The scope certificate is the first document a buyer sees and the most over-interpreted. It proves that an operator has been inspected and certified to carry out named activities on named products under a named standard. It proves nothing about the consignment you are buying, which is the transaction certificate’s job.
What the Scope Certificate Lists
| Field | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Operator name and address | Exactly the legal entity you are buying from, at the site that handles the goods |
| Certification body and accreditation | A body accredited under the standard named; for NPOP, one accredited by APEDA |
| Activities | Production, processing, trading, exporting: a trader’s certificate does not cover processing |
| Product categories or product list | The botanical and the form you are buying must fall inside it |
| Standard | NPOP, and any equivalence or other programme stated |
| Validity | Issue and expiry dates; certificates are annual and can be suspended |
| Certificate number | Used for verification |
NPOP and EU Operator Certificates
Under NPOP the scope certificate is issued by an APEDA-accredited certification body after inspection and lists the operator’s activities and products; it is the document referenced when transaction certificates are generated in TraceNet. In the European Union the equivalent is the operator certificate issued by a control authority or control body under the organic regulation in force since 2022, in a standard format, and available for verification in the EU’s system. For an Indian exporter selling into the EU the relevant certificate is the one issued by the control body recognised for India for EU purposes, which may be the same body as the NPOP certifier or a different one.
What the Certificate Cannot Tell You
- Whether a given lot was handled organically. That is the transaction certificate.
- Whether the operator is currently in good standing. Suspensions happen mid-year; verify at the time of purchase.
- Whether a merchant selling you the goods is itself certified. A trader who is not a certified operator cannot issue a TC in its own name; the TC must come from the certified operator in the chain. See who holds the certification in a supply chain.
Five Checks Before Ordering
- Product and form on the certificate match the offer.
- Activity covers what the operator is doing for you (processing if they extract, trading if they only sell).
- Validity covers the shipment date.
- The certification body verifies the certificate number when asked.
- The operator confirms in writing that a transaction certificate will be issued for your consignment.
Where SV Botanica Stands
SV Botanica does not hold organic certification and does not represent otherwise. Organic material is quoted on request and sourced from certified operators, with their scope certificate shared at quotation and the transaction certificate issued in their name. The transaction certificate explainer covers the second document.
Certified organic material, sourced on request
Scope certificate shared at quotation, transaction certificate issued by the certified operator for your consignment.