Core solution
Integrated Farm Assurance for plant propagation material
Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) for plant propagation material is a global standard for responsible farming practices that covers all stages of production. It is built on a holistic approach that covers the key topics of environmental sustainability, workers’ well-being, production processes, and traceability.
GLOBALG.A.P.’s flagship standard
What is Integrated Farm Assurance for plant propagation material?
Developed by the industry, for the industry, Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) for plant propagation material is a global standard for the responsible farming of propagation material for plant nurseries. Introduced in 2008 and continuously developed through collaboration with sector stakeholders, the standard covers the entire production process, from environmental conservation and waste management to workers’ health, safety, and welfare. IFA is tried, tested, and trusted around the world – with over 14,500 hectares of plant propagation material production processes certified annually.
IFA for plant propagation material at a glance
Applicable to the production
processes of plant propagation material for any product category under the IFA plants scope
Relevant for all
major types of production systems, from open field and covered production to hydroponics
Certification options
for a variety of nursery sizes and types, including smallholders and producer groups
Implemented worldwide
with a global network of approved CBs and Registered Trainers
Easily combinable
with a range of targeted add-ons and supply chain solutions for flexible assurance customization
Supports the UN SDGs
and helps you demonstrate sustainability efforts
Applicable to the production
processes of plant propagation material for any product category under the IFA plants scope
Implemented worldwide
with a global network of approved CBs and Registered Trainers
Relevant for all
major types of production systems, from open field and covered production to hydroponics
Easily combinable
with a range of targeted add-ons and supply chain solutions for flexible assurance customization
Certification options
for a variety of nursery sizes and types, including smallholders and producer groups
Supports the UN SDGs
and helps you demonstrate sustainability efforts
Which topics does IFA for plant propagation material address?
Plant propagation material is the basis for healthy plant products – from fruit and vegetables, flowers and ornamentals, and hops to combinable crops. IFA for plant propagation material covers all major aspects of nursery production processes.
The standard has been developed together with sector experts in the technical committees and focus groups and underwent extensive public consultation as part of our standard setting process. This ensures that IFA remains robust, realistic, and cost-efficient for producers while meeting the evolving demands of buyers.
Core topics IFA v5.2 for plant propagation material include:
Hygiene
Workers’ health, safety, and welfare
Waste and pollution management, recycling, and re-use
Conservation
Traceability and segregation
Soil management and conservation
Fertilizer application
Water management
Integrated pest management
Plant protection products
Discover more about how IFA helps you to address challenges in the agricultural sector.
Who should use IFA for plant propagation material?
IFA for plant propagation material is available for a wide range of producers and nurseries worldwide, including producers of seeds or young plants. The standard can be applied to a variety of production systems, from uncovered farms to greenhouses.
It offers certification options for both individual producers (single site and multisite producers) and producer groups, including smallholders. Producers can get certification in any country where a GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification body (CB) conducts audits.
The in-house production of plant propagation material for a producer’s own floriculture farm is covered by IFA for flowers and ornamentals. IFA for both flowers and ornamentals and plant propagation material may be audited together for producers who also supply to the market.
How does IFA for plant propagation material work?
Compliance with the standard requirements is audited annually by an accredited and independent third-party CB.
Producers can choose from any GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB active in the relevant country.
A successful CB audit results in a certificate valid for one year.
The standard is composed of control points and compliance criteria (CPCCs). CPCCs are graded in three levels: Major Must, Minor Must, and Recommendation.
Control points
Fundamentals that set the foundation of a GLOBALG.A.P. requirement
Written in question form
Compliance criteria
Methods that producers can use to demonstrate compliance
Evidence required for demonstrating that the outcome is achieved
Read more about the audit process and standard requirements.
How is certification status verified?
Every producer registered in the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system is assigned a unique 13-digit GLOBALG.A.P. identification number (e.g., a GLOBALG.A.P. Number (GGN)). This number allows real-time verification of certification status in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems, upholding our rigorous transparency requirements throughout the supply chain.
Producers can control data access and privacy rights for audit reports, and the reports are not shared publicly or with third parties. This process is handled via your chosen CB.
Latest news
11 April 2024
New GLOBALG.A.P. webinar series: A guide to IFA v6 transition
Hosted by GLOBALG.A.P. experts, our latest free webinar series is designed to help producers transition seamlessly to IFA version 6 for flowers and ornamentals, fruit and vegetables, and aquaculture. Find your webinar today!
26 March 2024
GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2024: Changemaker Awards
We are excited to announce the launch of a new initiative to celebrate global stakeholders who foster positive change in the world of farming: The Changemaker Awards. The submission period opens on 10 April 2024. Learn more about how to apply.
