In this article, we will guide you through the process of obtaining GLOBALG.A.P. Certification, breaking it down into ten simplified steps to ensure you are well informed and prepared for the journey ahead.
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Core Principles of the GLOBALG.A.P. IFA Standard
The Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) standard is a pivotal element of the GLOBALG.A.P. framework and is specifically designed to champion responsible farming practices across diverse agricultural sectors.
The GLOBALG.A.P. IFA standard takes a comprehensive approach to farm assurance, highlighting the interconnectedness of various farming practices and their influence on food safety, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare.
The GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) standard focuses on responsible farming practices applicable to three sectors, including:
- Fruit and Vegetables
- Aquaculture
- Floriculture
Its key principles are:
- Food Safety: Ensuring that all agricultural products are safe for consumption, minimising risks associated with contamination and foodborne illnesses.
- Legal Compliance: Adhering to local and international laws and regulations governing agricultural practices, labour rights, and environmental protection.
- Management and Traceability: Implementing robust management systems that facilitate traceability throughout the supply chain, allowing for transparency and accountability.
- Production Processes: Focusing on efficient and sustainable production methods that optimise resource use while minimising environmental impact.
- Environmental Sustainability: Promoting practices that protect the environment, conserve biodiversity, and reduce the carbon footprint of agricultural operations.
- Animal Health and Welfare: Ensuring the well-being of livestock through humane treatment, proper housing, and health management practices.
- Consumer Confidence: The GLOBALG.A.P. IFA standard supports the GLOBALG.A.P. Number (GGN) Label, which signifies that products have been produced responsibly and transparently, enhancing consumer trust.
- Market Access: Compliance with the IFA standard opens doors to international markets, as many retailers and buyers require adherence to recognised standards.
- Sustainable Practices: The GLOBALG.A.P. IFA standard promotes responsible farming practices, contributing to the sustainability of agriculture and ensuring that future generations can continue to benefit from the land.
- Continuous Improvement: The GLOBALG.A.P. IFA standard encourages producers to improve continuously, fostering innovation and adaptation to changing market demands and environmental conditions.
The GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) Version 6 presents two distinct yet complementary editions:
- GLOBALG.A.P. IFA V6 Smart
- GLOBALG.A.P. IFA V6 GFS
These editions address producers’ diverse needs while ensuring compliance with evolving market standards and stakeholder expectations.
What Does the GLOBALG.A.P. IFA V6 Standard Cover?
The GLOBALG.A.P. IFA standard encompasses a comprehensive range of topics, including:
- Food Safety
- Legal, Management & Traceability
- Production Processes
- Environmental Sustainability, including biodiversity and ecosystem management
- Water management
- Animal Health & Welfare
The GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) Version 6 introduces two parallel editions: GLOBALG.A.P. IFA V6 Smart and GLOBALG.A.P. IFA V6 GFS. Both editions are meticulously crafted to cater to various producer needs, providing flexibility and control in the certification process.
Key Features of GLOBALG.A.P. IFA V6 Smart
- Flagship Edition: Designed for the majority of producers.
- Outcome-Oriented: 100% customisable checklists based on stakeholder feedback.
- Focus: Responsible farming practices across six key topics.
- Obligatory: Becomes mandatory in May 2023.
- GFSI Recognised? NO
Key Features of GLOBALG.A.P. IFA V6 GFS
- Global Food Safety Initiative Compliance: Specifically adapted to meet Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) requirements.
- Target Audience: Primarily for producers requiring Global Food Safety Initiative recognition, particularly in US markets.
- Content: Similar topics as Smart but not entirely outcome-oriented.
- GFSI Recognised? YES
10 Steps to Achieve GLOBALG.A.P. Certification
Follow these essential steps to successfully achieve and maintain GlobalG.A.P. certification, ensuring compliance with best practices and industry standards.
STEP 1: Do Your Homework and Research GLOBALG.A.P. Certification
Achieving GlobalG.A.P. IFA certification is a structured process that involves several key steps. This certification demonstrates a producer’s commitment to responsible farming practices and compliance with international standards.
1. Understand the Requirements
- Familiarise Yourself with the Standard: Review the GLOBALG.A.P. IFA standard documentation to understand the requirements, principles, and criteria necessary for certification.
