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GlobalGAP
Summary

GlobalGAP (formerly known as EurepGAP) sets standards for the certification of agricultural products around the globe. The GlobalGAP standard is primarily designed to reassure consumers about how food is produced on the farm by ensuring hygiene and food safety, minimising environmental impacts of farming operations, reducing the use of chemical inputs and ensuring a responsible approach to worker health and safety as well as animal welfare.

Objective  Is the focus of the standard on economic, social, environmental, food safety or organic issues?
 Environmental and food-safety: (last one is focus)
Food safety: to improve food safety and traceability of the products.
Why?  Who is asking you to use this system? Is it a market requirement or a voluntary system?
 GlobalGap is not a formal minimum market requirement, but becoming more and more so, with main retailers involved.
Scope of the standard  What kind of processes within your organisation/company should be changed according to the standard’s criteria? Most systems look at the production process, and/or look at the processing of the produce. Some systems look at organisational processes as well, e.g. if democratic structures are in place, how support departments are organized (HRM/financial), if internal control systems are in place, if ILO labour conditions are implemented, etcetera. Additionally the processes of your suppliers or service provider can be part of the standards’ scope as well. This means that you are responsible for the sustainability of their (or part of their) actions as well.
organisational processes Y: in case of small holder productions (option 2), a quality management system is required.
(on-farm) production Y: including occupational health & safety (OHS) and environment.
processing Y: only if on farm
supplier/service provider N
Who can apply?  Not every code or standard can be used by every actor within the supply chain. Some are just targeted to a specific group within the chain, others focus on the complete chain. You can think of the following parties: producers/producer group, processor, exporter/trader, importer, retailer.  
producers/producer groups Medium and large agro industries and producers groups organised by exporters. GlobalGap has additional requirements for group-certification (ICS, internal inspection etc).
processor N
exporter/trader N
importer N
retail N
Products  Most systems focus on specific products, product groups or sectors. Please look carefully if you produce falls under the scope of the standard.
 Fruits, Vegetable, Fish, Meat, Coffee, Flower, Dairy.
Markets  Although most systems are used worldwide, they often have their origin or focus in a specific country or region. Some countries/regions prefer a certain code or standard.
 At first just for the European market(EUREPGAP), now for the global market (USA en Japan mainly).
Main retailers in NL, FR, GR, UK
Benefits  A very legitimate question is what this specific certification means to you. Does it provide you access to markets, or even to niche markets? Does it guarantee a better price, or maybe even a premium on top of a minimum price? Does it create better access to support services?  
market access - Provides better access to the supermarket chains globally.
- Status of preferred supplier.
- Supports the producer adapt to traceability regulations.
access to niche market N
premium N
other N
Support services  To be able to comply with the requirements of such systems, you may need some support. Various experts in the field of certification are available and can give this (paid/free) support. Yes commercially available
Adaptations/investments   - High administrative burden
- No particular price premium is paid
- Certification costs are high
- Not consumer oriented but just business oriented
Costs & Time  Working with these certification systems and implementing the necessary steps is often not an easy task. You have to be aware of the many implications and adaptations you may have to make. This section gives some examples of the kind of investments you to have to think of. Prices are set by private certification agencies.
Certificate is provided by FoodPlus to which a small annual fee has to be paid.
System characteristics  In this section you will find a link to the standard itself and some main points of attention.
 GlobalGap is a single integrated standard with modular applications for different product groups, ranging from plant and livestock production to plant propagation materials and compound feed manufacturing.

For the GloablGAP standards click here
Verification    
internal inspection Internal inspection is to be done annually.
external inspection Third party CB that is ISO 65 accredited, and approved by GlobalGap.
Type of label  One of ways to show that a product complies with a specific standard is to label it. Some codes or standards do not use a label at all. Nevertheless, most choose to carry a Business to Business (B2B) or a Consumer label.
 GlobalGap is B2B label
Who's behind it?  What is the origin of the standard, and who has initiated the idea? Who is the owner of the certification system?
 GlobalGAP members include retail and food service members, producers/suppliers and associate members from the input and service side of agriculture.
Trends  The trend section is mainly based on future perspectives of the standard. Are they going to expand to other products, other markets? Is there increasing interest from markets for this specific certification? What can you expect in the coming period?
 Extension of products
Growing demand from the market
More inclusiveness for small producers
Contact GlobalGap Secretary
  website GlobalGap
   
all certification systems

 
 
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