Verification Bodies

A verification body (VB) is a company or individual that has signed a license agreement with GLOBALG.A.P. and acquired the rights from producers to upload and/or register these producers’ activities in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems. VBs also conduct assessments to localg.a.p. standards.

If you are interested in becoming a VB, please contact localgap@globalgap.org.
Name Company Scope Country
Luwis Mutendi Agri-Canaan localg.a.p. PFA V5 Fruit and Vegetables United Kingdom
Patricia Obichukwu Best Produce International UK Ltd. localg.a.p. United Kingdom
Amos Alberto Ubisse A.A.U. Technical Limitada localg.a.p. SPAR Fruit and Vegetables and localg.a.p. Ready-to-Use (Freshmark-FV for Mozambique) Mozambique
Irene Eduardo Asociación del Gremio Quimico Agricola (Agrequima) localg.a.p. Guatemala Fruit and Vegetables Guatemala
Chidochashe Mary Chitambira Agric World Consultants localg.a.p. PFA V5 Fruit and Vegetables South Africa
Alec Chigara Mzansi Audits4Africa localg.a.p. PFA South Africa
Abdulrahman Lawal Granjero de Bauer localg.a.p. PFA V5 Fruit and Vegetables Nigeria

VB approval process

Step 1:  To become a VB, applicants must comply with the requirements of the VB qualifications.

Here is the list of requirements for VBs

1. Formal qualifications (mandatory)

Details

Required documents

A post-high school diploma in a discipline related to the scope of certification (Crops) and two years of practical work experience at farm level as an employee or at own/family farm in the relevant sub-scope
OR
In the case of a post-high school diploma not related to the scope of experience: Three years of practical work experience at farm level as an employee or at own/family farm in the relevant sub-scope after qualification (full-time equivalent)

Post-high school diploma, curriculum vitae
2. Training in HACCP principles (mandatory)

Details

Required documents

Certificate of participation in formal training (with minimum duration of eight hours) or as part of formal qualifications (post-high school education)

Training certificate incl. content and duration
3. Food hygiene training (mandatory)

Details

Required documents

Certificate of participation in formal training (with minimum duration of eight hours) or as part of formal qualifications (post-high school education)

The food hygiene training shall cover site management, water, fertilizer, equipment, facilities, and personal hygiene, and it shall also include practical case studies.

Training certificate incl. content and duration 


4. Training in G.A.P. principles (mandatory)

Details

Required documents

Certificate of participation in formal training or as part of formal qualifications (post-high school education)

For Crops:

  • Plant protection training including: Phytopathology, pest diagnostics, toxicity of products, application equipment (management and maintenance), maximum residue limits, and food safety
  • Integrated pest management training: As specific training or included as part of plant protection management training
  • Fertilizer training including: Plant nutrition principles and analysis, soil management, fertilizer management, equipment (management and maintenance)

Training certificate incl. content and duration 
5. GLOBALG.A.P. training (mandatory)

Details

Required documents

VB training requirements for localg.a.p.:

  • Successful completion (attendance and passing the test) of in-house trainer training for Crops as offered by GLOBALG.A.P.
    OR
    Successful completion of the GLOBALG.A.P. Registered Trainer training as offered by GLOBALG.A.P.
  • Successful completion of the required standard training (e.g., localg.a.p. Primary Farm Assurance)

VB training requirements for other standards:

  • Successful completion of the required standard training

Certificate(s) of successful completion of GLOBALG.A.P. trainings
6. Auditing practice (mandatory)

Details

Required documents

Auditing practice as:

  • Second-party auditor (e.g., retail audits, etc.) AND/OR
  • Third-party auditor in ISO/IEC 9000, ISO/IEC 14000, ISO/IEC 22000, OSHAS 18000, BRC Food, IFS Food, previous GLOBALG.A.P. Option 2 or 4 audits, or producer group audits of organic producers or others

Audit log/ Certificate                              
7. Language skills (mandatory)

Details

Required documents

Language skills in the corresponding native/working language, including the locally used specialist terminology

Curriculum vitae                              

Step 2: Submit a letter of intent to the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat.  (nchabeleng@globalgap.org)

Step 3: Request a scope extension to the applicable standard (e.g., localg.a.p. Primary Farm Assurance (PFA)). Scope extension fees are included in the annual VB license fee.

Step 4: Provide the documents required to prove necessary qualifications.

Step 5: Provide evidence of liability insurance.

Step 6 (Optional): Submit a letter from the buyer which states that they accept the applicable standard (e.g., localg.a.p. PFA). There is no need for the buyer to demand the standard, just that they accept the standard.

Step 7 : Once approved, pay the annual VB license fee.

VB license fees

Annual VB license fee (without GLOBALG.A.P. membership) 

  €1550

Annual VB license fee (with GLOBALG.A.P. membership)

  €500*

Annual fee for additional assessor per VB company

  €50

Value of liability insurance**

  €100,000

* This fee is in addition to the GLOBALG.A.P. membership fee.

** Professional liability insurance, or errors and omissions , protects professional advice- and service-providing individuals and companies from bearing the full cost of defending against a negligence claim made by a client and damages awarded in such a civil lawsuit. The coverage focuses on alleged failure to perform on the part of, financial loss caused by, and error or omission in the service or product sold by the policyholder.