AGMARK License

Overview

AGMARK is a certification mark of the Government of India that guarantees the quality and purity of agricultural commodities. The name is derived from Agricultural Marketing, and the scheme operates under the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937 (as amended in 1986). It is administered by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI), a subordinate office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Under AGMARK, agricultural and allied commodities are graded against defined quality standards covering factors such as moisture, foreign matter, purity and active content. Products that conform to the prescribed grade carry the AGMARK insignia, assuring consumers of authenticated quality. Common AGMARK-certified products include ghee, butter, honey, spices, vegetable oils, wheat atta, besan, pulses and cereals.

The scheme is largely voluntary. However, AGMARK certification is mandatory for Blended Edible Vegetable Oils and Fat Spreads under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011. Manufacturers, packers and traders of notified agricultural commodities who wish to grade and market their produce under the AGMARK mark obtain a Certificate of Authorisation from DMI.

What is AGMARK

AGMARK is the quality certification mark issued by the Government of India for agricultural and allied commodities, certifying that the product conforms to grade standards laid down by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI).

Key points:

• Legal basis: Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937, amended in 1986.
• Administered by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Each commodity has prescribed grades based on intrinsic quality and parameters such as moisture, cleanliness, extraneous matter and active components.
• The scheme is voluntary, except for Blended Edible Vegetable Oils and Fat Spreads, where AGMARK is mandatory under FSSAI regulations.
• Grading and packing are done under the supervision of an approved chemist at an approved laboratory, and DMI officers draw check samples to verify compliance.

The AGMARK label displays the insignia along with the grade designation, packer details, batch number, date of packing and net weight, helping consumers identify authenticated quality produce.

Documents Required

Only PAN Card and Aadhaar Card are mandatory; the rest are optional.

• PAN Card
• Aadhaar Card
• Incorporation docs - MOA (if Ltd) / Partnership Deed (if firm)
• Business name, postal address & lab premise address
• Proposed graded commodity names
• Period of business existence
• Test report (AGMARK lab, authenticated)
• Product samples
• Last year's turnover details
• Total gross product (Kgs)

How to Apply

Getting your AGMARK License through TaxoSure is simple and fully assisted. Just follow these steps:

1. Visit TaxoSure. Go to taxosure.com and open this AGMARK License service page.
2. Login or Register. Create your free TaxoSure account, or log in if you already have one.
3. Upload your documents. Your KYC documents (PAN & Aadhaar) are auto-filled from your account; simply upload the remaining documents as per the checklist for AGMARK certification.
4. Submit your application. Send us your AGMARK License application in one click.
5. Talk to our consultant. Our consultant connects with you on WhatsApp / Call to confirm the details, share the pricing and begin the work.
6. Get your AGMARK License. Our experts complete the entire grading, testing and authorisation process and deliver your Certificate of Authorisation to you.

After authorisation, grading and packing must be carried out under the supervision of the approved chemist, and DMI inspecting officers periodically draw check samples that are analysed at Regional AGMARK Laboratories to confirm ongoing compliance. Government fees are payable as per current DMI norms.

Benefits

AGMARK certification benefits producers, traders and consumers alike:

• Assured quality: Products are graded and packed under expert supervision, so the AGMARK mark signals verified, standardised quality.
• Consumer trust: The AGMARK insignia is widely recognised and builds buyer confidence in the product's purity and grade.
• Market access and brand value: Certification strengthens the marketability of agricultural produce and supports premium positioning.
• Regulatory compliance: It fulfils the mandatory requirement for Blended Edible Vegetable Oils and Fat Spreads, and complements FSSAI compliance for food products.
• Fair trade and grievance redressal: Consumers can file complaints with the Agricultural Marketing Adviser; genuine complaints can lead to action against the packer, including free replacement of substandard goods.
• Traceability: Mandatory labelling of packer details, batch number, grade and date of packing enables products to be traced back to their source.

List of Products Under Agmark

AGMARK standards cover a wide range of agricultural and allied commodities (over 200 in total), grouped into broad categories. Commonly certified products include:

• Food grains and allied products: cereals, pulses, wheat atta, besan, maida, suji.
• Edible oils and fats: mustard oil, groundnut oil, coconut oil, vegetable oils, blended edible vegetable oils and fat spreads.
• Dairy products: ghee, creamery butter.
• Spices and condiments: turmeric, chilli, coriander, cumin, black pepper and other ground/whole spices.
• Honey.
• Oilseeds and oil cakes.
• Essential oils.
• Fruits, vegetables and their products.
• Edible nuts.
• Other miscellaneous and fibre commodities.

The exact list of notified commodities and their grade designations is maintained and updated by DMI.

More Details

Who should obtain AGMARK? Manufacturers, packers, processors and traders of notified agricultural commodities who wish to grade and sell their produce under the AGMARK mark, and all manufacturers/packers of Blended Edible Vegetable Oils and Fat Spreads (for whom it is mandatory).

Validity: The Certificate of Authorisation is generally valid for up to five years, after which it must be renewed to continue using the AGMARK mark.

Laboratory requirement: The applicant must have access to an approved AGMARK laboratory (own or empanelled) and an approved chemist who supervises grading and packing.

Ongoing compliance: DMI inspecting officers carry out periodic inspections and draw check samples, which are tested at Regional AGMARK Laboratories. Non-compliance can lead to suspension or cancellation of the certificate and action against the packer.

AGMARK vs FSSAI: FSSAI licensing is the basic legal requirement for operating a food business in India, while AGMARK is a quality-grading mark for specified agricultural commodities. The two are complementary, and AGMARK is mandatory only for certain products such as blended edible oils and fat spreads.

FAQs