A certification scheme using its own scheme management rules and G.A.P. requirements that are benchmarked against the GLOBALG.A.P. ones and are recognized by GLOBALG.A.P., after the benchmarking process, as equivalent to the GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations and the product-specific principles and criteria respectively.

A certification standard using the GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations as scheme management rules together with its own G.A.P. requirements that are benchmarked against the GLOBALG.A.P. ones and are recognized by GLOBALG.A.P., after the benchmarking process, as equivalent to the product-specific principles and criteria respectively.

A scheme that has achieved benchmarked status by developing a supplement to cover the remaining GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations and the product-specific principles and criteria which are not included in the original scheme documents. Only producers who have been audited to the standard and the supplement are issued with a GLOBALG.A.P. Number, listed in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems, and have a benchmarked certification status.

Owners of schemes or standards that want to apply for benchmarking must first contact benchmarking@globalgap.org to receive the relevant application documents. The completed application is then returned to GLOBALG.A.P.

GLOBALG.A.P. evaluates the integrity of the applicant scheme or checklist and checks it against the GLOBALG.A.P. rules on food safety, environmental sustainability, workers' well-being, animal welfare, and more. The check consists of a document review, in which the applicant scheme or checklist is evaluated against the GLOBALG.A.P. normative documents, as well as the opportunity for GLOBALG.A.P. Community Members to participate in a peer review and contribute their insights.

GLOBALG.A.P. validates the applicant’s normative documents and the practical implementation in the field. This is checked via at least one on-site producer audit and, if applicable, the quality management system (QMS) of producer groups.

The Benchmarking Committee is composed of independent experts who represent the producer and retail/food service industries. If the document review and on-site audit stage is successfully completed, the Benchmarking Committee can recommend the recognition of the applicant scheme or checklist. These schemes and checklists then achieve the benchmarked status. If the Benchmarking Committee does not recommend the recognition of the applicant scheme or checklist, changes are required before a new application for benchmarking can be submitted.