Farmer holding a box of fruit and vegetable produce

Core solution

Integrated Farm Assurance for fruit and vegetables

Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) for fruit and vegetables is a global standard for responsible farming practices at primary production level. It is built on a holistic approach that covers the key topics of food safety, environmental sustainability, workers’ well-being, production processes, and traceability.

GLOBALG.A.P.’s flagship standard

What is Integrated Farm Assurance for fruit and vegetables?

Developed by the industry, for the industry, Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) for fruit and vegetables provides producers with clarity on market requirements and facilitates a long-term holistic approach to farm-level operations. The standard has consistently achieved Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) recognition and is aligned with both the UN Global Compact Food and Agribusiness Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals. Operational for over 20 years and continuously developed in collaboration with sector stakeholders, IFA is tried, tested, and trusted around the world, with IFA-certified production processes for fruit and vegetables covering more than four million hectares annually.

Infographic of a world map identifying countries with Integrated Farm Assurance certified production processes for fruit and vegetables

IFA for fruit and vegetables at a glance

Fruit and Vegetables 1, Fruit and vegetables, agriculture, product, harvest
Over 600 species

of fruit and vegetables available for certification under IFA

Fruit and Vegetables 2, Fruit and vegetables, agriculture, production processes
Relevant for all

major types of production systems, from open field to hydroponics

Producer 1, Producer, farmer, stakeholder, supply chain, farm-level, smallholder
Certification options

for a variety of farm sizes and types, including smallholders and producer groups

Globe 3, Globe, worldwide, network, implementation
Implemented worldwide

with a global network of approved CBs and Registered Trainers

Document 1, Document, checklist, add-on
Easily combinable

with a range of targeted add-ons and supply chain solutions for flexible assurance customization

Recognition 1, Recognition, industry, sector, alignment, harmonization, accepted, GFSI, GSSI, FSI, WWF, SIFAV, FDA
Recognized by GFSI

(IFA v5.4-1-GFS, v6 in progress) and accepted for BRCGS-/IFS-certified product handling units

Which topics does IFA for fruit and vegetables address?

IFA for fruit and vegetables covers the major aspects of primary production, from preharvest activities to postharvest handling. The standard has been developed together with sector experts in the technical committees and focus groups and underwent extensive public consultation as part of our process for standard setting. This ensures that IFA remains robust, realistic, and cost-efficient for producers while meeting the evolving demands of buyers.

Core topics in IFA v6 for fruit and vegetables include:

  • Traceability

  • Food safety

  • Workers’ health, safety, and welfare

  • Biodiversity and habitats

  • Energy efficiency

  • Waste management

  • Fertilizers and biostimulants

  • Water management

  • Integrated pest management

  • Plant protection products

Discover more about how IFA helps you address challenges in the agricultural sector.

Producer holding a vegetable

Who should use IFA for fruit and vegetables?

IFA for fruit and vegetables is available for the entire spectrum of producers worldwide, addressing a range of production systems from noncovered farms to controlled environment agriculture.

It offers certification options for both individual producers (single site and multisite producers) and producer groups, including smallholders. Producers can get certification in any country where a GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification body (CB) conducts audits.

We also offer primary solutions for producers who require a stepwise approach towards certification, as well as a portfolio of add-ons to core solutions for producers who require further assurance on specific topics.

How does IFA for fruit and vegetables work?

  • Compliance with the standard requirements is audited annually by an accredited and independent third-party CB.

  • Producers can choose from any GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB active in the relevant country.

  • A successful CB audit results in a certificate valid for one year.

The certificate is issued at scope level (IFA for plants) and lists the applicable product categories (e.g., fruit and vegetables, flowers and ornamentals) individually. Producers with multiple types of operations can therefore get certification for all of them through a single audit process.

IFA v6 checklists are generated digitally and are tailored to the producer’s specific production practices, eliminating any not applicable requirements. Our smarter, streamlined, and outcome-oriented approach also provides flexibility to producers in demonstrating compliance.

