GLOBALG.A.P. - General FAQ

The majority of retailers in today’s markets require certain standards that ensure safe and sustainable agriculture. GLOBALG.A.P. certification is highly regarded for demonstrating on-farm food safety and sustainability. By complying with GLOBALG.A.P. standards, producers can sell their products both locally and globally. GLOBALG.A.P. certification thus offers producers a ticket to the global market. The GLOBALG.A.P. main standard, Integrated Farm Assurance, is available for three scopes of production: crops (editable as well as flowers and ornamentals), livestock, and aquaculture.

5 Advantages of GLOBALG.A.P. Certification

1. Add value to your products by complying with globally recognized GLOBALG.A.P. standards.
2. Gain access to new local and global customers, markets, suppliers, and retailers.
3. Reduce your exposure to food safety and product safety reputation risks.
4. Improve the efficiency of your farm processes and management.
5. Receive a GLOBALG.A.P. Number (GGN) for easy identification and traceability on a B2B level.

Watch our introductory video here.

If you are a producer, please go to www.globalgap.org/forproducers to find out more about all our scopes, options (such as individual producer or producer group), and add-ons (customized certification solutions).

Here is a video that explains producer group certification (Option 2).

Thank you for choosing GLOBALG.A.P. certification! Now that you have decided to get GLOBALG.A.P. certified, here is how: Simply follow the steps listed at www.globalgap.org/getcertified, and you are on your way!

You can find information on certification bodies that can conduct the required on-farm inspections and audits at www.globalgap.org/approvedcbs.

If you cannot achieve certification immediately, localg.a.p. can serve as a stepping stone towards GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) certification. It is available in some countries for producers selling to specific retailers. Furthermore, it is a cost-effective solution for emerging markets that helps producers to gain gradual recognition by providing an entry level to GLOBALG.A.P. IFA certification. Learn more at www.localgap.org.

The costs for GLOBALG.A.P. certification consist of the following:

- Costs for implementing the standard: Each farm is unique, so depending on their specific situation, your farm may need to implement new policies, processes, and/or installations to comply with a specific standard.

- GLOBALG.A.P. registration fee: This fee is charged by the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat via the certification bodies. Click here to see our redesigned fee table.

• For producers farming crops, the GLOBALG.A.P. producer registration fee is calculated based on the area (hectares) used for production. GLOBALG.A.P. distinguishes between covered (greenhouse) and non-covered production.
• For livestock and aquaculture producers, the fee is calculated based on the quantity (tons) of meat/product at point of slaughter.

- Service fees to the certification body: Costs for the inspections and audits (time, travel costs) and services provided by the independent certification body are negotiated directly between the producer and the certification body and depend on individual price policies, duration of the inspections and audits, travel costs, time needed for preparation, and follow-up. For a list of all certification bodies, go to www.globalgap.org/approvedcbs.

Please note: Certificates are issued per product and are valid for one year.

Should you require further help with the GLOBALG.A.P. certification process and complying with the CPCCs, we strongly recommend that you contact a registered trainer for GLOBALG.A.P. standards. These expert trainers are qualified to conduct independent and approved GLOBALG.A.P. training for producers. To learn more and find a registered trainer in your region, click here.

As a registered trainer, you will be expertly qualified to train farmers (or other interested parties) on the implementation of GLOBALG.A.P. standards. GLOBALG.A.P. standards are used by over 210,000 producers worldwide and are a key requirement for suppliers to leading food retailers. The Registered Trainer Program is open to trainers, CBs, and institutions offering GLOBALG.A.P. related services to their clients. Learn more here.

GLOBALG.A.P. understands retailers’ need to source products from certified production processes in order to have consistent and reliable access to quality foods and promote good agricultural practices among their supplier base.

To find out about all our services for retailers, go to www.globalgap.org/forbuyers.

Learn more about how buyers can benefit from GLOBALG.A.P. certification at www.globalgap.org/buyerbenefit.

Many products from GLOBALG.A.P. certified production processes are labeled with a 13-digit GLOBALG.A.P. Number (GGN) that identifies each producer on a B2B level. All information on producers and their products and certification statuses is centrally stored in the GLOBALG.A.P. database, offering the highest degree of transparency and integrity. You can search for producers with GLOBALG.A.P. certified production processes, or for products from GLOBALG.A.P. certified production processes, here.

We offer a bookmarking package for anyone who buys or sells products from GLOBALG.A.P. certified production processes. GLOBALG.A.P. bookmarking is the easy way to record and monitor the certificate status of your producers. To register for bookmarking, click here. For further information on bookmarking, click here.

Learn how to upgrade your suppliers using the localg.a.p. program at www.localgap.org.

Are you interested in becoming part of the GLOBALG.A.P. community? Then we have the perfect solution for you: GLOBALG.A.P. membership. Read more about the benefits at www.globalgap.org/membership. For an overview of the costs, click here.

As a GLOBALG.A.P. member, you are also eligible to participate in our technical committees. Elections of new committee members are held every four years. For more information, please contact committees@globalgap.org.

You can also join one of our various National Technical Working Groups (NTWGs). Please see the main benefits and more information here.

All information regarding the use of GLOBALG.A.P. trademarks (logos), claims, identification numbers, texts, and seals can be found in the policy titled “GLOBALG.A.P. trademarks use: Policy and guidelines”. This document was introduced in version 1.0-1 on 4 July 2022.

