One of GLOBALG.A.P.’s main missions is the ‘one auditor through the farm gate’ principle, and benchmarking is how we aim to achieve it.
Harmonizing the requirements of different schemes and checklists cuts out duplication and takes the complexity out of certification. It reduces costs, administration, time and effort, with producers, suppliers and retailers all profiting from the benefits.
And by gaining GLOBALG.A.P. approval, benchmarked schemes and checklists also enjoy international recognition - a valuable advantage in the highly competitive global market.
GLOBALG.A.P. offers two levels of benchmarking recognition:
Equivalent: Schemes and checklists that fully conform to the GLOBALG.A.P. System (General Regulations GR and Control Points and Compliance Criteria CPCCs). There are two types:
- Equivalent Scheme: These are schemes with their own G.A.P. requirements and scheme management
system rules that are recognized by GLOBALG.A.P. as fully conforming with the GLOBALG.A.P. CPCCs
and GR
- Approved Modified Checklist (AMC): These are embedded checklists with their own G.A.P. requirements that are recognized by GLOBALG.A.P. as fully conforming with the GLOBALG.A.P. CPCCs. The AMCs use the GLOBALG.A.P. General Regulations as scheme management rules for certification.
Resembling: Schemes that conform to the GLOBALG.A.P. System to a large extent, but leave some exceptions. These schemes may develop a supplement to bridge the gap and thus enable their producers to obtain GLOBALG.A.P. recognition as equivalent.
Differences between the two levels are made clear in all GLOBALG.A.P. communication tools (website, database, etc.). This transparency helps stakeholders determine whether the differences are relevant to them, and so they can make a more informed decision on the acceptance of any resembling scheme.