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

Principles

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

  • Written in statement form

  • Describing the outcomes to achieve

Criteria

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

  • Different ways to demonstrate compliance, e.g., data, record of procedure

  • Evidence required for demonstrating that the outcome is achieved

Read more about the audit process and standard requirements.

Infographic showing the breakdown of principles and criteria of Integrated Farm Assurance version 6 for fruit and vegetables

How is certification status verified?

Every producer registered in the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system is assigned a unique 13-digit GLOBALG.A.P. identification number (e.g., a GLOBALG.A.P. Number (GGN)). This number allows real-time verification of certification status in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems, upholding our rigorous transparency requirements throughout the supply chain.

Producers can control data access and privacy rights for audit reports, and the reports are not shared publicly or with third parties. This process is handled via your chosen CB.

What are the two editions of IFA v6?

IFA v6 for fruit and vegetables is available 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

  • IFA v6 GFS, designed for producers who require certification with recognition from GFSI

This decision stems from the extensive public consultation conducted during the standard revision. Many industry experts requested a more flexible and outcome-oriented IFA, but it was not possible to completely reconcile their preferences with GFSI requirements. To provide solutions for both use cases and to ensure that IFA certification continues to be applicable for the mass market, two editions were developed: IFA v6 Smart and IFA v6 GFS.

The two editions contain some differences in the GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations, such as rules for unannounced CB audits. Both editions are accepted for BRCGS- and IFS-certified post farm-gate product handling units. Customer requirements usually determine the edition that a producer will implement.

Infographic showing the four stages of the Integrated Farm Assurance continuous improvement plan at farm level

What is the continuous improvement plan?

IFA v6 for fruit and vegetables introduces the need for a continuous improvement plan at farm level. This approach encourages measurable target setting that helps producers to improve the efficiency of their operations and achieve recognition for efforts to strengthen on-farm sustainability.

  • Plan: After analyzing current practices, data identifies areas that can be improved, and the producer sets measurable goals for improvement.

  • Do: Targeted measures are implemented in farming practices.

  • Check: Implementation is checked and progress reviewed at the annual CB audit.

  • Act: The continuous improvement plan is revised based on progress and impact.

Latest news

A promotional banner advertising a new series of GLOBALG.A.P. videos tackling the topic of risk assessments.

27 February 2024

Launch of new educational video series on risk assessments

The free e-learning tool, launched in February 2024, aims to support producers and trainers in understanding on-farm risk assessments.

Capacity building
Fruit and vegetables
Plants
Core solutions
Aquaculture
Flowers and ornamentals
A promotional banner for Summit 2024 - Shaping the future of farming together, 10-12 September 2024, Warsaw, Poland

27 February 2024

Join us at SUMMIT 2024: Early Bird tickets now on sale!

For the first time since 2018 in Peru, the SUMMIT event will return in September 2024 in Warsaw, Poland, to explore the latest developments in food safety and sustainability, as well as the future of the industry.

Capacity building
Animal welfare
Aquaculture
Plants
Environmental sustainability
Food safety
Traceability
Workers’ well-being
Image of fruit with the GGN label on a display stand in the retailer Globus in Germany

Making responsible farming visible to consumers

IFA certification is one of the requirements for using the GGN label – a consumer label for certified, responsible farming and transparency found on fruit and vegetables, farmed seafood, flowers, and plants. Improve your competitive edge and grow trust in your brand by making responsible farming visible on store shelves!

Demonstrate your commitment to safer and more sustainable farming

Why choose Integrated Farm Assurance for fruit and vegetables?

Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) is the leading smart farm assurance solution for fruit and vegetables – enabling producers worldwide to assess, demonstrate, and improve their responsible farming practices. IFA certification is requested by retailers across the globe and provides a practical path for producers to implement best practices at farm level that contribute to the long-term viability of the sector, the welfare of farming communities, and the sustainability of surrounding ecosystems. 

