Which topics does IFA for tea address?

IFA for tea covers the major aspects of primary production, from preharvest activities to postharvest handling. 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 process for standard setting. This ensures that IFA remains robust, realistic, and cost-efficient for producers while meeting the evolving demands of buyers.

Core topics in IFA v5.2 for tea include:

• Hygiene

• Workers’ health, safety, and welfare

• Plant propagation material

• Soil and substrate management

• Waste and pollution management, recycling, and reuse

• Environment and conservation

• Fertilizers application

• Plant protection products

• Water management

• Traceability and segregation

Discover more about how IFA helps you address challenges in the agricultural sector.

How does IFA for tea 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.

Which industry challenges does IFA for tea address?

• Food safety and traceability have long been fundamental priorities for both consumers and supply chain stakeholders, but the tea sector lacks comprehensive responsible farming standards.

• In addition to food safety, producers also need to meet rising consumer and buyer concerns in areas such as biodiversity, water management, and agricultural input use.

• The farming industry must continuously evolve to also address the increasing interaction between the environment and agriculture, and improve the sustainability of farming practices.

• Responsible production is also about people, and workers’ health, safety, and welfare are in the spotlight due to social sustainability issues and new legislation in global supply chains.

• The result is that retailers are seeking a growing range of assurances about responsible practices, and producers are undergoing an increasing number of audits to satisfy them.

• IFA guides producers and provides assurance to buyers through a holistic approach that addresses all major sector demands – with their achievements in responsible farming validated through transparent and globally recognized certification.

Follow our five steps to certification to get started today.

Which solutions can be combined with IFA for tea?

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.

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 standard to the audit requirements.

• Control points and compliance criteria (CPCCs): Control points are the fundamental requirements for each standard. They are written in question form and are accompanied by corresponding compliance criteria that detail the various ways in which a producer can demonstrate compliance.

• Checklist: The full list of CPCCs as used by CB auditors, enabling producers to conduct a self-assessment in preparation for the CB audit.

Which versions of IFA are currently valid?

IFA is currently in transition from v5 to v6. There is one valid version available for tea:

• IFA v5.2 was published in February 2019.

• There will be no update to v6 for the tea product category. It will instead be integrated into a new product category in 2024. IFA v5.2 will continue to be available for audit until the new product category is launched. Visit the web page on standard settingto follow the IFA v6 development process and learn how you can get involved.

The FAQ contains further information on documents, certification renewal, and more.

How much does IFA certification for tea 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:

1. Implementation costs: Incurred by the producer to prepare for the CB audit

2. CB service fees: Determined and invoiced by the CB to cover audit time and travel costs

3. 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.