PGS-India builds appeals into every level, and each has a fixed destination and a fixed window. Miss the window, or send it to the wrong body, and the appeal fails. This episode sets out the routes from Chapters 6 and 8 of the guidelines, and how to make an appeal count.
The short version
- Appeal a sanction within 2 weeks of being notified.
- Go one level up: farmer to RC, group to Zonal Council, RC to PGS-NEC.
- No Zonal Council answer in 15 days? A group may go to the Secretariat.
- Appeals are decided within 30 days, or 90 if investigated.
Appealing a Sanction
Every level can appeal a sanction to the level above, within two weeks.
Each level can appeal a sanction imposed by the level above it — and every one of these routes has the same two-week window from notification.
by Local Group"] -->|"2 weeks"| B["Appeal to the RC,
or the whole group if
a committee sanctioned"] C["Local Group sanctioned
by RC"] -->|"2 weeks"| D["Appeal to the
Zonal Council"] D -->|"No reply in
15 days"| E["PGS Secretariat"] F["RC sanctioned by
Secretariat"] -->|"2 weeks"| G["Appeal to PGS-NEC"] G -->|"Not satisfied"| H["PGS-NAC"]
Complaints and Appeals by Local Groups and Farmers
Farmers and groups take grievances to the group, the RC or the Zonal Council, depending on the issue.
| Grievance | Goes to |
|---|---|
| A farmer denied certification by the group's certification committee, or facing an adverse peer appraiser report | The full group body |
| Arbitrary decisions by group members, or a group working against PGS-India norms | The Regional Council and/or Zonal Council |
| Certification denial by the RC, or RC practices raising conflict of interest, impartiality or independence concerns | The Zonal Council |
| An appeal the Zonal Council hasn't addressed in time | The PGS Secretariat |
The group itself is an appeal body. Where a large group has elected a certification committee, the full member body can hear appeals against that committee's decisions — so a farmer's first appeal often doesn't leave the village.
Complaints by the Public
Anyone can complain about a group, an RC, logo misuse or a residue result.
Consumers, trade bodies, retailers, traders or anyone else can complain about certification under PGS-India:
- About a Local Group, individual producer or processor → the concerned Regional Council.
- About a Regional Council → the Zonal Council and the PGS Secretariat.
- About misuse of the PGS-India logo → the Zonal Council or Regional Council.
- About an adverse residue testing report → the Zonal Council or Regional Council.
Complaints and Appeals by Regional Councils
RCs complain to the Secretariat, and appeal to PGS-NEC and then PGS-NAC.
An RC may complain to the PGS Secretariat about Zonal Councils and the monitoring and review process, and appeal to PGS-NEC against disciplinary action taken by the Secretariat. If still not satisfied after the NEC, it may appeal to the PGS-NAC.
How Long They Have to Answer
Appeals are disposed of within 30 days, or 90 where an investigation is needed.
All appeals are to be disposed of within 30 days of receipt. Where an appeal needs investigation, the limit is 90 days. A Zonal Council must decide a Local Group's appeal against certification denial within 30 days, and investigate a complaint and report to the Secretariat within 60 days.
Making the Appeal Count
Note the notification date, go one level up, attach evidence, and record when you sent it.
- Note the date you were notified — the two-week clock runs from there.
- Send it to the body one level above whoever made the decision, not straight to the top.
- Attach the decision or sanction being appealed and your evidence: appraisal sheets, meeting registers, correspondence.
- Record when you sent it. If a Zonal Council hasn't replied in 15 days, that record is what lets a Local Group escalate to the Secretariat.
What the sanctions themselves are, and what triggers each one, is covered in the sanctions episode. The full chain of command is in Who Runs PGS-India.
Check yourself
Tap an answer to see whether you are right, and why.
How long does a Local Group have to appeal an RC's sanction?
- 2 weeks
- 30 days
- 90 days
The appeal goes to the Zonal Council.
Where does an RC appeal a Secretariat sanction?
- The Zonal Council
- PGS-NEC, then PGS-NAC
- The High Court first
Each level appeals one level up.
Remember these things
- Two weeks to appeal.
- One level up.
- Keep proof of sending.
- 30 days to decide, 90 with investigation.
An appeal sent on time, to the right body, with evidence, is the one that is heard. KrushiFlow validates these fields and submits farmer records to the portal in bulk.