GLOBALG.A.P. PRODUCE HANDLING ASSURANCE STANDARD

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.
  • New! United Fresh has published new Food Safety Programs & Auditing Protocol for the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain (Tomato Metrics) after comparison with the latest Harmonized standard content, the foundation standard for PHA. Those items that remain are either unique to the tomato industry, or not necessarily unique, but not currently in the PHA. The revised Tomato Metrics requirements may be combined with the PHA as an addendum.  Click here for more information from United Fresh.

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)