PGS-India certification is a group decision that the Regional Council endorses, not an inspection by an outside certifier. Chapter 5 of the guidelines sets out the steps. This episode covers the sequence, the peer appraisal rules, how each farmer's status is decided, what the RC does, and the records to keep.
The short version
- At least 3 peer appraisers per inspection, and no reciprocal reviews.
- Every farm appraised at least once each season.
- The RC decides within 30 days, or the group's decision is auto-approved.
- PGS-Green cannot last beyond 3 years (annual crops) or 4 years (plantations).
The Full Sequence
Form the group, register, appraise each season, decide, upload, RC approval, scope certificate, yields and TCs.
sign pledges"] --> B["RC grants
registration"] B --> C["Peer appraisal
every season"] C --> D["Group decides
each farmer's status"] D --> E["Upload summary sheet
to RC"] E --> F["RC approves
within 30 days"] F --> G["Scope certificate"] G --> H["Upload actual yields"] H --> I["RC approves yields
TCs issued"]
Peer Appraisal Rules
At least three appraisers per inspection, one of them able to fill the forms; no reciprocal reviews.
- Each peer appraisal team should have a minimum of 3 peer appraisers, at least one of whom is literate and well versed in filling the appraisal forms.
- Reciprocal review between two farms is not allowed — if A reviews B, B does not review A.
- Every farm must be reviewed at least once in each season.
- Peer reviewers from other groups, consumer or trader representatives, or a state agriculture officer may join as invited members — not mandatory, but it adds credibility.
PGS-Green or PGS-Organic?
PGS-Organic after full conversion without major non-compliance; prohibited substances reset status to zero.
| Situation | Status |
|---|---|
| Full conversion period completed, no major or serious non-compliance | PGS-Organic |
| Still in conversion, or one or more major non-compliances | PGS-Green |
| Major non-compliance, other than prohibited substances | PGS-Organic may be downgraded to PGS-Green for one or two seasons; continued default can mean exclusion |
| Use of prohibited substances — chemical fertilisers, pesticides, hormones | Serious non-compliance: status reset to zero; the member is excluded or re-registered and must serve the full conversion period |
| Still unable to reach PGS-Organic after 3 years (annual crops) or 4 years (plantation/permanent crops) | Sanctioned and excluded from the group |
Only crops sown after the RC approves the group's registration qualify for PGS-Green. Counting crop seasons from before that date is itself a major non-compliance — and the group's certification status is downgraded back to registration.
What the Regional Council Does — and Can't Do
The RC approves or rejects the group's decision as a whole, within 30 days.
On receiving the summary sheet, the RC checks it for completeness, compares it with its own physical evaluation, and weighs past non-compliances, complaints, residue results and advisory follow-up. It then approves, returns or rejects the group's decision.
An RC cannot pick and choose individual farmers. It approves or rejects the group's decision as a whole. If it has a concern about one farmer — a positive residue test, or an appraisal it thinks was faked — and the group does nothing about it, the RC should withhold approval from the entire group.
The RC must decide within 30 days of the summary sheet being uploaded or the hard copy submitted. If it doesn't, the group's decision is auto-approved on the website and a non-compliance is recorded against the RC. If the RC returns the decision for correction, the group has 15 days to resubmit.
Documents the Group Must Keep
Applications, pledges, the RC agreement, four seasons of appraisal sheets, registers and summary sheets.
- Each member's application form with the last year's farm history.
- Each member's signed pledge.
- The agreement with the RC.
- Individual peer appraisal sheets for the last four seasons (24 months), until the RC's physical inspection.
- Attendance and proceedings registers for meetings, and for trainings.
- Season-wise copies of the peer appraisal summary sheet sent to the RC.
After the Certificate
Scope certificates carry estimated yields; after RC approval of actual yields, TCs are generated per farmer.
Scope certificates are issued with estimated yields from the peer appraisal. After harvest the group uploads actual yields; once the RC approves them (net of self-consumption), transaction certificates can be generated online for each farmer separately, in one go or in smaller lots. Between two PGS-India registered operators, an online TC transfers the stock without paper.
Every deadline in this process is collected in the deadlines episode.
Check yourself
Tap an answer to see whether you are right, and why.
Farmer A appraised farmer B. May B appraise A in the same season?
- Yes
- No, reciprocal review is not allowed
- Only if the RC agrees
The guidelines forbid A-reviews-B, B-reviews-A.
What happens to a member who used chemical fertiliser?
- A warning only
- Status reset to zero; full conversion again
- Nothing
It is a serious non-compliance.
Remember these things
- Three appraisers per inspection; no reciprocal review.
- Appraise every farm each season.
- The RC decides within 30 days.
- Keep four seasons of appraisal sheets.
A group that follows the sequence step by step reaches its certificate without returns. KrushiFlow validates these fields and submits farmer records to the portal in bulk.