AGMARK Certification and Certificate of Authorisation — Grading and Marking of Agricultural Produce
Video Explanation & Insights
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2 videos on this topic
What AGMARK is, and who needs it
AGMARK is the certification mark for agricultural and allied produce that meets the grade standards notified under the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937. The Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare notifies the standards, approves laboratories and chemists, and grants packers a Certificate of Authorisation (CA) to grade produce and put the AGMARK label on it. Grade standards exist for more than 200 commodities: spices, pulses, edible oils, ghee, honey, wheat flour, rice, cereals, fruits and vegetables, and more.
For most commodities AGMARK is voluntary and works as a market signal: institutional buyers, exporters, government procurement and premium retail often ask for it. For blended edible vegetable oils and fat spread it is compulsory, because the Food Safety and Standards Regulations require AGMARK certification before those products can be sold. Since 2018 the whole process runs on the AGMARK Online portal of DMI.
You need a Certificate of Authorisation if you
- •Pack and sell blended edible vegetable oil or fat spread (mandatory)
- •Pack spices, ghee, honey, pulses, atta, besan, rice or oils and want the AGMARK grade on the pack
- •Supply to government schemes, cooperatives, army purchase or institutional buyers that specify AGMARK grades
- •Export produce where the buyer or the importing country recognises AGMARK grades
Requirements for a Certificate of Authorisation
| Requirement | What DMI expects | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant | Packer, manufacturer or processor with a legal entity (proprietor, firm, company, cooperative, FPO) and an FSSAI licence for food commodities | General Grading and Marking Rules, 1988 |
| Premises | Clean, hygienic packing premises with separate storage, weighing and packing arrangements as prescribed for the commodity | Commodity Grading and Marking Rules |
| Laboratory | Own laboratory approved by DMI, or an agreement with a DMI-approved laboratory, for the tests of the commodity's grade standard | General Grading and Marking Rules |
| Chemist | Qualified chemist (typically graduate in chemistry / agriculture / food technology) approved by DMI to grade the produce | DMI approval |
| Labels and replicas | AGMARK replica labels printed only by a DMI-permitted printing press, with grade, batch and serial numbers | Rule on replicas |
| Records | Grading register, test records, replica stock and dispatch records available for DMI inspection | Conditions of the Certificate |
Documents required for AGMARK registration
Business
- •Constitution documents (deed, MoA, incorporation certificate)
- •PAN and GST registration
- •FSSAI licence for the food commodity
- •Ownership or rent proof of the packing premises
- •Layout plan of the premises
Technical
- •List of grading and packing equipment
- •Laboratory details and approval, or agreement with an approved lab
- •Chemist's degree, experience and approval form
- •Commodity list with grade designations sought
- •Proposed label artwork with AGMARK insignia
Declarations
- •Undertaking to abide by the Grading and Marking Rules
- •Details of authorised signatory
- •Photographs of premises and equipment
AGMARK certification process
- 1Week 1 — Scoping: commodity and grades identified; lab route decided (own lab approval or approved-lab agreement); chemist identified.
- 2Week 1–2 — Portal filing: primary user registered on AGMARK Online, Certificate of Authorisation application filed for the premises with documents and the prescribed fee paid online.
- 3Week 2–4 — Inspection: DMI's regional office inspects the premises, laboratory and records; samples may be drawn.
- 4Week 4–6 — Grant: Certificate of Authorisation issued for the commodities and premises; chemist approval and replica-printing permission follow.
- 5Ongoing — Each batch is graded by the approved chemist, test results recorded, and AGMARK replicas applied; DMI conducts check-sampling.
Fees, validity and renewal
| Item | Amount / period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application and Certificate of Authorisation fee | Prescribed nominal fee per premises and commodity, paid online on AGMARK Online | As per General Grading and Marking Rules; charged at actuals |
| Laboratory approval (private lab) | Approval granted for up to five years ending 30 June | DMI |
| Replica / label printing | At printer's cost, from a DMI-permitted press | At actuals |
| BookMyCA professional fee | Fixed fee quoted before filing | Covers application, inspection support and permissions |
| Time to certificate | 30–60 days | Depends on inspection scheduling |
| Renewal | Apply before expiry through the portal | Late renewal needs a fresh application |
Worked example: a spice packer in Jodhpur
A partnership firm packs red chilli powder and turmeric for institutional buyers who ask for AGMARK Grade 1. The firm has an FSSAI licence and a 300 sq m packing unit but no laboratory. We sign an agreement with a DMI-approved laboratory in Jaipur for moisture, ash, colour and adulterant tests, engage a B.Sc. chemistry graduate as the grading chemist, file the Certificate of Authorisation on AGMARK Online for both commodities and prepare the unit for inspection. The certificate is granted in the sixth week; replica labels are printed at a permitted press, and each batch carries the grade, lot and replica number that the buyers verify.
Mistakes to avoid
- •Printing AGMARK labels before the replica permission is granted
- •Using a laboratory that is not approved for the specific commodity
- •Assuming AGMARK is optional for blended edible oils; FSSAI regulations make it compulsory
- •Grading without the approved chemist present and without test records
- •Letting the certificate lapse; the mark cannot be used until it is renewed
Frequently asked questions on AGMARK
It is voluntary for most commodities but compulsory for blended edible vegetable oils and fat spread under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations. Many institutional and government buyers require it for spices, ghee, pulses and oils.
The Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, through its regional offices, on the AGMARK Online portal.
No. You can enter into an agreement with a DMI-approved laboratory for the grade tests. A larger packer may set up an in-house lab and get it approved, which speeds up batch release.
FSSAI licences the food business and sets safety standards; AGMARK certifies the grade and purity of a specific agricultural commodity against notified grade standards. A packer usually needs both.
It is granted for the period fixed by DMI and renewed on application before expiry; private laboratory approvals run up to five years ending 30 June.
Yes. Any legal entity that packs the produce at a compliant premises can apply, and FPOs increasingly use AGMARK grades to sell to institutional buyers.
Usually 30 to 60 days, most of it waiting for the premises inspection.
Official sources this page is based on
- Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937 — India Code
- Directorate of Marketing & Inspection (DMI), Ministry of Agriculture — AGMARK grade standards and Certificate of Authorisation
Fees, thresholds and timelines above are taken from these Acts, Rules, notifications and official portals; where the authority's current notification differs, the notification prevails.