Which industry challenges does IFA for fruit and vegetables address?

  • Food safety and traceability have long been fundamental priorities for both consumers and supply chain stakeholders.

  • The farming industry must continuously evolve to also address the increasing interaction between the environment and agriculture, and improve the sustainability of farming practices.

  • Retailers need to meet rising consumer concerns in areas such as biodiversity, responsible water management, and agricultural input use.

  • Responsible production is also about people, and workers’ health, safety, and welfare are in the spotlight due to social sustainability issues and new legislation in global supply chains.

  • The result is that retailers are seeking a growing range of assurances about responsible farming practices, and producers are undergoing an increasing number of audits to satisfy them.

  • IFA guides producers and provides assurance to buyers through a holistic approach that addresses all major sector demands – with their achievements in responsible farming validated through transparent and globally recognized certification.

Follow our five steps to certification to get started today.

IFA for fruit and vegetables in numbers (as of 31/12/2022)

Producer 1, Producer, farmer, stakeholder, supply chain, farm-level, smallholder
187,718

producers under certification

Globe 3, Globe, worldwide, network, implementation
134

countries with certified production processes

Farm 1, Farm, producer, agriculture, plants, crops
4 million

hectares of certified production

Woman working on vegetable farm

What are the benefits for producers?

  • Improve farm management and the efficiency of farm operations.

  • Get recognition for your efforts to protect environmental resources and enhance biodiversity on the farm.

  • Achieve compliance with a globally recognized standard that fulfills international supply chain requirements.

  • Enjoy a flexible approach to farm assurance through the easy combination of add-ons and the opportunity to join the consumer-facing GGN label initiative.

  • Choose from an extensive worldwide network of accredited, GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification bodies (CBs).

  • Apply our farm assurance solutions on a wide range of farm types and sizes and access certification options for both individual producers and producer groups.

  • Optimize your production processes through a continuous improvement plan.

Image of a retail worker displaying fresh fruit products in store

What are the benefits for supply chain stakeholders?

  • Access a flexible farm assurance portfolio that provides all the coverage you need through one certification system.

  • Support industry-driven smart farm assurance solutions – developed by the sector, for the sector – that enables buyers to easily identify suppliers that fulfill their requirements.

  • Promote a holistic approach that features rigorous criteria on food safety, environmental sustainability, workers’ well-being, production processes, and traceability.

  • Mitigate reputational risks and enable trusted supply that meets major consumer demands – from food waste prevention and biodiversity to plastics reduction and responsible water use.

  • Source from a growing pool of producers with certified production processes globally, with easy certification verification in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems.

  • Choose from a range of add-ons that are tailored to specific aspects of production and the supply chain.

Image of a person assembling wooden blocks that represent the activities of the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrity Program

Maintaining trust in GLOBALG.A.P. certification

The GLOBALG.A.P. Integrity Program was founded in 2008 as the first of its kind in food certification. Designed to ensure the consistent delivery and implementation of GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons worldwide, the program monitors and assesses all aspects of the third-party certification process.

Which solutions can be combined with IFA for fruit and vegetables?

We offer a range of standards and add-ons targeted to specific aspects of production and the supply chain. They can each be audited or assessed in combination with IFA, extending the certification scope and offering buyers specific assurance tailored to their preferences.

Learn more about GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions.

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Sustainable Program for Irrigation and Groundwater Use

SPRING is an add-on for responsible water management in plant production processes.

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GLOBALG.A.P. Chain of Custody

CoC is a supply chain standard that safeguards the segregation and traceability of products originating from GLOBALG.A.P. certified production processes.

young woman pressing high tech virtual G button

Ready to get started?

Use our Smart Checklist Builder to easily understand which GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions are recommended for your production practices and generate a personalized checklist for your self-assessment.

Your guide to implementation

How to prepare for an Integrated Farm Assurance audit

Learn more about the key documents and fee structure of Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) for fruit and vegetables. Follow our five steps to certification for an overview of the certification process, and find a GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification body (CB) in your area to get started.