- Identify Relevant Edition: Based on your market needs and customer requirements, determine whether you will pursue GLOBALG.A.P. IFA V6 Smart or GLOBALG.A.P. IFA V6 GFS certification.
2. Certification Requirements
Producers must register their products under the GLOBALG.A.P. product list. The regulations specify that residue testing for herb products can be conducted based on the risk of the group rather than individual products.
3. Harvest Exclusion
Producers may apply for harvest exclusion under specific conditions:
- Harvest-related principles and criteria may be excluded if the product is sold in the field before harvest.
- A detailed justification must be provided during registration.
4. Postharvest Product Handling
Postharvest handling includes storage, trimming, and washing. The regulations state that if product handling occurs outside the producer’s ownership, this must be declared during registration.
5. Certification Body Audit Process
The audit process for plants includes the following:
- Initial Audits: Covering harvesting activities and product handling.
- Subsequent Audits: Conducted during relevant agronomic activities to ensure compliance with certification requirements.
6. Audit Duration
The duration of Certification Body audits varies based on several factors, including the complexity of the farming situation and the number of certified products—typical audits last between three to eight hours.
Step 2: Obtain Relevant Checklist and Implement its Requirements
After deciding which certification option and GLOBALG.A.P. IFA version to apply for, producers may visit the GLOBALG.A.P. website to download the relevant checklist or standard applicable to their certification choice. Use the Smart Checklist Builder to find information on standards and add-ons applicable to your specific production practices or explore GLOBALG.A.P.
You can use this link to download the checklists:
Download the necessary normative documents for the relevant standards and add-ons, you can download all the relevant documents using this link:
GLOBALG.A.P. Document Templates Toolkits
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Step 3: Compare and Select Your Certification Body
After producers have acquainted themselves with the standard, selecting a Certification Body in their country of residence is sufficient. Producers would then compare the fees of Certification Bodies available and decide which to register for their GLOBALG.A.P. Certification.
At this step, a GLOBALG.A.P. Number (GGN) is issued to producers. A Global Gap Number (GGN) is a unique 13-digit producer identification code that allows producers to track other producers, suppliers, and products on the GLOBALG.A.P. database.
Step 4: Seek Assistance From GLOBALG.A.P.’s Approved Registered Trainers
After implementing the GLOBALG.A.P. standard, producers may utilise the checklist obtained under step 1 to carry out a self-assessment program. A self-assessment program informs producers of areas to improve and fully comply with Control Point Compliance Criteria (CPCC).
For this reason, GLOBALG.A.P. offers suitably qualified and approved Registered ASC Public Health and Food Safety Consultants to assist with preparatory internal audits and consult at an extra fee. Registered Consultants also assist in mandatorily required documentation, such as policies and procedures, and risk assessments, to name a few.
Step 5: Arrange Your Audit Date With Your Certification Body
After completing a self-assessment program, producers may contact an inspector or auditor from a Certification Body and be confident that they meet all the standard requirements. Knowing that the inspections will occur on two different occasions is essential.
The inspection’s first occasion will occur on an announced date communicated to the individual or group producers. In contrast, the second inspection will occur randomly, unannounced, without communicating the inspection date. Furthermore, group certification option two producers will be selected based on a square root of the total number of producers for an unannounced audit. In contrast, the auditor will choose only 10% of the group for an announced inspection.
Step 6: What to do Before Booking the Audit
Assuming that a producer has sought assistance from approved Registered Trainers recommended on the fourth step, the next thing to do would be to conduct a preparatory internal audit. In addition to that, a producer’s Farm Assurer will also assist in the Quality Management System’s compulsory documents file, which includes:
- Various policies
- Procedures
- Risk assessments
- Training records
- Chemical spraying records
- Water testing results
Registered Trainers will also assist in identifying nonconformities through internal audit reports that the producer needs to address using corrective actions.
Step 7: What Happens in an Audit During Certification?
The audit process is divided into two sessions for the day.
Session 1
The first session is dedicated to file inspection. It is through this inspection that mandatory Quality Management System documents are audited for compliance. The auditor will ask for proof of the standard’s implementation that emanates from documented procedures and policies. Such documents cover employee health and safety, like medical screening results for chemical sprayers and training certificates for first aiders and firefighting, to name a few.
