BIS and AGMARK: Voluntary Food Certification Schemes in India

When you pick up a packet of honey or ghee at your local grocery store, you might notice small certification marks printed on the packaging. These aren’t just decorative logos-they represent voluntary quality certification schemes that manufacturers can choose to adopt to demonstrate their commitment to safety, quality, and consumer trust. In India, two prominent voluntary certification systems play crucial roles in safeguarding food quality: the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and AGMARK. Understanding these schemes helps us appreciate how food safety standards protect consumers while supporting manufacturers in building credibility.

Understanding voluntary food certification in India 🔗

Unlike mandatory regulations that food businesses must comply with, voluntary certifications are quality marks that manufacturers choose to pursue. Think of it like earning a gold star on your homework-you don’t have to get it, but having it shows you’ve gone above and beyond the basic requirements. These voluntary schemes provide consumers with additional assurance about product quality and help manufacturers differentiate their products in competitive markets.

While the government mandates certain products to carry these certifications for public health and safety reasons, many manufacturers voluntarily seek these marks to build consumer confidence. The presence of certification marks signals that products have undergone rigorous testing and meet established quality benchmarks.

Bureau of Indian Standards: The ISI mark you know and trust 🔗

The Bureau of Indian Standards operates under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution as India’s national standards body. Established through the Bureau of Indian Standards Act 2016, BIS has been the guardian of product quality in India for decades. Many of us grew up seeing the ISI mark on products in our homes, from electrical appliances to food containers.

How BIS certification works for food products 🔗

BIS operates product certification schemes covering nearly every industrial discipline, from agriculture to electronics. The famous ISI mark, which has become synonymous with quality for over 55 years, allows licensed manufacturers to demonstrate their commitment to standards. While the scheme is voluntary by nature, the government has made BIS certification compulsory for certain food products through various quality control orders issued under different acts.

For food manufacturers, obtaining BIS certification involves submitting detailed documentation, undergoing factory inspections, and having products tested in BIS-recognized laboratories. The license to use the Standard Mark is granted for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years, with renewal options extending up to five years. Food Business Operators must display both the BIS logo and their FSSAI license number on primary packaging materials.

Products requiring BIS certification 🔗

Several food categories fall under mandatory BIS certification alongside FSSAI licensing. Packaged drinking water, including both natural mineral water and other packaged drinking water, requires BIS certification. This became particularly significant when FSSAI mandated that manufacturers obtain a BIS license while applying for FSSAI licenses from April 2021 onwards. Other food products like milk powder also carry compulsory BIS certification requirements due to their direct impact on public health.

BIS and international standards alignment 🔗

BIS serves as a founder member of the International Organization for Standardization and represents India in international standard-setting bodies including the International Electrotechnical Commission. This international connection ensures that Indian standards remain globally relevant. The organization has formulated over 20,000 standards covering important economic segments, helping Indian industries upgrade product quality to compete in international markets.

AGMARK: Quality assurance for agricultural products 🔗

While BIS covers diverse product categories, AGMARK specifically focuses on agricultural products, ensuring they conform to standards approved by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection. The name itself combines “Ag” for agriculture and “mark” for certification, reflecting its specialized purpose. Created by Archibald MacDonald Livingstone between 1934 and 1941, the system was designed to protect local growers who previously received less than fair prices due to the absence of quality certification.

The AGMARK grading system 🔗

AGMARK standards currently cover quality guidelines for 224 different commodities, spanning pulses, cereals, essential oils, vegetable oils, fruits and vegetables, and semi-processed products like vermicelli. The Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act of 1937, amended in 1986, legally enforces the AGMARK system. Products bearing the AGMARK insignia must conform to standards set by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, with any violations requiring free replacement to aggrieved consumers.

Testing occurs through state-owned AGMARK laboratories located across India. The Central AGMARK Laboratory in Nagpur coordinates with Regional AGMARK Laboratories in 11 major cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Kolkata. Each regional laboratory specializes in testing products of regional significance, conducting chemical analysis, microbiological analysis, pesticide residue checks, and aflatoxin analysis.

Common products under AGMARK certification 🔗

When shopping for traditional Indian foods, you’re likely to encounter AGMARK certification on products like honey, ghee, butter, whole spices and ground spices including turmeric, chili powder, cumin, and coriander. Vegetable oils, wheat products such as atta, suji, maida, and besan also commonly carry AGMARK marks. The certification remains primarily voluntary for domestic trade, except for specific products like blended edible vegetable oils where it becomes mandatory under Food Safety and Standards regulations.

Consumer Protection Act 1986: The safety net 🔗

Beyond voluntary certifications, the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 provides crucial legal protection for consumers against substandard food products. Often called the Magna Carta of consumer protection in India, this Act fundamentally changed the relationship between buyers and sellers by establishing comprehensive safeguards against unfair trade practices, defective products, and deficient services.

Six fundamental consumer rights 🔗

The Act established six fundamental rights for consumers. These include the right to be protected against hazardous goods, the right to be informed about quality and standards, the right to access goods at competitive prices, the right to be heard, the right to seek redressal against unfair practices, and the right to consumer education. For food products specifically, these rights translate into protection against adulterated or misbranded items and the ability to seek compensation for harm caused by contaminated products.

Three-tier dispute redressal system 🔗

The Act created a three-tier system for consumer grievance redressal: District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forums, State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, and the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. This structure allows consumers to file complaints at appropriate levels based on the value of goods and compensation claimed. District Forums handle cases up to certain monetary limits, while State and National Commissions address higher-value disputes and appeals.

If you purchase certified AGMARK honey that turns out to be adulterated, you can file a complaint with the Agricultural Marketing Adviser. Similarly, if packaged drinking water with BIS certification fails to meet quality standards, the Consumer Protection Act provides mechanisms for seeking redressal. The Act supplements existing food safety laws by addressing issues beyond mere adulteration, including misleading claims, poor service at food establishments, and unfair pricing practices.

How voluntary certifications protect consumers 🔗

Voluntary certification schemes create a win-win situation. For manufacturers, certifications provide market competitiveness, consumer trust, access to government tenders, and simplified entry into both domestic and international markets. For consumers, these marks offer quick visual assurance about product quality without requiring technical knowledge. When you see the ISI mark on packaged drinking water or the AGMARK logo on honey, you know the product has undergone independent testing and meets established standards.

These certifications also support the government’s broader public health objectives. By encouraging manufacturers to adopt quality standards voluntarily, regulatory authorities can focus enforcement efforts on non-compliant operators. The combination of voluntary schemes and legal protections creates multiple layers of consumer protection-standards to aspire to, certifications to demonstrate compliance, and legal recourse when things go wrong.

What do you think? Have you noticed certification marks on food products you purchase regularly? Do these voluntary quality marks influence your buying decisions, or do you rely more on other factors like brand reputation and price when shopping for food?

References

1. https://www.bis.gov.in/product-certification/products-under-compulsory-certification/?lang=en
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Indian_Standards
3. https://cleartax.in/s/fssai-bis-certificate
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agmark
5. https://cleartax.in/s/agmark-registration
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Protection_Act,_1986
7. https://foodsafety.institute/food-laws-standards/protecting-consumer-rights-consumer-protection-act/