Important notice – November 2024

The Tesco Nurture Governance Committee has implemented a pause and review period of the Nurture Module to uphold and strengthen the integrity, high standards, and performance of the certification bodies (CBs) operating under the add-on.  

The following procedures are ceased during this review period: 

• Approval of new CBs 

• Regional expansion 

• New auditor applications 

The application for the Nurture Module will reopen at the end of April 2025. 

Which topics does the Nurture Module address?

• Quality management system

• Plant protection product lists (PPPLs)

• Plant protection product application

• Residue monitoring system

• Traceability and segregation

Which documents are required?

• Scheme rules: Rules that define how the audit process works, from the scope of the add-on to the audit requirements.

• Guidelines: Implementation guidelines address specific topics as an annex to the scheme rules.

• 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 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 CB audit.

How is certification status verified?

Every producer registered in the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system is assigned a 13-digit GLOBALG.A.P. identification number (e.g., a 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.

How does the CB audit process work?

• Compliance with the Nurture Module requirements is audited annually together with the Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) audit by accredited and independent third-party CBs.

• Producers can choose from any GLOBALG.A.P. and Tesco-approved CB active in the relevant country – although the same CB which conducts the IFA audit must conduct the Nurture Module audit.

• 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.

Audit results are uploaded to the GLOBALG.A.P. database. Only Nurture Module observers (Tesco and appointed suppliers), GLOBALG.A.P. , and the CB which conducted the audit will be able to view your results.

CB approval

Tesco requires both new and currently approved CBs to meet the following minimum criteria in order to be eligible for conducting Nurture Module audits:

• An overall KPI score above 3.90 (visible in the public list of GLOBALG.A.P. approved CBs)

• No KPI sub-score below 3.00

• No active yellow cards

• Successful completion of a CB office and producer integrity assessment through the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrity Program

Approved CBs that fail to meet the above criteria will be placed under surveillance by the Nurture Governance Committee and given a deadline by which to improve. If the CB fails to significantly improve its performance, the Nurture Governance Committee may sanction the CB and eventually reconsider its participation in the Nurture Module.

Which version of the Nurture Module is currently valid?

There is currently one valid version of the Nurture Module available for audit.  

• For fruit and vegetables: Nurture Module v12 was published on 2 November 2023 and must be combined with IFA v6 Smart/GFS .

• For flowers and ornamentals: The Nurture Module v11.2 checklist was published on 1 April 2021 and remains valid.