Furthermore, activities that impact food safety, such as irrigation water quality test results, MRL residue results, soil and leaf sample results, and hygiene training records, must be readily available on file during the audit.
Session 2
The second session of the audit focuses more on the processes applicable to the producer regarding handling, storing, and disposing of Plant Protection Products according to the Control Point Compliance Criteria for Plant Protection Products.
The installation of mandatory signage with the potential to impact food safety, such as a conspicuously displayed hygiene procedure for employees, contractors, and visitors, as well as handwashing and ablution facilities signage, to name a few. It is imperative to consider that signage requirements also extend to orchard identification, water sources like a dam to indicate swimming is prohibited, mixing points, and accident procedures, to name a few.
Harvest Exclusion
Producers may apply for harvest exclusion under specific conditions:
- Harvest-related principles and criteria may be excluded if the product is sold in the field before harvest.
- A detailed justification must be provided during registration.
Postharvest Product Handling
Postharvest handling includes storage, trimming, and washing. The regulations state that if product handling occurs outside the producer’s ownership, this must be declared during registration.
Step 8: What are the Major and Minor Findings?
GLOBALG.A.P. consists of three Control Point Compliance Criteria (CPCC) determinants.
In short, to achieve certification, producers must comply with three types of compliance requirements:
- Major Musts: 100% compliance is mandatory.
- Minor Musts: 95% compliance is required.
- Recommendations: No minimum compliance percentage is necessary.
Although recommendations do not affect producers’ certification, they are beneficial in improving the production site’s efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. A producer must attain 100% of all Major Must Control Point Compliance Criteria (CPCC) applicable for their respective scope, where one or more non-compliances will warrant non-conformance. If a producer has one or more Major Musts findings on their audit, their certification will be jeopardised.
Lastly, only 95% of minors must noncompliant is permissible to pass the certification; therefore, anything more than that will result in unsuccessful certification. For example, for a citrus producer to obtain their certification, they must attain 100% on all major musts and at least 95% on minor musts.
Step 9: Corrective Actions and Timelines
Corrective actions are necessary steps or measures to address nonconforming findings. Non-conformance or nonconforming findings emanate from failing to attain 100% Major Must and 95% Minor Must Control Point Compliance Criteria (CPCC) for GLOBALG.A.P. audits. Consequently, a Certification Body will issue a warning and grant a producer three months to implement corrective action effectively after detecting non-conformance during the initial site inspection.
Furthermore, a subsequent inspection will be conducted, and non-conformance shall be closed off within less than 28 days. If food safety, workers’ health and safety, and the environment are adversely affected by the production site’s non-conformance, then the Certification Body shall immediately suspend the certification.
Step 10: Granting of the GLOBALG.A.P. Certificate
A certificate will be issued once a Certification Body has conducted an audit and found the farm or production site(s) to have complied with the requirements. Only legally registered businesses may be issued the GLOBALG.A.P. certificate, which is valid for one year. The producers may then use the Global Gap Number label to sell their produce.
Most retailers and consumers deem the label a badge of responsible farming and transparency, which is, therefore, highly beneficial for the farm’s profit. Following a successful audit, you will receive your certificate. Certificates are available through the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems. Producers and supply chain stakeholders must be audited annually to retain their certified status.
Additional Requirements
The regulations also include specific provisions for maintaining certification, handling non-compliance, and managing sanctions. Producers must remain compliant with the evolving standards to retain their certification status.
Conclusion
Achieving GLOBALG.A.P. IFA certification is a structured process that involves several key steps. This certification demonstrates a producer’s commitment to responsible farming practices and compliance with international standards. It requires thorough preparation and continuous improvement.
The GLOBALG.A.P. IFA standard plays a crucial role in shaping the future of agriculture by promoting responsible practices that ensure food safety, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare. This certification not only benefits producers but also assures consumers of the quality and safety of their food. Additionally, compliance with the GLOBALG.A.P. IFA standard opens doors to international markets, as many retailers and buyers require adherence to recognised standards.
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I am small scale farmer, vegetables farmer i want to get assistance on gap program
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