems to serve diverse farmer needs without confusing consumers.

The letter was signed by Sreedevi Lakshmikutty of ASHA-Kisan Swaraj and endorsed by over 130 organisations and individuals. A copy has also been sent to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

ASHA-Kisan Swaraj has been a leading voice in promoting sustainable agriculture and has played a key role in shaping India’s organic food policies. The group warns that the proposed FSSAI amendments, if adopted, could derail years of progress toward safer, more ecologically responsible farming.

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