AGMARK Ghee Meaning: What the Mark Checks (and What It Doesn’t)

“AGMARK ghee” is one of the oldest quality claims on Indian ghee, and many families still buy by it. Here is what the mark is, what sits behind it, and where it stops.

Looking for ghee with its full test results published? Our A2 buffalo bilona ghee comes with a NABL-accredited lab report.

What AGMARK is

AGMARK is the Government of India’s grading mark for agricultural produce. It comes from the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937, and is run by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Each product has its own grading rules. For ghee, the Ghee Grading and Marking Rules, 2024 (notified on 16 July 2024) replaced the Ghee Grading and Marking Rules of 1938. They cover ghee made from milk, butter or cream.

What an AGMARK ghee label shows

Under the 2024 rules, the grade designation mark is the AGMARK insignia carrying:

• the certificate of authorisation number of the packer,
• the word AGMARK,
• the commodity (ghee), and
• the grade the batch was certified to.

Under the old 1938 rules, ghee grades were colour-coded on the label, which is why some people still ask for “red label” AGMARK ghee. Read the grade printed on the label rather than going by colour.

AGMARK vs FSSAI

The FSSAI legal standard for ghee sets the floor, for example at least 99.5% milk fat, no more than 0.5% moisture and a negative Baudouin test for vanaspati. AGMARK grading adds a second, separate check against its own specification. For every mark on a ghee jar side by side, see ghee certifications explained.

What AGMARK does not tell you

• A2 or not. AGMARK grades quality, not beta-casein type. No government body certifies ghee as A2 (what A2A2 testing means).
• The animal or breed. Cow, buffalo or mixed, Gir or crossbred — the mark is silent.
• The method. Bilona from curd and cream-separated ghee can both be graded (malai vs bilona).
• This exact jar. Grading is done on the packer’s lots; a published lab report for the batch is more direct evidence.

How to check an AGMARK claim

• Look for the certificate of authorisation number inside the insignia. A logo without a number is a warning sign.
• Check the commodity on the mark says ghee, not some other product.
• Ask the brand for its AGMARK authorisation and a recent test report.

Whatever marks a jar carries, the strongest proof is a test report you can read for yourself (how to read a ghee lab report). Ours is public: A2 Farmer lab report. More checks for any brand: how to identify pure ghee.

Sources & references

1. Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937
2. Ghee Grading and Marking Rules, 2024 (G.S.R. 408(E), 16 July 2024) — summary
3. Directorate of Marketing & Inspection, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
4. FSSAI — Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011