Which data is collected?

The IDA add-on applies to sustainability metrics which many producers already collect, via a farm management software or other methods.

For plants, the relevant data may vary according to farm type but is related to:

• Plant protection products

• Fertilizer application (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium contents)

• Water use

• Energy efficiency

For aquaculture, the relevant data is related to:

• Energy efficiency

• Feed indicators including fishmeal and fish oil quantities

• Mortality and escape indicators

• Antimicrobial and vaccination indicators

How does the IDA add-on audit work?

The annual IDA add-on audit confirms that the producer is recording and submitting relevant and accurate data via the farm management software.

• After sharing data for a minimum of three consecutive months, producers can be audited against the IDA add-on by a GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB of their choice.

• IDA compliance is audited annually by accredited and independent third-party CBs. The initial audit may be conducted independently, but the following audits must be conducted together with the annual IFA audit (or an audit against a benchmarked scheme/checklist).

• Producers can choose from any GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB active in the relevant country – although the same CB which conducts the IFA audit must also conduct the IDA add-on audit.

• A successful CB audit results in a letter of conformance valid for one year which may be used to meet buyer requirements or demonstrate a commitment to sustainability.

The standard is composed of principles and criteria (P&Cs). P&Cs are graded in two levels: Major Must and Recommendation.

Principles

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

• Written in statement form

• Describe the outcome to be achieved in the corresponding criteria

Criteria

• Methods that producers can use to demonstrate a principle to be true

• Compliance can be demonstrated in different ways, e.g., data, record of procedure

• Evidence must demonstrate that the outcome is achieved

Read more about the audit process and add-on requirements.

How is conformance 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 conformance status in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems, upholding our rigorous transparency requirements throughout the supply chain.

In order to maintain a valid letter of conformance, the producer must continue sharing data for all relevant metrics on a monthly basis. If the data is not shared with the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat by the 25th of the following month, the producer receives a warning notification from their CB. After the third warning notification, the product is suspended until the gap in the data is closed. This process is handled via your chosen CB.

Producers can control data access and privacy rights for audit reports, and the reports are not shared publicly or with third parties.

Which industry challenges does the IDA add-on address?

With global climate goals in mind, there is growing pressure on producers to minimize their consumption of inputs such as pesticides, fertilizers, and energy.

• To demonstrate commitment to sustainability, producers need to show proof of their continuous, measurable efforts to optimize environmental metrics.

• Data records enable producers to observe trends, evaluate performance, and correlate productivity and environmental impact.

• The IDA add-on provides further insights for continuous improvement via historical trend graphs for the sector and anonymized comparison reports of peer producers.

• Practical information formed of aggregated data can equip producers with the knowledge they need to measure themselves and adapt where possible.

Follow our five steps to the IDA add-on to get started today.

Which solutions can be combined with the IDA add-on?  

The IDA add-on is designed to be paired with IFA certification. Audits are conducted together with the IFA audit, allowing producers to extend their certification scope flexibly and efficiently through a single audit.

Learn more about GLOBALG.A.P. core solutions.

Implementation and CB audit process

How does the CB audit process work?

• After sharing data for a minimum of three consecutive months via an approved farm management software, producers can be audited against the IDA add-on by a GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB of their choice.

• Producers can choose from any GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB active in the relevant country – although the same CB which conducts the Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) must also conduct the IDA add-on audit.

• The initial audit may be conducted independently, but the following audits must be conducted together with the annual IFA audit (or an audit against a benchmarked scheme/checklist).

• A successful CB audit results in a letter of conformance valid for one year. In order to maintain a valid letter of conformance, the producer must continue sharing data for all relevant metrics on a monthly basis.

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

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

Which documents are required?

• GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations specifications: Rules that define how the audit process works, from the scope of the add-on to the audit requirements.

  Principles and criteria (P&Cs): Principl

• s are the fundamental requirements for each add-on. They describe the outcome to achieve and are accompanied by corresponding criteria that detail the various ways in which a producer can demonstrate compliance.

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

Which version of the IDA add-on is currently valid?

There is one version of the IDA add-on available for audit.

• V1 for plants and v1 for aquaculture were published on 13 November 2023 and become obligatory for use with all versions of IFA from 1 January 2024.

• The previous IDA v1 published on 28 October 2020 – for flowers and ornamentals only – will be replaced by the new IDA for plants on 1 January 2024.

The FAQ contains more information on documents, the renewal process, and more.

How much does an IDA add-on audit cost?

Each farm is unique, and the total audit costs depend on a combination of factors such as farm size, number of sites, location, necessary preparation measures (such as establishing new procedures), and more. The IDA add-on contains four cost elements:

1. Farm management software license fee: Determined and invoiced by the chosen farm management software provider required for the IDA add-on

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

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

4. GLOBALG.A.P. registration 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.