Every level of PGS-India can sanction the level below it, and Chapter 8 of the guidelines, the Catalogue of Sanctions, sets out what triggers each penalty. This episode lays out all three catalogues and how appeals connect to them.
The short version
- The group sanctions farmers, the RC sanctions groups, the Secretariat sanctions RCs.
- Penalties rise from a warning to suspension and termination.
- Prohibited substances reset a farmer's status to zero.
- Any sanction can be appealed within 2 weeks.
Sanctions on Farmers, by the Local Group
From a verbal warning to termination, depending on how serious and repeated the violation is.
| Situation | Sanction |
|---|---|
| Missing a required field day; unsatisfactory production system | Verbal warning |
| Minor violations; repeated written warning for a similar problem; not responding to approval conditions | Short suspension — until the farmer gets a new peer inspection or consultation |
| Repeated minor violations; clear violation not threatening the product's organic integrity | Suspension for a fixed period, until corrective action is taken |
| Clear violation threatening organic integrity — e.g. prohibited pesticides or synthetic fertilisers | Suspension for 1 year; the farmer may be moved back to "in conversion" |
| Repeated violations; obvious fraud; obstructing inspection or denying access to appraisers, authorities or the RC; refusing written requests for information | Termination — banned from PGS membership permanently or for a set period |
Prohibited substances are treated more harshly in the certification rules than the catalogue alone suggests. Chapter 5 classes any use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides or hormones as a serious non-compliance: the member's status is reset to zero, and they are either excluded or re-registered as a new member who must serve the full conversion period again.
Sanctions on a Local Group, by the Regional Council
From a warning to denial of certification, deletion of produce, or a reset to the start of conversion.
| Situation | Sanction |
|---|---|
| Incomplete documentation; missed meetings or trainings; late peer appraisal or summary sheets; late data upload | Minor — warning and advice |
| Procedural violations with no corrective action; repeated non-compliance; ignoring approval conditions | Major — decision approval withheld, returned until compliant |
| Repeated minor violations; clear violation not threatening organic integrity | Major — certification endorsement denied or suspended short-term; TCs withheld |
| Members' clear violations ignored by the group; decisions forwarded with incomplete appraisals; grossly incorrect decisions | Major — decision returned, endorsement denied |
| Repeated violations; obvious fraud; refusing information; positive pesticide residue test; no peer appraisal for more than 12 months | Certification denied, group downgraded, entire produce deleted from the website to block sale, termination — or reset to the start of conversion with a physical inspection within 6 months of the next peer appraisal |
Because an RC approves or rejects a group's decision as a whole, one farmer's unaddressed violation can hold up everyone. The guidelines' own example: if a residue test flags Farmer X and the group keeps listing them as certified with no sanction, the RC may rightly withhold approval for the whole group.
Sanctions on a Regional Council, by the Secretariat
From a warning to suspension, a ban on new groups, transfer of groups, or cancellation.
| Situation | Sanction |
|---|---|
| Missing registration timelines; refusing endorsement; not supplying documents; no capacity-building or appraisal participation | Minor — warning; multiple warnings may affect renewal |
| Late or casual certification decisions; faults found in monitoring; annual monitoring quota not met | Major — warning with a compliance deadline; repeats can bring limited suspension, a ban on new groups, or transfer of groups to another RC |
| Repeated casual or wrong certification; complaints from groups and traders; conflict of interest or lack of impartiality | Temporary suspension, investigation, and a report to NEC for decision |
| No groups registered and no certification activity for 12 months | Website access blocked; NEC decides on cancellation |
| Major violations bringing the programme into disrepute, or colluding with groups and operators | Temporary suspension, investigation, and NEC decision on termination |
The Right of Appeal
Farmers appeal to the RC, groups to the Zonal Council, RCs to PGS-NEC, all within 2 weeks.
- Farmer: to the Regional Council within 2 weeks of notification — or to the whole Local Group if a certification committee imposed the sanction.
- Local Group: to the Zonal Council within 2 weeks; if the ZC hasn't responded in 15 days, to the PGS Secretariat.
- Regional Council: to PGS-NEC within 2 weeks; if not satisfied, to PGS-NAC.
The full appeal routes, including public complaints, are in the appeals episode.
Check yourself
Tap an answer to see whether you are right, and why.
Who sanctions a farmer in PGS-India?
- The PGS Secretariat
- The Local Group or its certification committee
- APEDA
Each level sanctions the level below.
A group keeps listing a farmer with a positive residue test as certified. What can the RC do?
- Nothing
- Withhold approval for the whole group
- Certify only that farmer
The RC decides on the group's decision as a whole.
Remember these things
- Three sanction catalogues.
- Penalties rise with seriousness.
- Prohibited substances reset status.
- Appeal within 2 weeks.
Knowing the catalogue of sanctions helps every group stay well clear of it. KrushiFlow validates these fields and submits farmer records to the portal in bulk.