Implementation and CB audit process

How does the CB audit process work?

  • IFA compliance is audited annually by accredited and independent third-party CBs.

  • Producers can choose from any GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB active in the relevant country.

  • A successful CB audit results in a certificate valid for one year.

  • 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: Rules that define how the certification process works, from the scope of the standard to the audit requirements. Scope-specific regulations also outline the certification process for each IFA scope (e.g., rules for plants).

  • Principles and criteria (P&Cs): Principles are the fundamental requirements for each standard. They describe the outcomes 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 P&Cs as used by CB auditors, enabling producers to conduct a self-assessment in preparation for the CB audit.

Which versions of IFA are currently valid?

IFA is currently in transition from v5 to v6. There are currently two valid versions available for certification:

  • IFA v6 was published in April 2022 in two editions: IFA v6 Smart and IFA v6 GFS.
    - IFA v6 Smart became obligatory on 1 January 2024, replacing v5.2.
    - IFA v6 GFS becomes obligatory and replaces v5.4-1-GFS after GFSI recognition is achieved (estimated for Q3 of 2024 – a transition period will be announced in due course).

  • IFA v5.4-1-GFS was published in October 2021 and is recommended for producers who require certification with GFSI recognition. It will continue to be available for audit until v6 GFS achieves GFSI recognition. Certificates achieved before v6 GFS becomes obligatory will be valid and GFSI-recognized for their full cycle.

The FAQ contains further information on documents, certification renewal, and more.

Transitioning from IFA v5 to IFA v6?

Our transition tools can help you cross-reference the requirements and support your transition to the newest version.

Image of a certification body auditor conducting an audit of citrus plants

What are the IFA standard requirements?

P&Cs are graded in three levels: Major Must, Minor Must, and Recommendation.

  • To achieve certification, producers must comply with 100% of the Major Musts and at least 95% of the Minor Musts.

  • Corrective actions must be proposed for all non-compliances and submitted to the CB within the specified period.

  • Non-compliances must then be verified as corrected and compliant by the CB before a certificate can be issued.

How much does IFA certification for fruit and vegetables cost?

Each farm is unique, and the total costs of certification depend on a combination of factors such as farm size, number of sites, location, necessary preparation measures (such as establishing new procedures), and more. IFA contains three cost elements:

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

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

  3. GLOBALG.A.P. producer registration and certificate license fees: Calculated based on production area and certification option and invoiced by the CB

The GLOBALG.A.P. fee table contains full information on the fee structure for each standard and add-on.

Five steps to certification

Close up of hands typing on a laptop

You will need the GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations, the IFA P&Cs for fruit and vegetables, and the checklist. All of the required documents are available online, for free, and in multiple languages. They are linked below and can also be found in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center

Young farmer conducting a self-assessment with the help of a Registered Trainer

Use the documents to guide the implementation of the standard requirements, and then
conduct a self-assessment using the checklist. Our worldwide network of Registered Trainers
can also provide assistance during audit preparations.

Farmer planning their audit request over the phone with their chosen CB

Search the list of GLOBALG.A.P. approved CBs by region, country, scope, and status. Contact the CB of your choice and request an audit. Note that the GLOBALG.A.P. fee table does not cover CB service fees such as audit time or travel costs to your site.

Flower producer being audited

The CB will conduct the audit and upload the results to Audit Online Hub. Any non-compliances which are detected during the CB audit must be corrected within the specified period and verified by the CB before a certificate can be issued.

Product farmer after receiving their certificate

Once all requirements are met and verified by the CB, they will issue your IFA certificate. Your
certification status is then publicly visible in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems for transparency in
the market.

Key documents

The three most relevant documents are linked below. Click ‘view more’ to see further related documents. Remember to always check with your CB that you have all necessary documents prior to audit.

