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GLOBALG.A.P.’s new flagship standard, Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) version 6, and version 2 of the GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice(GRASP) add-on, were successfully launched in April 2022. The final version of the IFA v6 standard will be published in English in September 2022, and in further languages by the end of the year.
As explained in our April launch event and the publication of our smart farm assurance solutions strategy, the development and release of IFA v6 marked not just an update to the standard, but an entire overhaul of the GLOBALG.A.P. system and services.
Following consultation with the industry, we have decided to extend the transition period for the obligatory use of GRASP v2 and IFA v6 for fruit and vegetables, flowers and ornamentals, hops, and aquaculture from 1 May 2023 to 1 October 2023. This extension will allow a smoother transition for all producers and downstream supply chains.
IFA v6 represents a major step compared to previous standard updates, and GLOBALG.A.P. recognizes that stakeholders require more time to adapt while simultaneously dealing with the wide range of challenges currently facing the sector.
IFA v6 is however still ready for implementation and the extension of the obligatory date does not affect producers who want to be audited against the standard before 1 October 2023. Audits for IFA v6 will be possible as soon as certification body training is complete.
The dedicated IFA v6 and GRASP v2 web pages contain further information on the transition periods.
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