Which topics does CfP address?

CfP has been developed together with sector experts in the technical committees and focus groups and underwent extensive public consultation as part of our process for standard setting. This ensures that CfP remains robust, realistic, and cost-efficient for producers while meeting the evolving demands of buyers.  Core topics in CfP v1.1 include:

• Site history and management

• Recordkeeping and internal self-assessment

• Workers’ health, safety, and welfare

• Waste and pollution management, ​recycling and reuse

• Soil management and conservation

• Food defense and food fraud mitigation

• Traceability, segregation, and mass balance

• Plant propagation material

• Fertilizer and plant protection product application

• Water management

 Discover more about how CfP helps you address challenges in the agricultural sector.

How does CfP work?

• Compliance with the standard requirements is audited every three years by an accredited and independent third-party CB.

• Producers can choose from any GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB active in the relevant country.

• In the intervening years, producers conduct a self-assessment/​second-party internal inspection and, if they are an Option 2 producer group, a quality management system (QMS) audit.

• Both self-assessments/second-party internal inspections and third-party CB audits require the “Overview of Farming Operations” form to be completed. This is part of the CfP checklist and includes questions about the producer’s and processor’s responsibilities.

• A successful CB audit results in a certificate valid for one year.

As processors and manufacturers are already held to robust standards such as BRCGS, IFS, or FSSC, certain obligations and control points, which would usually be managed at farm level, can instead be managed by the processor.

A contract between the producer and the processor establishes the rights and obligations of each party. Under this contract, the processor takes steps necessary to mitigate food safety risks. This can include aspects such as pathogen eradication (through pasteurization, roasting, or freezing, etc.), residue testing, or water analysis.

The standard is composed of control points and compliance criteria (CPCCs). CPCCs are graded in three levels: Major Must, Minor Must, and Recommendation.

Control points

• Fundamentals that set the foundation of a GLOBALG.A.P. requirement

• Written in question form

Compliance criteria

• Methods that producers can use to demonstrate a control point to be true

• Evidence required for demonstrating that the outcome is achieved

 Read more about the audit process and standard requirements.

How is certification status verified?

Every producer registered in the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system is assigned a 13-digit GLOBALG.A.P. identification number (e.g., a GLOBALG.A.P. Number (GGN)). This number allows real-time verification of certification status in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems, upholding our rigorous transparency requirements throughout the supply chain. GLOBALG.A.P. identification numbers for CfP can be recognized by the prefix GGN CFP – for example: GGN CFP1234567891011.

Producers can control data access and privacy rights for audit reports, and the reports are not shared publicly or with third parties. This process is handled via your chosen CB.

What is the difference between CfP and IFA?

CfP certification is very similar to IFA certification for plants, with the exception of two areas. Produce destined for processing entails different risks at farm level, and CfP therefore has a different approach to food safety risk assessment. The two standards also have different auditing rules.

It is not possible for a producer to register one crop under both standards. If part of the crop is consumed fresh, it requires IFA certification. In this case, the production processes for the whole crop must be certified to IFA, which covers more risks and is appropriate for fresh produce. A producer may, however, register one crop under IFA and a different crop under CfP.

Which industry challenges does CfP address?

• Food safety and traceability have long been fundamental priorities for both consumers and supply chain stakeholders.

• Compounded by recent changes in the legal environment for supply chains, the demand from brands and retailers for certified raw materials is increasing.

• The farming industry must continuously evolve to also address the increasing interaction between the environment and agriculture, and improve the sustainability of farming practices in areas such as biodiversity, water management, and agricultural input use.

• Responsible production is also about people, and workers’ health, safety, and welfare are in the spotlight due to social sustainability issues in new legislation in global supply chains.

• The result is that buyers are seeking a growing range of assurances about responsible farming practices, and producers are undergoing an increasing number of audits to satisfy them.

• CfP offers a cost-efficient standard that reduces audit duplication and provides assurance to buyers through a holistic approach that addresses major sector demands.

Follow our five steps to certification to get started today.

Implementation and CB audit process

How does the CB audit process work?

• CfP compliance is audited in the first year of certification and then every third year by accredited and independent third-party CBs.

• Producers can choose from any GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB active in the relevant country.

• In the intervening years, producers conduct a self-assessment/second-party internal inspection and, if they are an Option 2 producer group, a quality management system (QMS) audit.

• Both self-assessments/second-party internal inspections and third-party audits require the “Overview of Farming Operations” form to be completed. This is part of the CfP checklist and includes questions about the producer’s and processor’s responsibilities.

• A successful CB audit results in a certificate valid for one year.

• The CB is responsible for uploading the audit report and maintaining the accuracy of producer data in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems.

 Which documents are required?

• GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations and CfP general rules: Rules that define how the certification process works, from the scope of the standard to the audit requirements.

• Checklist: The full list of control points and compliance criteria (CPCCs) as used by CB auditors, enabling producers to conduct a self-assessment.

Which versions of CfP are currently valid?

CfP is currently valid in version 1.1, published in May 2018.

The FAQ contains further information on documents, certification renewal, and more.

How much does CfP certification cost?

Each farm is unique, and the total costs of certification depend on a combination of factors such as farm size, number of sites, location, necessary preparation measures (such as establishing new procedures), and more. CfP contains three cost elements:

1. Implementation costs: Incurred by the producer to prepare for the CB audit

2. CB service fees: Determined and invoiced by the CB to cover audit time and travel costs

3. GLOBALG.A.P. registration and certificate license fee: Calculated based on farm size and invoiced by the CB

The GLOBALG.A.P. fee table contains full information on the fee structure for each standard and add-on.