About GLOBALG.A.P.
National Technical Working Groups
National technical working groups (NTWGs) facilitate the implementation of GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons in specific countries. Led by GLOBALG.A.P. Community Members, NTWGs bridge the gap from global to local by identifying adaptation and application challenges at a national level and developing national interpretation guidelines (NIGs) – supporting fit-for-purpose solutions and cost-effective audit processes around the world.
Thinking globally, acting locally
What are national technical working groups?
National technical working groups (NTWGs) consist of GLOBALG.A.P. Community Members, qualified experts, and relevant stakeholders in a specific country. Participants may include producer organizations, certification bodies (CBs), retailers, supply chain members, and more. Together, NTWG members work to identify adaptation and implementation challenges based on local legislation or structural conditions. They then develop national interpretation guidelines (NIGs), helping producers and CBs to apply and audit against GLOBALG.A.P. principles and criteria (P&Cs) at a local level.
Why do we have NTWGs?
NTWGs are currently active in more than 50 countries, helping the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat to tap into national networks of experts and gain extensive knowledge about the different legal and operational contexts that exist around the world. They represent the technical entry point into a new market and form the local contact point for the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat when feedback is required.
This expertise helps to ensure that the GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions are fit for purpose in different global conditions, improving the efficiency of the audit process.
Interested in joining the NTWG in your country? View the list of NTWGs.
What are the responsibilities of an NTWG?
Providing assistance
with the proofreading and translation of official GLOBALG.A.P. standard/add-on documents into the languages of the NTWG host country
Organizing meetings,
a minimum of two per year, providing the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat with meeting minutes, participation lists, and insights on relevant issues
Developing NIGs
for GLOBALG.A.P. standards/add-ons in collaboration with the technical committees
Participating in the peer review
process of GLOBALG.A.P. benchmarking activities concerning schemes operating in the NTWG host country
Supporting the technical committees
with expertise on country-specific conditions and revision proposals for GLOBALG.A.P. standard/add-on documents
Updating the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat
with information on names, companies, and email addresses of all NTWG members
Why join an NTWG?
Contribute to NIG development for the local interpretation of a GLOBALG.A.P. standard/add-on
Participate in the peer review process of GLOBALG.A.P. benchmarking and recognition activities in your country
Provide qualified input to the continuous improvement of the GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions portfolio
Help producers in your country to achieve certification and increase awareness of safer and more sustainable farming practices
Expand your regional and global networks by connecting with one of the largest community membership programs in the industry
Partner with us at GLOBALG.A.P. TOUR stop events, focusing on issues relevant to your country or region
Benefit from regular communication and exchange as part of the GLOBALG.A.P. governance structure
Gain insights on GLOBALG.A.P. technical news, standard revisions, upcoming trainings, and more
NTWGs have no fixed term and work continuously. They are always open to new members, and participation is free of charge for all groups worldwide. Following acceptance of the online registration, the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat informs the host organization who invites new members to the next NTWG meeting.
Hear from the NTWG members in the testimonials section.
Participating in a NTWG allows for profound cooperation on the local implementation of GLOBALG.A.P. standard requirements – to the benefit of producers, producers' organizations, and certification bodies.
Ann De Craene
Senior Advisor at Verbond van Belgische Tuinbouwcoöperaties (VBT) | Belgium
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!
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Find an NTWG
Country: Albania
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Klajdi Ceka
Company: Albinspekt bio.inspecta
Country: Argentina
Category: Fruit and Vegetables, Livestock
Host/Chairman: Enrique Kurincic
Company: IRAM
Country: Belgium
Category: All IFA Sub-Scopes
Host/Chairman: Ann De Craene
Company: Verbond van Belgische Tuinbouwcoöperaties (VBT)
Country: Brazil North
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Daniel Velloso
Company: Santec Auditoria e Certificações LTDA
Country: Brazil South
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Host: Heidy Ferrari Silveira Milan
Company: PariPassu Aplicativos Especiaizados Ltda
Country: Bulgaria
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Kliment Petrov
Company: BULGAP Ltd
Country: Chile
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Carola Bonelli
Company: Primus Chile S.p.A.
