International Accreditation Forum accepts GLOBALG.A.P. Produce Handling Assurance standard under Multilateral Recognition Arrangement

On 17 August 2023, the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) signed a Scheme Endorsement Agreement with GLOBALG.A.P. c/o FoodPLUS GmbH to recognize the Produce Handling Assurance (PHA) standard under the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA).

In the context of the Scheme Endorsement Agreement, PHA joins GLOBALG.A.P.’s flagship Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) standard – which has been recognized since 2013 – under the IAF MLA scope of Product Certification. This ensures mutual recognition of accredited certification for each standard by IAF MLA signatories, allowing certificates to be accepted across various markets with a single accreditation.

The PHA standard – a food safety and traceability standard for postharvest preprocessing activities such as cooling, packing, handling, and storage of crops – is already benchmarked to the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and supports the United States Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). IAF recognition further demonstrates GLOBALG.A.P.’s commitment to ensuring food safety and quality in global supply chains. Accredited certification to the PHA standard provides assurance that companies handling produce after the point of harvest are adhering to strict requirements on food safety. 

The GLOBALG.A.P. Integrity Program ensures the consistent implementation of standards by monitoring and assessing key aspects of the third-party certification process.

“Through this collaboration with GLOBALG.A.P. c/o FoodPLUS, we hope to support the use of best practices in the industry and the sustainability of global food production,” said IAF Chair Emanuele Riva. 

“We are pleased to receive IAF recognition for the GLOBALG.A.P. Produce Handling Assurance standard, as it demonstrates the integrity and trust in our systems. This recognition supports us in our aim to offer solutions to the industry while eliminating unnecessary costs in certification duplication,” commented GLOBALG.A.P. Managing Director Dr. Elmé Coetzer-Boersma. 

GLOBALG.A.P. is a brand of smart farm assurance solutions developed by FoodPLUS GmbH in Cologne, Germany, with cooperation from producers, retailers, and other stakeholders from across the food industry. These solutions include a range of standards for safe, socially and environmentally responsible farming practices. The most widely used GLOBALG.A.P. standard is the IFA standard, applicable to plants, aquaculture, floriculture, and more. This standard also forms the basis for the GGN label: the consumer label for certified, responsible farming and transparency.

The GLOBALG.A.P. brand began its journey as EUREPGAP in 1997. More than 25 years later, over 200,000 producers have GLOBALG.A.P. certification in 134 countries. Nearly 150 team members around the world are dedicated to the mission of spreading responsible farming practices to ensure safe food for future generations.

www.globalgap.org