Technical news
Full technical newsletters are available in the document center, but you can view technical news updates by topic in our technical news libraries.
Demonstrate your commitment to safer and more sustainable farming
Why choose Integrated Farm Assurance for plant propagation material?
Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) enables producers worldwide to assess, demonstrate, and improve their responsible farming practices. The standard is accepted by retailers across the globe and provides a practical path for producers to implement best practices at farm level that contribute to the long-term viability of the sector, the welfare of farming communities, and the sustainability of surrounding ecosystems.
Which industry challenges does IFA for plant propagation material address?
Today, supply chain stakeholders are more aware than ever of farm-level topics such as energy consumption, working conditions, and the effects of plant protection products on surrounding eco-systems. They require more transparency surrounding their products and are changing their buying behavior accordingly.
Supply chains understand the increasing expectations of consumers and civil society and recognize the need to measure and improve the environmental performance of the sector.
Certification is crucial for driving transformation in the sector as a whole and supporting individual growers to achieve their sustainability goals.
Traceability requirements are also needed to correctly identify the origin and type of material, safeguarding plant health in propagation material which is crucial to starting the production process.
The IFA standard tackles sector demands through a holistic approach. With the resulting certificates, buyers can choose suppliers that fulfil the necessary criteria and support their sustainability pledges.
Follow our five steps to certification to get started today.
IFA for plant propagation material in numbers as of 31/12/2022
572
producers under certification
43
countries with certified production processes
14,740
hectares of certified production
572
producers under certification
43
countries with certified production processes
14,740
hectares of certified production
What are the benefits for producers?
Improve farm management and the efficiency of nursery operations.
Get recognition for your efforts to implement responsible practices, protect environmental resources, and safeguard worker’s health and safety.
Demonstrate robust hygiene measures that ensure healthy starting propagation material and a traceability system for your products.
Achieve compliance with a globally recognized standard that fulfils international supply chain requirements.
Choose from an extensive worldwide network of accredited, GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification bodies (CBs).
Apply our farm assurance solutions on a wide range of nursery types and sizes and access certification options for both individual producers and producer groups.
What are the benefits for supply chain stakeholders?
Access a flexible farm assurance portfolio that provides all the coverage you need through one certification system.
Support an industry-driven farm assurance solution – developed by the sector, for the sector – that enable buyers to easily identify suppliers that fulfill their requirements.
Promote a holistic approach that features rigorous criteria on environmental sustainability, workers’ well-being, production processes, and traceability.
Mitigate reputational risks and assist in protecting product integrity.
Enable trusted supply that meets major market demands – from energy and waste to working conditions.
Source from a growing pool of producers with certified production processes globally, with easy certification verification in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems.
Demonstrate your commitment to responsible farming practices in line with the UN Global Compact Food and Agribusiness Principles and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Maintaining trust in GLOBALG.A.P. certification
The GLOBALG.A.P. Integrity Program was founded in 2008 as the first of its kind in food certification. Designed to ensure the consistent delivery and implementation of GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons worldwide, the program monitors and assesses all aspects of the third-party certification process.
Which solutions can be combined with IFA for plant propagation material?
We offer a range of standards and add-ons targeted to specific aspects of production and the supply chain. They can each be audited or assessed in combination with IFA, extending the certification scope and offering buyers specific assurance tailored to their preferences.
Learn more about GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions.
You may also be interested in...
Integrated Farm Assurance for flowers and ornamentals
IFA is a global standard for safe and responsible farming practices in flower and ornamental production.
Integrated Farm Assurance for fruit and vegetables
IFA is a global standard for safe and responsible farming practices in fruit and vegetable production.
Integrated Farm Assurance for hops
IFA is a global standard for safe and responsible farming practices in hop production.
Ready to get started?
Use our Smart Checklist Builder to easily understand which GLOBALG.A.P. smart farm assurance solutions are recommended for your production practices and generate a personalized checklist for your self-assessment.
Your guide to implementation
How to prepare for an Integrated Farm Assurance audit
Learn more about the key documents and fee structure of Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) for plant propagation material. Follow our five steps to certification for an overview of the certification process and find a GLOBALG.A.P. approved certification body (CB) in your area to get started.
Implementation and CB audit process
How does the CB audit process work?
IFA compliance is audited annually by accredited and independent third-party CBs.
Producers can choose from any GLOBALG.A.P. approved CB active in the relevant country.
A successful CB audit results in a certificate valid for one year.
The CB is responsible for uploading the audit report and maintaining the accuracy of producer data in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems.
Producers will be audited annually by a CB as part of the renewal process.
Which documents are required?
GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations: Rules that define how the certification process works, from the scope of the respective standard to the audit process and audit requirements.
Control points and compliance criteria (CPCCs): Control points are the fundamental GLOBALG.A.P. requirements for each standard. They are written in question form and are accompanied by corresponding compliance criteria that detail how a producer must demonstrate compliance.
Checklist: The full list of CPCCs as used by CB auditors, enabling producers to perform a self-assessment in preparation for the on-site audit.
Which version of IFA is currently valid?
IFA is currently in transition from v5 to v6. There is one valid version available for plant propagation material:
IFA v5.2 was published in February 2019 and became obligatory in August 2019.
IFA v6 for plant propagation material is currently in development. Visit the web page on standard setting to follow the process and learn how you can get involved. IFA v5.2 will continue to be available for audit until v6 is launched.
The FAQ contains further information on documents, certification renewal, and more.
What are the IFA compliance requirements?
CPCCs are graded in three categories: Major Must, Minor Must, or Recommendation.
To achieve certification, producers must comply with 100% of the Major Musts and at least 95% of the Minor Musts.
Corrective actions must be proposed for all non-compliances and submitted to the CB within the specified period.
Non-compliances must then be verified as corrected and compliant by the CB before a certificate can be issued.
How much does IFA for plant propagation material certification cost?
Each farm is unique, and the total costs of certification depend on a combination of factors such as farm size, number of sites, location, necessary preparation measures (such as establishing new procedures), and more. IFA contains three cost elements:
Implementation costs: Incurred by producers to prepare for the CB audit
CB service fees: Determined and invoiced by the CB to cover audit time and travel costs
GLOBALG.A.P. registration and certificate license fees: Calculated based on farm size and invoiced by the CB
The GLOBALG.A.P. fee table contains full information on the fee structure for each standard and add-on.
Five steps to certification
You will need the GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations, the IFA for plant propagation material CPCCs, and the checklist. All of the required documents are available online, for free, and in multiple languages. They are linked below and can also be found in the GLOBALG.A.P. document center.
Use the documents to guide the implementation of the standard requirements, and then
conduct a self-assessment using the checklist. Our worldwide network of Registered Trainers
can also provide assistance during audit preparations.
Search the list of GLOBALG.A.P. approved CBs by region, country, scope, and status. Contact the CB of your choice and request an audit. Note that the GLOBALG.A.P. fee table does not cover CB service fees such as audit time or travel costs to your site.
The CB will conduct the audit and upload the results to Audit Online Hub. Any non-compliances which are detected during the CB audit must be corrected within the specified period and verified by the CB before a certificate can be issued.
Once all requirements are met and verified by the CB, they will issue your IFA certificate. Your
certification status is then publicly visible in the GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems for transparency in
the market.
Key documents
The three most relevant documents are linked below. Click ‘view more’ to see further related documents. Remember to always check with your CB that you have all necessary documents prior to audit.
Crops Rules
GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations
V5.2
English | Last updated: 22/08/2023
GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations outline the framework of the certification system, including the role and relationship of the GLOBALG.A.P. Secretariat and certification bodies, and provide context for implementing checklist content.
All Farm Base, Crops Base, PPM
Checklists
V5.2
English | Last updated: 22/08/2023
xlsx
Checklists are documents containing standard/add-on principles and criteria which are used during the audit/assessment to check whether compliance is achieved. They may also be used to conduct self-assessments.
All Farm Base, Crops Base, PPM
Principles and criteria (P&Cs) (CPCCs)
V5.2
English | Last updated: 22/08/2023
Principles and criteria are a complete list of the requirements for a given standard or add-on. The foundational requirements each detail an outcome that must be achieved, and the corresponding ways in which compliance can be demonstrated.
GLOBALG.A.P. approved CBs
The list of GLOBALG.A.P. approved CBs can be filtered by region, country, scope, and status. Click a CB to find more information and contact details.
If you do not filter your search, or filter only according to region and/or country, your search results will also show CBs that offer certification against benchmarked schemes, but which may not have approval for any GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons.
Capacity building
Need assistance with the certification process? Our capacity-building program offers a range of options for training, consultation, and more!
Upcoming events
23 Apr
2024
Seafood Expo Global 2024 – Panel discussion
Location:
Barcelona, Spain
Event type:
Trade fair
Event format:
On-site
24 Apr - 24 May
2024
Have your say on the new workers’ well-being standard
Location:
Online
Event type:
Public consultation
Event format:
Virtual
FAQ
Contact us
For technical/interpretation questions, please contact us at standard_support@globalgap.org.
For questions about the audit process or GLOBALG.A.P. IT systems, please contact us at customer_support@globalgap.org.