This means more consistency and integrity for GLOBALG.A.P. certificates issued as part of the Integrated Farm Assurance scheme around the world.

GLOBALG.A.P. is only working with those Accreditation Bodies that are in the IAF MLA for product certification. Presently we have 35 ABs that are recognised by GLOBALG.A.P. that are likely to extend their scope of the IAF MLA to include the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance scheme.

The IAF MLA delivers the confidence needed for market acceptance of conformity assessment outcomes. An attestation/certification issued, within the scope of the IAF MLA, by a body that is accredited by an IAF MLA signatory ensures Accreditation Bodies can be recognized worldwide, thereby facilitating international trade.

• What does this mean to GLOBALG.A.P.?

From now on, the peer evaluation process will take into account not only generic product certification requirements, but also the specific GLOBALG.A.P. normative documents that are now endorsed by the IAF.

This creates an additional layer of assurance that those Accreditation Bodies – accrediting the GLOBALG.A.P. approved Certification Bodies – are competent and knowledgeable about GLOBALG.A.P.

Kristian Moeller, Director GLOBALG.A.P. , said: “This fantastic achievement is a result of the on-going close consultations and excellent relations between the IAF, its members and GLOBALG.A.P. for more than a decade. It is a milestone in international harmonization, and on behalf of all our stakeholders, I want to thank every expert involved in this endeavor!”

Randy Dougherty, IAF Chair, said: “The decision by IAF members to endorse the GLOBALG.A.P. scheme is the first step in establishing the IAF MLA for GLOBALG.A.P. and I am confident we can build upon the prior MOU to expedite the IAF MLA.”

• About GLOBALG.A.P.

GLOBALG.A.P. sets voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products around the globe. The aim is to establish ONE standard for Good Agricultural Practice (G.A.P.) with different product applications capable of fitting the whole of global agriculture. GLOBALG.A.P. is supported by 45 Retail and Food Service Members; more than 100 Supplier members and more than 100 Associate members.

GLOBALG.A.P. contracts in place at the time of this Agreement were with over 130 CBs Worldwide, the supervision of which is carried out by the Accreditation Bodies that are IAF MLA signatories.

The GLOBALG.A.P. certification process is performed by more than 1500 inspectors/auditors.

GLOBALG.A.P. delegates the responsibility of supervision of the CBs it contracts with to the corresponding IAF Accreditation Bodies, noting that harmonization of criteria applied by the different Accreditation Bodies is increasingly important to ensure consistency of that supervision.

GLOBALG.A.P. provides the standard and framework for independent, recognized 3rd party certification of farm production processes (the certificate covers the process of the certified product from farm inputs such as feed or seedlings and all the farming activities, until the product leaves the farm) based on ISO/IEC Guide 65 or ISO/IEC 17065.