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Under the Scheme, any producer/collector/group of producers/collectors can obtain a certification from an approved certification body (CB) and will be under regular surveillance of the certification body. An option of getting a lot inspected and certified has also been made in the Scheme. It also allows certification of intermediaries like traders who may source certified medicinal plant material and supply further.

In order to encourage good agricultural and field collection practices in medicinal plants (GAP and GFCP) and enhance quality and safety of these plants, the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), in collaboration with the Quality Council of India (QCI), has launched a Voluntary Certification Scheme for Medicinal Plant Produce (VCSMPP). QCI will manage the day to day operation of the Scheme.

GAP stands for Good Agricultural Practices. This standard covers good agricultural practices for cultivated medicinal plants in sustainable manner and maintaining quality of produce used by all stakeholders

GFCP stands for Good Field Collection Practices. This standard covers Good Field Collection Practices for wild medicinal plants in sustainable manner and maintaining quality of produce used by all stakeholders.

a) Option 1 – Individual producer/collector applies for certification and gets certification for his/her produce.
b) Option 2 – A producer/collector group applies for group certification and the producer/collector group, as a legal entity, gets certification.
c) Option 3 – The individual farmer may opt for lot wise certification model based on GAP where he/she gets certificate of conformity of the lot of produce submitted to approved certification body for inspection
d) Option 4 – An intermediate entity like a trader applies for certification of the certified medicinal plant produce for proper storage for supplies in the market or to manufacturer/processor of Ayush Products.

The fee for certification depends upon no. of herbs and options. Please fill the application form. However, following are the man days charges

Option 1:

Administrative Charges Rs.5,000/-
Manday Charges Rs.15,000/- per man day
Certification Charges Rs.15,000/-

Option 2:

Administrative Charges Rs.10,000/-
Manday Charges Rs.15,000/- per man day
Certification Charges Rs.30,000/-

Following documents are required for various certification types apart from Contractual agreement which will be signed with the client

1) Compliance to Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) for producers

a) Option 1 – Individual producer/collector applies for certification and gets certification for his/her produce
i) Adhaar Card
ii) PAN Card
iii) Passport size photo
iv) Land ownership / lease proof
b) Option 2 – A producer/collector group applies for group certification and the producer/collector group, as a legal entity, gets certification
i) Legal entity proof of group
ii) GST / VAT / PAN number
iii) Signed contract between group and producer/collector
iv) Producer Register
v) Quality Management manuals
a. Quality Manual
b. GAP Operating procedures
c. Work Instructions
d. Recording forms
e. Relevant documents of external origin
vi) Land ownership / lease proof
vii) Internal Audit
viii) Complaint records, if any
ix) Training records
c) Option 3 – The individual farmer may opt for lot wise certification model based on GAP where he/she gets certificate of conformity of the lot of produce submitted to approved certification body for inspection
i) Adhaar Card
ii) PAN Card
iii) Passport size photos
iv) Land ownership ship / lease proof
d) Option 4 – An intermediate entity like a trader applies for certification of the certified medicinal plant produce for proper storage for supplies in the market or to manufacturer/processor of Ayush Products
i) Legal entity proof
ii) Storage area address proof
iii) Quality Management manuals
a. Quality Manual
b. GAP Operating procedures
c. Work Instructions
d. Recording forms
e. Relevant documents of external origin

2) Good Field Collection Practices (GFCP) for collectors
i) Adhaar Card
ii) PAN Card
iii) Passport size photo
iv) Permission to collect wild forest products

The certificate for produce certification shall be for a period of 3 years from the date of decision to grant the produce certification

Surveillance evaluations of the certified sites shall be carried out at least once a year, ensuring that the gap between two surveillance evaluations does not exceed one year. The Certification Body may allow a grace period of one month based on valid grounds beyond which delays shall lead to suspension of the certificate. The surveillance should be timed around harvest time of some crop under certification

The certificate shall be revalidated at the end of every year depending on the performance of operation of certification but recertification shall be at the end of 3 years