GLOBAL G.A.P. (Global Good Agricultural Practices) Certification
Mérieux NutriSciences Certification LLC is an independent subsidiary of Mérieux NutriSciences that was established to provide clients with certification to many internationally recognized schemes. We are accredited through the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JASANZ) and our accreditation scope information can be found here (Reference 2.14 and 2.20).
1. Certification Introduction
GLOBALG.A.P. was initiated in 1997 by the non-governmental Euro-Retailer Produce Working Group (EurepGAP), which brought together retailers, agricultural suppliers and producers to develop standards for agricultural production.
GLOBALG.A.P. sets comprehensive requirements covering traceability, food safety, environmental protection, worker health, safety and welfare, and animal welfare in crop cultivation and livestock farming.
These requirements have strengthened consumer confidence in GLOBALG.A.P.-certified products, making GLOBALG.A.P. a fundamental requirement for sustainable agricultural development in EU member states and earning its recognition by other sustainability standards.
At the 8th EurepGAP Annual Conference held in Bangkok, Thailand, in September 2007, the EurepGAP Secretariat renamed EurepGAP as GLOBALG.A.P. GLOBALG.A.P. is also one of the certification programmes recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).
GLOBALG.A.P. membership has now expanded worldwide (including a number of developing countries). By the end of 2019, more than 210,000 producers (farms and enterprises) in 135 countries had obtained certification, with Europe accounting for 58.17% and Asia for 8.24% (China holding a total of 450 valid certificates).
A growing number of growers and retailers around the world recognize the GLOBALG.A.P. standard. By setting comprehensive requirements for traceability, food safety, environmental protection, worker health, safety and welfare, and animal welfare in crop cultivation and livestock farming, it has enhanced consumer confidence in GLOBALG.A.P.-certified products and made GLOBALG.A.P. a fundamental requirement for sustainable agricultural development in EU member states.
Through third-party inspection and certification and international rules, GLOBALG.A.P. harmonizes the production, storage and management of agricultural producers, processors, distributors and retailers, thereby fundamentally reducing food safety risks in agricultural production.
The GLOBALG.A.P. certification contract is valid for 4 years, and the certificate is valid for 1 year. Information on certified enterprises and individuals is published on the GLOBALG.A.P. database website (http://database.GLOBALG.A.P..org). International retailers can log in to the database with their member accounts and find suppliers of the products they need without leaving their offices (growers incur no product promotion costs).
GLOBALG.A.P. certification has become an essential qualification for engaging in international trade. A growing number of countries require suppliers to provide GLOBALG.A.P. certificates when importing agricultural products.
Some of the world's leading food companies and retailers are also progressively requiring their primary agricultural suppliers to obtain GLOBALG.A.P. certification. For example, since 2020, McDonald's has required its primary produce suppliers worldwide to become GLOBALG.A.P. certified step by step. Fruit Logistica in Berlin, the world's largest trade fair for fresh produce, and its Asian sister event, Asia Fruit Logistica, likewise require exhibitors to hold GLOBALG.A.P. certification, and the international agricultural traders attending these fairs regard GLOBALG.A.P. certification as a prerequisite for product sourcing.
2. Certification Targets and Scope
GLOBALG.A.P. certification is mainly intended for primary agricultural production enterprises, such as enterprises growing crops including fruit, vegetables, tea and flowers, as well as livestock farming and aquaculture enterprises. Mérieux's current certification scope mainly covers crop production, and also includes the McDonald's add-on module GLOBALG.A.P. PLUS. For product names, see the Product List.
3. Benefits of Certification
(1) Supporting the sustainable development of agricultural production enterprises;
(2) Improving the efficiency of agricultural production management and reducing management costs;
(3) Reducing food safety risks in agricultural production;
(4) Enhancing the brand value of agricultural production enterprises;
(5) Gaining recognition from international retailers and promoting both domestic and international trade in agricultural products.
4. Certification Requirements
Certification model: product testing + on-site inspection + unannounced post-certification inspection;
the certificate is valid for 1 year.
Certification basis: the GLOBALG.A.P. General Regulations, the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance Standard and relevant add-on module standards.
On-site inspection auditor-days and fee schedule: the number of auditor-days and the fees are determined according to the scale of farm production and the scope of products; the specific figures will be provided via a quotation, e-mail or the like after the certification applicant submits the detailed certification information.
5. Certification Mark and Sample Certificate
6. Certification Rules and How to Obtain Them
(1) Certification rules: the GLOBALG.A.P. General Regulations, the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance Standard and relevant add-on module standards.
(2) How to obtain: the above certification rules are owned by Mérieux Certification (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., which holds the right of final interpretation of the rules. No organization or individual may use the information relating to the certification rules, in whole or in part or in any form, without the written permission of Mérieux Certification (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., except where required by law.
(3) Fee schedule: for fee information, please refer to the Disclosure of Fee Standards of Mérieux Certification (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 101, Building 3, No. 3576 Zhaolou Road, Minhang District, Shanghai
Postal Code: 201112
Tel: 021-6221 8815 / 021-6496 7600
Website: https://www.mxns.cn
Email: audit.china@mxns.cn
