GFSI recognizes GLOBALG.A.P’s Integrated Farm Assurance and Produce Safety Standard version 4.0

From GLOBALG.A.P.:

GLOBALG.A.P. North America Inc. (GGNA), the USA and Canadian division of the world’s largest private sector standards organization for Good Agricultural Practice, has announced that the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) has recognized its Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA V4.0 - Fruit & Vegetables Sub-scope) and Produce Safety Standard (PSS V4.0) according to GFSI Guidance Document Sixth Edition, BI and D Scopes (Farming of Plants and Pre-Processing Handling of Plants respectively), for food safety and traceability.

“We are very committed to meeting our growers’ supply chain requirements, and welcome the re-benchmarking of IFA and the first recognition of PSS by GFSI,” said Thomas Fenimore, GGNA’s executive vice president. “GLOBALG.A.P. offers growers in the USA and Canada a range of standards to meet their certification needs, and the requirements of their customers, for the domestic and international markets. GFSI recognition further enhances our innovative product line by meeting retailer benchmarking expectations. We appreciate the recognition of our standards by retailers and foodservice providers.” 

“I am very pleased with the new version of GLOBALG.A.P.'s Integrated Farm Assurance, Version 4, which utilizes the Harmonized GAP Standard in its food safety module and in doing so, addresses areas of concern regarding microbiological hazards. It has also been recognized by GFSI and we have a number of our operations audited to GLOBALG.A.P. IFA Version 4,” said Walter Ram, vice president of food safety, The Giumarra Family of Companies, and chairman of the United Fresh Food Safety and Technology Council.

Said Jonathan Needham, GGNA’s vice president of operations, “GLOBALG.A.P. is the first choice in farm assurance around the world. When a grower presents his GLOBALG.A.P. Certificate to a retailer, he is communicating the strongest possible commitment to food safety, the most proactive dedication to consumer and supply chain partner protection. GLOBALG.A.P. Certification expresses trust, excellence, thoroughness and unparalleled integrity. We are a stakeholder-driven, partnership-based organization with core values of openness and transparency. Our objective is not profit maximization, it is safe, sustainable agriculture worldwide. This is what distinguishes us in the North American marketplace. GFSI recognition is a testament to our commitment to the growers who have placed their trust in us.”

GLOBALG.A.P. offers North American produce growers three general use standards.

1. Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA): the most widely accepted import/export farm certification standard worldwide—comprehensive, progressive and holistic in scope
2. Produce Safety Standard (PSS): the perfect option for growers seeking food safety and traceability certification in the domestic market—a subset of IFA with an upgrade path
3. Primary Farm Assurance (PFA): the non-accredited assessment stepping stone towards full certification, an entry-level standard that assesses fundamental food safety for local and domestic markets

IFA is the passport to the global agricultural market. PSS is the ideal solution for growers supplying to the domestic market and/or those who do not require IFA’s comprehensive criteria. PFA is the first step towards certification, the North American version of our localg.a.p. Standard. IFA and PSS are expandable via optional add-ons and alternate industry-specific checklists like the Tomato Metrics. All offer individual farm and producer group certification, which provides central management and cost-savings benefits. Each is backed by GLOBALG.A.P.’s database and CIPRO (Certification Integrity Program) systems.

“We look forward to introducing a packing house standard in the near future to further augment our product line.  Furthermore, we are deeply committed to reducing audit fatigue, and support the Produce GAPs Harmonization Initiative led by United Fresh, and the Harmonized Standards checklists," Needham said.

GLOBALG.A.P., founded in 1997 and based in Cologne, Germany, is the world's most widely accepted and largest private sector food safety standards organization: 130,000 producers under certification in 110 countries; 400+ covered products; 23 standards, add-on modules and programs; and 300 member organizations across the industry with the shared vision of harmonizing GAP globally.

Please visit www.globalgap.org/north-america and www.globalgap.org for more information.