The trademarks policy applies to all stakeholders – producers, business partners or industry stakeholders, certification bodies, GLOBALG.A.P. Community Members, benchmarked scheme/approved modified checklist owners, trainers, or working groups and committees – who are interested in using the GLOBALG.A.P. trademarks to demonstrate their connection to the brand.

For more information on the policy and to download the document, see the news article.

Please see the contact page or choose the adequate contact from our team list.

For information on our complaints management click here. Complaints can be sent by e-mail to complaints@globalgap.org using the incident/complaint form (download here or use the online complaint form). The complaints management officer will contact you as soon as possible. All information given will be treated strictly confidential while we investigate the complaint.

All public documents can be found in our document center.

Photos and videos from past events are available in our media center.

G.A.P. in Action posters can be found and downloaded at www.gapinaction.org.

Please navigate to www.globalgap.org/faqv5.2 for the FAQ on this topic.

The IFA standard addresses environmental sustainability elements that are assessed by a technical auditor who also assesses the food safety elements. These elements include the development of a waste and pollution action plan, evaluating the impact of the farming activities on the environment, responsible use of water, and generally being mindful of unproductive sites and efficient energy use.

See here how the IFA standard helps producers under GLOBALG.A.P. IFA certification meet some of the targets set in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The IFA standard for Aquaculture covers the four pillars established by the FAO Technical Guidelines on Aquaculture Certification (i.e., food safety, environment, workers, animal welfare), including the entire production chain (i.e., hatchery, farm, feed, traceability after harvest). All resources needed to obtain safe farmed seafood are to be used sustainably, and the standard sets out guidelines accordingly.

The IFA standard for Livestock covers the five principles of sustainability established by the FAO: improving efficiency in the use of resources; taking action to conserve, protect, and enhance natural resources; protecting and improving rural livelihoods, equity, and social well-being; enhancing the resilience of people, communities, and ecosystems; and implementing responsible and effective management mechanisms. All resources needed to rear animals safely must be capable of being sustained, and the standard sets out guidelines accordingly.

• Nearly all booths at trade fairs are built with sustainable material.
• We aim to be completely paper-free – which means not printing any promotional material – in the near future. We are already in the process of reducing printed mterial.
• Since 2017, we have offset the CO₂ of all staff business trips.

The Produce Safety Assurance Standard covers the food safety and traceability elements of the Integrated Farm Assurance standard for Fruit and Vegetables v5.2. It is a subset of the Integrated Farm Assurance standard, comprising those points that were presented to the Global Food Safety Initiative for recognition of the Integrated Farm Assurance standard for Fruit and Vegetables.

GRASP is a voluntary, ready-to-use add-on designed to assess social practices on the farm. The requirements catalogue consists of 11 standardized requirements that address specific aspects of workers’ health, safety, and welfare as well as one additional QMS requirement. GRASP is designed to extend the social standards of your GLOBALG.A.P. certification.

• GRASP does not form a mandatory part of the accredited GLOBALG.A.P. certification. GRASP is a voluntary add-on – however, suppliers and/or retailers can decide to make GRASP their obligatory requirement.

I have a certificate of a benchmarked scheme (Option 3, Option 4), can I apply for a GRASP assessment?

• Yes, GRASP can be combined with fully benchmarked schemes/AMCs.

Fees are invoiced by two parties:

1. The certification body that assesses GRASP charges its own costs for the assessment hours/days and the costs of the assessor. Please request the respective information from the assessing certification body.

2. GLOBALG.A.P. charges GRASP assessment license fees that apply to producers (individual producers or producer group members) and to producer groups as detailed in the "General GLOBALG.A.P. fee Table" and the "Fee Table Annex 1 for the NTWG Supplement".

• Labor legislation differs from country to country. The GRASP national interpretation guidelines specify relevant legal requirements – such as national minimum wages, regulations on working hours, the minimum age of employment, etc.

There is no GRASP national interpretation guideline in my county. How can I be assessed according to GRASP?

• In these cases, the certification body can apply for an exemption if several requirements as set out in the GRASP General Rules v1.3-1-i have been fulfilled. If the exemption is granted, it can begin with the GRASP assessment even without a national interpretation guideline.

Access to the GRASP assessment results

I am GRASP assessed, how can my supplier/retailer see the GRASP assessment in the GLOBALG.A.P. database?

• GRASP assessment results are not visible in public search. Only companies whose employees have access to the GLOBALG.A.P. database (bookmarking package) and signed the GRASP terms of reference for ensuring data privacy can check the results. These companies and their users are the GRASP Observers.

localg.a.p. is one of the brands forming part of the GLOBALG.A.P. family of products. It includes the Primary Farm Assurance (PFA) standards, which are not part of certification but follows an assessment approach. The concept of localg.a.p. is capacity building. It has been developed for local implementation and if required, to prepare producers for certification, especially those who cannot immediately get certified.

GGN is short for GLOBALG.A.P. Number. GLOBALG.A.P. is the company behind the GGN label. The GGN is a 13-digit producer or producer group identification number given to every producer registered for certification. Once the production process on the farm is successfully certified, the producer can print this number on their product packaging. The number identifies  where the product was produced, and retailers can use it to verify their suppliers.

In combination with the GGN label and its logo, the GGN enables us to give you the transparency you need and lets you trace your product back to its roots. And you can do that right on your mobile device while you’re shopping!