The GLOBAL G.A.P. Tour, held on 28 and 29 May, arrived at the right time, since it has coincided with the presentation of the new version of this standard, which comes into force on 1 June.
What is your assessment of this new period for Agrocolor with GLOBAL G.A.P.?
The balance of the eight months we have been issuing GLOBAL G.A.P. certifications with its modules, as well as the UNEG.AP scheme, has been really good. We are now about to reach 200 clients, taking into account individual operators and Producer Organisations. For us, it has been much more positive than we expected, since the strategic plan designed to reach 250 operators in two years is having a spectacular result, achieving 75% of our goal over the eight months since we were accredited to certify GLOBAL G.A.P.
Parallel to our business activity, we have also managed to strengthen relations with the GLOBAL G.A.P. organisation, and thus guarantee our customers smooth communication, with information exchange with supermarket chains. It is worth noting that GLOBAL G.A.P. is basically the only platform that brings together 90% of the European supermarket chains and fruit and vegetable distributors. It is therefore essential for Agrocolor to have a very close relationship with them, and for horticultural producers and marketers to value the certifications issued by Agrocolor.
Coexphal and Agrocolor have opted for GLOBAL G.A.P. because it is a scheme which has been in force for 16 years and is very demanded and respected by the global food industry. Additionally, it has a tool to standardise other existing schemes, such as the Spanish standard for fruits and vegetables UNE:155.001 (UNEGAP), and it has voluntary modules that integrate requirements of other systems to prevent duplication of quality protocols; the famous Add/On.
What does the GLOBAL G.A.P. Tour bring to Almeria's sector?
The GLOBAL G.A.P. Tour, held in Almeria, is a very important event for the sector, not only because it will feature talks about the tools for horticulture that are emerging and that we are supporting, but also because it will be the stage for the presentation of the new GLOBAL G.A.P. standard. Round tables will be organised where both quality managers and commercial directors will be able to ask and clarify any doubts, since the new rule will come into force from 1 June. Therefore, the Tour comes at the right time. In any case, companies will be granted a year to adapt to these developments.
What are the main innovations of the new version of the standard?
In late April, Agrocolor was chosen by GLOBAL G.A.P. to conduct a test of prototype version 5 with Murgiverde SCA, checking for the viability of the new requirements. The main changes we can note is that version 5 is designed to facilitate compliance and coupling of modules from other certification schemes. It also has new requirements to ensure the traceability of certified products and environmental requirements to facilitate the approval of other protocols. Furthermore, it makes it easier for certified companies to change to another certification company under the same conditions.
What has GLOBAL G.A.P. brought to your clients?
When we decided to take this step, we did it driven by our customers. The business income from agro-food certifications has greatly decreased; thus, we believe the certification structure should include auditing tasks and joint certifications to minimise costs. We have proved the certification process can be made more efficient through direct certifications rather than monthly certification committees, which always delay the decisions. From a previous study we conducted, we knew we could reduce costs to our operators and strengthen the relationship with GLOBAL G.A.P. without AENOR as an intermediary.
In general, is the sector benefiting from this change?
I am convinced the answer to this is a resounding yes. Now they see us as a closer, more efficient firm, with the expertise to meet deadlines for planning and certification in the shortest possible time frame. Companies tell us we are much more accessible to solve any problems and to speed up the audits, since we have halved response times with all processes."
Another aspect I would like to stress is the work FEPEX and Coexphal are doing to ensure the UNE 155:001 rule for fruits and vegetables becomes an approved scheme for GLOBALG.A.P., since in addition to adapting this international standard to the Spanish fruit and vegetable production model, it reduces rates for the owner of the scheme by 50%, i.e., with GLOBAL G.A.P. growers have to pay a 20 Euro fee, and with the UNEGAP scheme they only have to pay half.