The regulation of organic food safety in India can be classified under three broad heads – universal regulation applicable for all food, specific regulation applicable to organic food and certification systems. India follows a combination of “principle-based” and “rule-based” approaches to safety regulation of any food item, with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India having power to impose penalty, compensation and terms of imprisonment. Regulations specifically targeted for organic food mandates certification of organic food before being offered for sale, with relaxation given to certain small traders. It further provides detailed guidelines which covers the labelling, traceability, transport, storage, distribution, retail and import of the certified organic food. India currently allows certification either (i) under the National Programme on Organic Production that provides accreditation to various third-party certification bodies and lays down the standards for organic production; or (ii) through the Participatory Guarantee System for India, a quality assurance system that is established on active participation of local stakeholders and shared responsibilities between farmers and traders.