About GLOBALG.A.P.
Standard setting
The creation of robust, measurable, and fit-for-purpose standards that promote safer and more sustainable farming is only possible if all value chain participants are engaged in the development process. As part of this, all of our major standards and add-ons undergo transparent and comprehensive public consultation.
Smart farm assurance solutions – fit for the future
Currently in development
To remain at the forefront of responsible farming practices and continue to offer high-quality and fit-for-purpose farm assurance solutions to stakeholders, the GLOBALG.A.P. portfolio of standards and add-ons is regularly updated. In collaboration with value chain members, our transparent public consultation process enables us to capture feedback from across the relevant sector and build on the scientific baseline provided by our technical experts.
Standards in development
Environmental sustainability solution
Learn more about the development process and public consultation schedule for the new environmental sustainability solution.
Workers’ well-being standard
Learn more about the development process and public consultation schedule for the new workers’ well-being standard.
Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) v6 for combinable crops
Learn more about the development process and public consultation schedule for the revised IFA v6 for combinable crops.
Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) v6 for plant propagation material
Learn more about the development process and public consultation schedule for the revised IFA v6 for plant propagation material.
GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2024 tickets now available!
Join us to discuss the latest developments in food safety and sustainability, as well as the future of the industry. Take advantage of our Early Bird discount now – saving you €250 per person until 31 May 2024!
Upcoming events
24 Apr - 24 May
2024
Have your say on the new workers’ well-being standard
Location:
Online
Event type:
Public consultation
Event format:
Virtual
13 May
2024
Serie de seminarios en línea GLOBALG.A.P.: una guía para la transición a la norma IFA v6 - flores y ornamentales
Location:
Online
Event type:
Webinar
Event format:
Virtual
Safer and more sustainable farming is a collective effort
Subscribe to our monthly Spotlights newsletter to get the latest solution updates, industry collaborations, and event highlights direct to your inbox!
By the industry, for the industry
How are GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons developed?
GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons are driven by our stakeholders around the world, and therefore reflect both market needs and the daily realities of producers on the ground. Standards and add-ons are developed according to four key principles: widespread participation, scientific expertise, harmonization, and continuous improvement. This approach ensures that we continue to innovate in collaboration with stakeholders, involving all participants in the value chain to create robust, realistic, and cost-efficient farm assurance solutions.
What are the key principles of standard development?
Participation
GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons are developed in collaboration with representative stakeholder groups, including technical committees, focus groups, and others. Public consultation ensures that as many people as possible can submit feedback on the draft documents.
Expertise
We invite a range of technical and legal experts to collaborate on standard and add-on content. This involves the review of scientific studies, international norms, and existing sector-specific standards to understand the latest best practice developments in responsible farming.
Harmonization
Before developing a new standard or add-on, we evaluate existing standards offered by other schemes to see if cooperation or benchmarking is practical. This limits duplication, minimizes the audit burden for producers, and helps retailers identify new suppliers that meet their requirements.
Continuous improvement
We are committed to ensuring the consistent implementation and integrity of our solutions. Feedback mechanisms are integrated into the development process and serve the ongoing improvement of the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system in all aspects.
What is public consultation?
When developing GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons, we want to receive as much input and feedback as possible.
With producers based in more than 130 countries around the world, and stakeholders covering every part of the supply chain, the public consultation process supports our efforts to create standards and add-ons that are both fit for purpose now and built with the future in mind.
It also helps to uphold transparency in development and decision-making, with stakeholder-driven GLOBALG.A.P. solutions now representing the leading portfolio of smart farm assurance solutions worldwide.
Who contributes to the development of GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons?
Producers and CBs
may be invited to participate in field trials. This provides valuable practical feedback on the feasibility and functionality of new standards and add-ons.
The GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat
leads the development process, guided by the relevant technical experts and latest industry insights.
The technical committees
must recommend the final version of the standard or add-on to the GLOBALG.A.P. Advisory Board before it can be considered for adoption.
