The new GLOBALG.A.P. Produce Handling Assurance (PHA) Standard covers pre-process production steps after the point of harvest for crops including cooling, packing, re-packing, handling, and storage of produce for human consumption. The PHA Standard may not be used to certify products significantly transformed from the original whole state or foods that are processed.
- Available to all qualified produce packing operations meeting the scope definition in the United States, Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean.
- Available to produce handling operations worldwide meeting the scope definition that pack and handle produce in an open-shed environment.
- May be used in conjunction with the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance Standard for Fruit and Vegetables (IFA FV) audit to reduce audit redundancy and cost.
- Incorporates FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements from both the Produce Safety Rule and the Preventive Controls for Human Food Rule, as appropriate.
- Aids operations in identifying FSMA requirements that must be addressed at the farm level.
- Audit reports and certificates can be provided to importers, retailers, and other value-chain participants as evidence of an operation’s efforts toward FSMA implementation.
- Includes Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) requirements. A new standard must be operational for one year before it can apply for GFSI benchmarking. GLOBALG.A.P. anticipates GFSI benchmarking of the PHA Standard in 2020.
The PHA certificate is not an assurance or guarantee of FSMA compliance, as legal compliance can only be determined by a regulatory authority, such as the United States Food and Drug Administration .
Please contact standard@globalgap.org for more information about this new standard.
GLOBALG.A.P. extends its sincere gratitude to the many people who contributed to the development of this standard!
Focus Group Members:
USA
Donna Lynn Browne - Naturipe Farms LLC
Ximena Gonzalez - Naturipe Farms LLC
Josh Edge - SCS Global Services
Kristie Gilford - Robinson Fresh
Hector Pedraza - Robinson Fresh
Walter Ram - Guiamarra Companies
Jacqui Gordon - Washington State Tree Fruit Association
Amanda May - Wonderful Citrus
Jennifer McEntire - United Fresh Produce Association
Keith Refsnider - Driscoll’s
Matt Regusci - WQS Food Verification
Enrique Urrutia - WQS Food Verification
Gabriela Sandoval - AG Food Safety Solutions
Kelly Jones - AG Food Safety Solutions
Mark Shakespeare - Walmart Inc.
Canada
Greg Palmer - Costco Wholesale Canada
Chile
Ricardo Adonis - ASOEX FDF
Early Contributors:
Gary Rohman, Farm to Fork, LLC
Steve Jack, Farm Fresh Assurance, Inc.
Astrid Goplen, FOODCHAIN ID
Rob Koch, Apple Leaf
Public Consultation 1:
Carman McKinney: Roy Farms Inc.
Astrid Goplen: FOODCHAIN ID
Ricardo Adonis, ASOEX FDF
Josh Edge: SCS Global Services
Grregory Palmer, Costco Wholesale Canada
Gary Rohman, Farm to Fork, LLC.
Steve Jack, Farm Fresh Assurance, Inc
Jennifer McEntire, United Fresh
Public Consultation 2:
Mariana Mrozek, PAI S.A.
Richard Yudin, University of Florida
Stephan Imbery, Agrochron GmbH
Antonio Restrepo: L & M Companies Inc.
Josh Edge: SCS Global Services
Sara Brinkley, Peri & Sons Farms, Nevada Fresh Pak
Trial Audits:
CBs
SCS Global Services
FOODCHAIN ID (Cert-ID)
Auditors
Pablo Elliott
Josh Edge
Rob Koch
Rebecca Anderson
Participating Facilities
Quail H Farms LLC, Sweet potatoes, with Gabriela Sandoval, Darren Barfield
Mininger Farms, Sweet potatoes, with Gabriela Sandoval, Bernardo Garcia M.B.A.
Bailey Farms, Peppers, Tomatillo, Squash, with Patty Sanchez
Peri & Sons Farms, Nevada Fresh Pak, Onions with Sara Brinkley
Harvest Queen, Onions
Rogers Orchards, Apples, Pears and Stone Fruit (Peaches)