IFA v6 Smart for fruit and vegetables

Principles and criteria

V6 Smart

English | Last updated: 07/03/2024

pdf

Principles and criteria are a complete list of the requirements for a given standard or add-on. The foundational requirements each detail an outcome that must be achieved, and the corresponding ways in which compliance can be demonstrated.

IFA v6 Smart for fruit and vegetables

Checklists

V6 Smart

English | Last updated: 12/12/2023

xlsx

Checklists are documents containing standard/add-on principles and criteria which are used during the audit/assessment to check whether compliance is achieved. They may also be used to conduct self-assessments.

All Farm Base, Crops Base, Fruit and Vegetables (v5.4-1-GFS)

Checklists

V5.4-1-GFS

English | Last updated: 22/08/2023

xlsx

Checklists are documents containing standard/add-on principles and criteria which are used during the audit/assessment to check whether compliance is achieved. They may also be used to conduct self-assessments.

Find a certification body to conduct your audit

All GLOBALG.A.P. approved CBs are listed on our CB web page.

Image of producers receiving a farm tour during a capacity-building training program

Capacity building

Need assistance with the certification process? Our capacity-building program offers a range of options for training, consultation, and more!

Upcoming events

11 Mar - 15 Mar

2024

Academy training: IFA v6 for fruit and vegetables in English

Location: Online
Event type: Academy course
Event format: Virtual

Capacity building
Fruit and vegetables
Plants
Core solutions
Food safety

20 Mar - 21 Mar

2024

Academy training: SPRING v2 in English

Location: Online
Event type: Academy course
Event format: Virtual

Capacity building
Plants
Add-ons to core solutions

A brief history of IFA for fruit and vegetables

1999–2003

Seventeen retailers decide to introduce an independent verification system as a base for supplier compliance. In 2001, EurepGAP establishes the partnership principle between retailers and producers and presents trial results of its first Fruit and Vegetables Protocol. This receives ISO 65 accreditation, and EurepGAP begins issuing the first producer certificates. Following a revision process in 2003, EurepGAP presents version 2 of the Fruit and Vegetables Protocol in Madrid.

2004–2009

The Fruit and Vegetables Protocol becomes Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA), and the 2005 version of the IFA standard is launched. Two years later, almost 300 delegates from 41 countries discuss and make proposals for the future direction and content of the 2007 version. Following its launch, and by the end of 2009, there are 89,104 producers worldwide under IFA certification for fruit and vegetables.

2010–2014

In London in 2010, IFA v4 is launched, considered at the time to be the most widely consulted, innovative, and science-based version yet. By the end of the year, a milestone is reached as the 100,000th producer achieves IFA certification. By June of 2014, there are 132,974 producers under IFA certification in 113 countries – covering 2.98 million hectares of fruit and vegetable production.

2015–2018

A new milestone is reached in 2015 as the number of producers with IFA certification rises above 150,000 across 120 countries. The revision of the standard results in IFA v5.1 and by the end of the year, more than 180,000 producers are under certification, with fruit and vegetable production processes now covering 3.5 million hectares.

2019–2022

The technical committees agree on the structure and workflow for the IFA v5.2 to v6 revision process. The draft is put to a first public consultation from May to June 2020, a second from November 2020 to January 2021, and a third from May to July 2021. Field trials are conducted in seven countries. 

Following a fourth and final public consultation from August to September 2021, the standard is approved by the technical committees and officially adopted by the GLOBALG.A.P. Advisory Board in October.

2023–2024

The interim final version of IFA v6 for fruit and vegetables is published in April 2022, and the final version follows in September. IFA v6 Smart for fruit and vegetables becomes obligatory on 1 January 2024. IFA v6 GFS will become obligatory following a transition period after achieving GFSI recognition.

FAQ

Image of a customer support agent advising a stakeholder

Contact us

For technical/interpretation questions, please contact us at standard_support@globalgap.org.

For questions about the audit process or GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems, please contact us at customer_support@globalgap.org.