Country: Colombia
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Carlos Suarez
Company: OCATI
Country: Costa Rica
Category: Fruit and Vegetables, Flowers and Ornamentals
Host/Chairman: Martin Calderon
Company: Cámara Nacional de Agricultura y Agroindustria
Country: Cote d'Ivoire
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Konan Koffi
Company: SCB - Societé de culture de Banaière
Country: Czech Republic
Category: Fruit and Vegetables, Combinable Crops, Cattle and Sheep, Pigs, Dairy
Host/Chairman: Jakub Stibůrek
Company: Czech Society for Quality (CSQ)
Country: Dominican Republic
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Teofilo Suriel/ Wilma Nuñez
Company: CEDAF
Country: Ecuador
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Wladimir Morales
Company: Agrocalidad
Country: Egypt
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Manal Saleh
Company: Blue Moon Ltd.
Country: Finland
Category: IFA F&V
Host/Chairman: Anne Piirainen
Company: Puutarhaliitto
Country: France
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Cyril Laporte
Company: CNIPT
Country: Germany/Austria/Switzerland
Category: Fruit and Vegetables, Flowers and Ornamentals
Host/Chairman: Dirk Teuber
Company: CNIPT
Country: Costa Rica
Category: Fruit and Vegetables, Flowers and Ornamentals
Host/Chairman: Martin Calderon
Company: Cámara Nacional de Agricultura y Agroindustria
Country: Germany/Austria/Switzerland
Category: Fruit and Vegetables, Flowers and Ornamentals
Host/Chairman: Dirk Teuber
Company: CNIPT
Country: Chile
Category: Aquaculture
Host/Chairman: Jorge Rios Alveal
Company: DNV GL Chile
Country: Colombia
Category: Aqua
Host/Chairman: Santamaria Zapata Luz Dary
Company: ICONTEC
Country: Bosnia-Herzegowina
Category: IFA Crops Sub-scopes
Host/Chairman: Chairperson: Tea Zerdelic/Mirakol
Company: Eurocert S.A.
Country: Czech Republic
Category: Fruit and Vegetables, Combinable Crops, Cattle and Sheep, Pigs, Dairy
Host/Chairman: Jakub Stibůrek
Company: Czech Society for Quality (CSQ)
Country: Denmark
Category: IFA Crops
Host/Chairman: Maria Teresa Fresu
Company: Baltic Control Certification
Country: Ghana
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Host: Victor Avah
Company: GAPS Consulting Ltd
Country: Greece
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: George Kravvas
Company: TUV Nord Greece
Country: Guatemala
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Irene Eduardo
Company: Agrequima
Country: Hungary
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Melinda Czegledi
Company: Control Union Hungaria Kft
Country: India
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Dr. Manish Pande
Company: QCI - Quality Council of India
Country: Italy
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Simona Rubbi
Company: Centro Servizi Ortofruiticoli (CSO)
Country: Japan
Category: Fruit and Vegetables, Combinable Crops, Tea
Host/Chairman: Kazumi Oka / Sakae Shibusawa
Company: AEON
Country: Kenya
Category: Fruit and Vegetables / Flowers and Ornamentals
Host/Chairman: Host: Hosea Machuki / Chairperson: Dr. Andrew Edewa
Company: Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK)
Country: Mexico
Category: Fruit& Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Host: Jose Luis Jurado Zurita, Co-Chair: Claudette Quevedo
Company: CEMA Certificadora
Country: New Zealand
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Host: Damien Farrelly Chairperson: Kate McDermott
Company: Horticulture New Zealand
Country: Nicaragua
Category: Fruit and Vegetables, Flowers and Ornamentals, Livestock
Host/Chairman: Francisco Orozco / Richardo Silva
Company: APEN
Country: Panama
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Belisario Troya Escobar
Company: SEAGRO PANAMA CORP, S.A.
