26 September 2024
IFA v6 GFS transition period confirmed
Following recognition of the Integrated Farm Assurance standard for plants and aquaculture from the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) in August 2024, a transition period is now confirmed.
IFA v6 GFS transition period confirmed
About IFA v6 – Smart and GFS editions
Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) v6 for fruit and vegetables and for aquaculture were published in 2022. For the first time, IFA v6 was published in two parallel and equally valid editions: IFA v6 Smart, which fully embodies the GLOBALG.A.P. philosophy and is appropriate for the majority of producers, and IFA v6 GFS, designed for producers who require certification with recognition from GFSI.
IFA v6 Smart replaced IFA v5.2 on 1 January 2024.
IFA v6 GFS had not yet replaced IFA v5.4-1-GFS due to not yet receiving GFSI recognition. Now that GFSI has recognized IFA v6 GFS, a transition period for IFA v6 GFS to replace IFA v5.4-1- GFS has been confirmed.
Transition period confirmed
GFSI recognized IFA v6 GFS on 6 August 2024.
To allow for an orderly transition period, IFA v5.4-1 audits may still be conducted until 31 December 2024. The issued certificates will be valid for the full lifecycle of the certificate.
Certificates for IFA v5.4-1-GFS remain valid and GFSI-benchmarked for the lifecycle of the certificate.
As of 1 January 2025, all IFA audits for aquaculture and fruit and vegetables shall be audited against IFA v6 Smart or IFA v6 GFS, the latter being when GFSI recognition is required. No further audits to IFA v5.4-1 may take place after this date.
For further information, please see our related press release.