The technical committees and focus groups
provide specific input from their area of expertise, reviewing and collaborating on the draft documents with the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat.
The GLOBALG.A.P. Advisory Board
(with 50:50 representation from the producer/supplier and retail/food service categories) decides on the adoption of the standard or add-on. The standard or add-on is then prepared for launch.
The general public
– including producers, CBs, retailers, and NGOs – are invited to comment on the draft documents during public consultation periods. GLOBALG.A.P. Community Members and NTWGs are also invited to give feedback.
Producers and CBs
may be invited to participate in field trials. This provides valuable practical feedback on the feasibility and functionality of new standards and add-ons.
The technical committees and focus groups
provide specific input from their area of expertise, reviewing and collaborating on the draft documents with the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat.
The GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat
leads the development process, guided by the relevant technical experts and latest industry insights.
The GLOBALG.A.P. Advisory Board
(with 50:50 representation from the producer/supplier and retail/food service categories) decides on the adoption of the standard or add-on. The standard or add-on is then prepared for launch.
The technical committees
must recommend the final version of the standard or add-on to the GLOBALG.A.P. Advisory Board before it can be considered for adoption.
The general public
– including producers, CBs, retailers, and NGOs – are invited to comment on the draft documents during public consultation periods. GLOBALG.A.P. Community Members and NTWGs are also invited to give feedback.
How does the development process work?
The planning phase includes alignment on the expectations and goals of the proposed standard or add-on development/revision. Technical experts then begin the drafting phase, preparing the initial standard or add-on content that reflects the established goals.
The draft standard or add-on documents undergo internal review and feedback loops, public consultation, and may also be applied in targeted field trials to test the standard or add-on on the ground. These steps may take place in any order and can be repeated multiple times.
The technical experts complete the draft, and the final standard or add-on documents are prepared for approval by the technical committee(s). If they approve, they recommend the standard or add-on for adoption by the GLOBALG.A.P. Advisory Board.
Prelaunch preparations are initiated. The documents are submitted for proofreading and translation, the standard or add-on content is integrated into the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems, and the GLOBALG.A.P. Academy prepares training material for certification bodies (CBs) and the public.
The standard or add-on documents are published in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center. Stakeholders are trained and begin transitioning to the new version or completing the first audit/assessment. Further guidance documents and national interpretation guidelines may be developed by the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat and national technical working groups.
Share your experience!
Are you already part of our mission to foster the global adoption of safer and more sustainable farming practices? We would love to hear from you!
Submit a testimonial about working with GLOBALG.A.P. for a chance to be featured on our website and social media channels – with more than 80,000 followers across five platforms.
Latest news
11 April 2024
New GLOBALG.A.P. webinar series: A guide to IFA v6 transition
Hosted by GLOBALG.A.P. experts, our latest free webinar series is designed to help producers transition seamlessly to IFA version 6 for flowers and ornamentals, fruit and vegetables, and aquaculture. Find your webinar today!
26 March 2024
NSF Certification UK Ltd awards the first IFA v6 Smart certificate
Italian fruit producer Roberto Faillace is the first to receive a certificate for IFA v6 Smart. Learn more about his experience transitioning to the latest version of GLOBALG.A.P.’s flagship standard.
Explore our solutions
Check out our complete portfolio for more information on the current range of GLOBALG.A.P. farm assurance solutions – advancing safer and more sustainable farming worldwide!
Transparency in the development process
Past public consultations
View the list of past public consultations and download related documents including summaries of version changes and summaries of responses from the technical experts. The collective development of GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons harnesses insight from across the relevant value chain. This supports our mission of fostering the global adoption of safe, socially and environmentally responsible farming practices by providing industry-leading, cost-efficient, and value-adding assurance and benchmarking solutions.
FAQ
Contact us
For questions about standard setting, please contact us at standard_support@globalgap.org.