Country: Peru
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Alvaro Raposo, AGAP
Company: AGAP
Country: Poland
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Maciej Majewski
Company: Fresh Mazovia
Country: Republic of Korea
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Isidor Yu
Company: Isidor Sustainability Research Institute
Country: Romania
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Cristina Andreea Vasii
Company: Stoian Land Cooperativa Agricola
Country: South Africa
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Chair: Paula Bester
Company: Citrus Growers Association (CGA)
Country: Spain
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Luis Martín
Company: FEPEX
Country: Tajikistan
Category: Fruit and Vegetables, Crops, Livestock
Host/Chairman: Chairperson: Larisa Kislyakova
Company: Tajikistan Union of Professional Consultants
Country: Tanzania
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Isaac Paul Ndamanhyilu
Company: KILICCERT Agribusiness
Country: The Netherlands
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Paul Bol
Company: Groenten Fruit Huis
Country: Turkey
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Mustafa Akyüz
Company: ETKO
Country: Ukraine
Category: Fruit and Vegetables, Crops, Livestock
Host/Chairman: Host: Valentina Berezan / Chair: Slyva Yulia
Company: Quality Development Center
Country: United Kingdom
Category: Aquaculture
Host/Chairman: Nicola MacColl
Company: Marine Harvest Scotland
Country: USA
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Walter Ram
Company: Giumarra
Country: Uzbekistan
Category: Fruit and Vegetables
Host/Chairman: Host: Askarali Askarov
Company: Agency for Technical Regulation of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Harnessing regional value chain expertise
How can I establish a national technical working group?
While anyone can join a national technical working group (NTWG), founding hosts must be GLOBALG.A.P. Community Members from one of the three categories producer/supplier, retail/food service, or associate. There is no minimum number of members required, although we encourage NTWGs to integrate relevant stakeholders from across the whole value chain where possible.
Five steps to hosting an NTWG
Reach out to your network, partners, and other interested parties. Ideally, the group will include stakeholders from all stages of the national value chain.
If you are already a GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member, download the NTWG terms of reference and check the responsibilities. If you are not yet a community member, apply online to start the process.
Sign the NTWG terms of reference and send the document to ntwg@globalgap.org. The GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat will countersign it and confirm the approval of the new NTWG by email. A minimum of two meetings per year are required for the group to be considered active.
Ask founding group members to register via the online registration form. The GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat will inform the host about successful registrations by email. If the NTWG creation is part of a GLOBALG.A.P. capacity building project, additional guidance will be provided.
Schedule the first meeting of the NTWG and define a plan of action (to be shared with the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat). Members must also elect a chairperson – they can be chosen from any organization represented within the group, not only from the host. The roles and responsibilities of the chairperson are outlined in the NTWG terms of reference.
NTWG terms of reference
Help us to improve the implementation of GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons at a local level – advancing safer and more sustainable farming practices all over the world.
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.
Adapting to local conditions
What are national interpretation guidelines?
The primary purpose of a national technical working group (NTWG) is the development of national interpretation guidelines (NIGs) for GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons. NIGs are an interpretation of GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons based on the legal and structural conditions of the respective country. NIGs include both the translation of the documents into the local language, as well as the incorporation of national legislation that is required to complement the principles and criteria (P&Cs). The final NIG is relevant to both the implementation and the auditing process.
What is the NIG development process?
NTWGs work in close collaboration with both the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat and the technical committees in order to draft, review, and approve an NIG for a specific country.
NIG development is currently possible for all product categories in the Integrated Farm Assurance standard, the GLOBALG.A.P. Chain of Custody standard, and the GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice add-on. Further standards and add-ons are added continuously.
All NIGs for a specific country can be found in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center.
Five steps to developing an NIG
The NTWG downloads the relevant NIG template from the GLOBALG.A.P. website and completes it. Following submission, the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat has a maximum of two weeks to ensure that the information is complete and correct.
The GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat begins the internal technical review and sends comments to the NTWG. The NTWG has a maximum of four weeks to respond, and this process continues until all comments have been resolved. If a response time is longer than eight weeks, the process must be restarted from the submission stage.
The GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat invites certification bodies (CBs), accreditation bodies (ABs), and GLOBALG.A.P. Community Members in the relevant country to send written feedback on the draft NIG document within a maximum of four weeks. A further four weeks are allocated for responses to peer review comments.
The GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat prepares a peer review report and sends the final version of the NIG to the relevant technical committee for approval. This process takes a maximum of four weeks. Approval can be confirmed in writing or at a technical committee meeting.
The NIG is published on the GLOBALG.A.P. website and added to the GLOBALG.A.P. document center, and its content is integrated into Audit Online Hub. Information is provided to all GLOBALG.A.P. Community Members and approved CBs/ABs in the relevant country within a maximum of three weeks. The NIG becomes a GLOBALG.A.P. normative document and is then mandatory for use in the country.
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:
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15 May
2024
Flowers and Ornamentals Focus Group meeting
Location:
Online
Event type:
Meeting
Event format:
Virtual
FAQ
Contact us
For questions about NTWGs, please contact us at ntwg@globalgap.org.