Coffee Board Opens Draft Sustainability Standards for Indian Coffee to Stakeholder Feedback
28 September 2025, Bengaluru: The Coffee Board of India has initiated a major step toward strengthening the sustainability framework for the country’s coffee sector. A draft of the Indian Coffee Board Sustainability Certification Scheme (INDICOFS) has been released and is now open for stakeholder consultation and public feedback.
The INDICOFS scheme, developed by a Core Technical Committee of domain experts, lays down sustainability standards, inspection procedures, and certification protocols for Indian coffee plantations. It has been designed as a voluntary framework that defines three progressive levels of compliance:
- Level 1 (Basic): Entry-level compliance, inspected directly by the Coffee Board.
- Level 2 (Aspiring): Advanced compliance, verified through third-party certification.
- Level 3 (International Benchmark): Highest compliance level, aligned with international sustainability standards.
The initiative is structured in two phases—first, to establish sustainability standards for coffee plantations, followed by the development of Chain of Custody Standards. Together, these aim to strengthen traceability and global positioning of Indian coffee in line with sustainability demands from both domestic and international markets.
Inspection and certification responsibilities have been clearly outlined, with Coffee Board handling Level 1, and accredited third-party certification bodies taking charge at Levels 2 and 3.
The Coffee Board has invited all stakeholders—including growers, exporters, certification bodies, and the wider public—to review the draft documents and submit comments or suggestions. Feedback must be sent in the prescribed format to the Coffee Board by October 24, 2025.
The draft scheme and overview note are available on the Coffee Board’s official website.
According to the Coffee Board, the consultation marks an important national initiative to enhance the competitiveness of Indian coffee by embedding sustainability at every stage of production and trade.
Also Read: Tropical Agro Unveils AI – Enabled Tech Tools To Tackle India’s 7 Million Tonnes Fruit Loss Problem
📢 If You’re in Agriculture, Make Sure the Right People Hear Your Story.
From product launches to strategic announcements, Global Agriculture offers unmatched visibility across international agri-business markets. Connect with us at pr@global-agriculture.com to explore editorial and advertising opportunities that reach the right audience, worldwide.
