Which topics does CFM address?

CFM was developed together with sector experts in the technical committees and the CFM Focus Group, as well as through consultation with a range of feed mill operators, ingredient suppliers, and producers from around the world. Our approach to standard setting ensures that CFM remains robust, realistic, and cost-efficient for manufacturers while meeting the evolving demands of buyers.

Core topics in CFM v3.1 include:

• Feed safety

• Traceability

• Responsible sourcing

• Raw material management

• Prohibited materials

• Workers’ competence

• Workers’ health, safety, and welfare

• Site hygiene and management

• Resource use

• Biosecurity

Discover more about how CFM helps you address feed sector challenges.

How does CFM work?

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

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

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

• CFM certification is required for each individual manufacturing site (Option 1). For multisite feed mill operators, all sites must be audited separately.

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 compliance

• 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.

For aquaculture producers with IFA certification, the GGNs of their feed suppliers are also displayed in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems.

Manufacturers 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 are recognized feed safety schemes?

Manufacturers that seek to sell their feed to aquaculture producers with IFA-certified production processes must be certified to either CFM, a standard successfully benchmarked against CFM, or a feed scheme accredited to ISO/IEC 17065 or 17021. 

Based on ISO/IEC accreditation, certification to the following third-party feed safety schemes is accepted as compliant with the sourcing requirements in IFA for aquaculture. However, these schemes are not considered officially equivalent or benchmarked to CFM.  

• GMP+ B1, Production, Trade and Services  

• FSSC Feed (including PAS 222) 

• SQF Code for Feed 

• Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS) 

CFM v2.2: 

In addition to certification against one of the above-mentioned feed safety schemes, feed manufacturers must provide a letter/declaration to their customers (primary producers of aquaculture and/or livestock) that states compliance against section 15 (15.1–15.5) of CFM v2.2, entitled “Responsible use of natural resources”. This letter/declaration must be available for inspection at the aquaculture and/or livestock farms at the time of first and subsequent CB audits. This letter/declaration will be in force until 31 December 2023 for CFM v2.2.

CFM v3.1:

In addition to certification against one of the above-mentioned feed safety schemes, feed manufacturers must be audited by a GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB for the CFM standard against the requirements in CFM v3.1 section A5, section B, and section C. This will be in force from 1 January 2023 for CFM v3.1.

Which industry challenges does CFM address?

• Safe, suitable nutrition is vital for animal health and welfare. Manufacturing standards play a key role in feed and food safety across the supply chain.

• In addition, the origins and sustainability of raw materials used to manufacture feed are increasingly important to consumers, particularly with regard to land conversion.

• Environmental criteria are therefore required to promote both responsible resource use in production and the responsible sourcing of critical compounds such as soy, fish meal/oil, and palm oil.

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

• Traceability at every stage of the manufacturing process and transparency on the feed used on aquaculture/​livestock farms is now a major priority for value chain stakeholders.

Follow our five steps to certification to get started today. 

Which solutions can be combined with CFM?

We offer a range of standards and add-ons targeted to specific aspects of production and the supply chain. They can each be audited or assessed in combination with CFM, extending the certification scope and offering buyers specific assurance tailored to their preferences. 

Learn more about GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions.

Implementation and CB audit process

How does the CB audit process work? 

• CFM compliance is audited annually by accredited and independent third-party CBs. 

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

• 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 data in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems. 

• Manufacturers will be audited annually by a CB as part of the renewal process. 

Which documents are required? 

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

• Control points and compliance criteria (CPCCs): Control points are the fundamental requirements for each standard. They are written in question form and are accompanied by corresponding compliance criteria that detail the various ways in which a producer can demonstrate compliance. 

• Checklist: The full list of CPCCs as used by CB auditors, enabling manufacturers to conduct a self-assessment in preparation for the CB audit. 

Which versions of CFM are currently valid? 

There is currently one valid version of CFM available for certification:

• CFM v3.1 was published on 20 December 2022. It became obligatory on 1 January 2024, replacing v2.2 and v3.

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

How much does CFM certification cost?

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

1. Implementation costs: Incurred by the manufacturer 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 fees: Calculated based on quantity (metric tons) of feed produced annually and invoiced by the CB

For CFM, the minimum audit duration for the first manufacturing site is two days, and the minimum duration for each additional site is 0.75 days. This includes the audit and audit reporting, but excludes CB travel time.

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