The impact of the National Technical Working Group USA on standard accessibility

National technical working groups (NTWGs) are primarily responsible for developing national interpretation guidelines, helping producers and certification bodies (CBs) to apply the principles and criteria (P&Cs) of GLOBALG.A.P. standards in alignment with the country’s legal and regulatory framework.  

NTWG participants include GLOBALG.A.P. community members, certified producers, farm consultants, buyers, certification body representatives, and other industry experts who contribute their time to advance this work. The NTWG represents a space for anyone involved in the GLOBALG.A.P. system to share their experience, concerns, and insights – providing vital thought leadership to the standard setting process. 

Activities of the National Technical Working Group USA 

The US NTWG is responsible for maintaining the Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) and GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice (GRASP) national interpretation guidelines, which are updated with standard version changes.  

Producers benefit through the alignment of existing practices, encompassing policies and procedures used for other compliance entities rather than duplicating their work. The US NTWG also provides context and resources in the guidelines on where and how to find support to meet the standard criteria.  

Additionally, the NTWG has supported the development of standards that are of importance to the US market, including the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) add-on – which covers over 400,000 hectares of certified production annually –  and the Produce Handling Assurance (PHA) standard. With active participation from many respected industry players, the NTWG offers a constructive and collaborative environment in which to drive value of the GLOBALG.A.P. system for local stakeholders. 

Farewell and thank you to NTWG USA chairperson Walter Ram 

Representing GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member Giumarra, Walter Ram has been an integral part of our NTWG USA, serving as the chairperson for over a decade. During his tenure, he has supported the development of national interpretation guidelines for IFA version 4, v5, and v6, as well as GRASP v1.2, v1.3, and v2.  

Walter also spearheaded the alignment between IFA and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR), which developed from an initial producer self-assessment to a verifiable add-on. The add-on, implemented in combination with IFA, has been widely adopted by producers and importers across 18 countries worldwide. 

He also supported the development of both PHA and the Harmonized Produce Safety Standard (HPSS) to provide cost-effective audit solutions for producers.

Walter also provided strategic guidance for GLOBALG.A.P. on topics such as group certification, CB key performance indicators, and more. Roberta Anderson, President of GLOBALG.A.P. North America, commented: “Walter was a listener and a mentor, and opened doorways for GLOBALG.A.P. to work within the industry. Notably, he referred to GLOBALG.A.P. as “we”, as he truly embraced the idea that our standards are co-shaped by stakeholders. It’s been a privilege to work alongside him”.  We would like to express our sincere appreciation for Walter’s contribution, and the foundation he has set for the NTWG USA as we continue onward.  

Looking to the future

Having completed both the IFA v6 and GRASP v2 national interpretation guidelines, the NTWG is now initiating the development of resources to support producers on topics covered by GLOBALG.A.P. standards – including biodiversity, integrated pest management, greenhouse gases and climate change, waste management, and more.  We are always welcoming new participants in the NTWG USA. Would you like to contribute to the successful adoption of GLOBALG.A.P. standards in the US market? Contact northamerica@globalgap.org for more information.  

Related links 

• Learn more about the role of NTWGs and see the full list of countries 

• Discover the FSMA PSR add-on, designed for those working in the US market 

• Find out how GLOBALG.A.P. Community Membership can benefit your organization